South Florida Backyard Nectar

Rollinia (Biriba)

History

Native to the Amazon basin of Brazil and Peru; long cultivated on a small scale across the American tropics as a dooryard fruit, never really commercialized because of how quickly it deteriorates after harvest.

Taste profile

Famously compared to lemon meringue pie - sweet, creamy, and citrusy, with additional notes of banana, pineapple, and coconut in a soft, gel-like texture.

Growing habits

A fast-growing, flood-tolerant tree that can bear fruit within 3-4 years from seed. The spiky yellow skin bruises and blackens easily with handling.

Shipping

Does not ship well. Extremely fragile once ripe, with a shelf life of only a few days. Best picked slightly underripe and left to finish off the tree, then eaten quickly.