SURINAM CHERRY
Scientific name: Eugenia uniflora.

Occurrence
The commercial cultivation of the Surinam Cherry is restricted to the Northeast region of Brazil.

Harvest Period
From April to June and October to November.

History
Native fruit from Brazil, it is readily found in all the regions of the country. Its Brazilian name, pitanga, comes from a Tupi word "pyrang", which means “red”.

It was appreciated very early-on by the colonizers, who, cultivating the plant in their yards, utilizing its fruits to make sweets and juices, the leaves to make medicine for many different diseases.

Although it is derived from the tropics, its cultivation has been diffused, plantations being found in the Southern parts of the USA, the Caribbean Islands and in some Asian countries.

Curiosities
Licopen (the reason for its intense red color) is a powerful anti-oxidizer, shown to be very efficient against degenerative diseases, such as cancer.

The Surinam Cherry tree is one of the most used in the reforestation of devastated areas, because its fruits are provision for birds of the region.

Nutrients
Vitamin A
Vitamins B (B1 and B2)
Vitamin C
Calcium
Iron
Phosphorus

Learn more about the nutrients