It is a hot and humid day in the beautiful streets of El Centro in Cartagena, Colombia. We are enjoying a beautiful stroll through the city’s historical center during pre-covid days (remember those?). Hot and exhausted we notice a charming ice cream shop called Gelateria Paradiso. We step inside and are thrilled to find a bit of respite and cool down by exploring a couple of other brand new fruit flavors (Zapote and Lulo).

On any visit to Colombia you can’t help but be impressed by the wonderful variety of fruits on display in local markets.  Here is a quick overview of some of the new sensations your taste buds may experience.

Uchova or golden berry- It is sticky and sweet outside and really tangy inside. It contains many flavonoids and is said to help with digestion and stomach/colon cancers

Lulo- It is a fragile, hard to grow fruit with a citrus flavor. Some say a combination of rhubarb and lime flavors

Zapote- This is a tough fruit that can grow in harsh environments. It has a hard rind that when peeled away reveals a vibrant orange flesh. It is similar to fig in taste and avocado in texture. It has been used as a laxative because it is high in fiber. It is also used to help inflammation, gastritis, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Maracuya or yellow passion fruit- It is bright yellow on the outside and on the inside it has dark brown seeds surrounded by a yellow jelly-like pulp. It is stronger and more sour than the more common purple variety of passion fruit. It is high in antioxidants and fiber and can also be beneficial for its calming effect, and in cancer and asthma. Another relative is Granadilla which is sweeter and more golden yellow on the outside. Yet another member of the passion fruit family is Curuba (banana passion fruit) which is sweeter than the purple variety and is high in antioxidants.

(photo by Marco Verch Professional photographer)

Corozo- It is a small, round reddish-purple fruit grown on palm trees. It has a sour, earthy flavor similar to sweet-tart cranberries. It is high in Vitamin C and A and antioxidants. It can be helpful for reducing inflammation and boosting collagen production within the skin.

Borojo- It is a round and brown fruit with a flavor similar to a sweet-tart plum. It is known for its aphrodisiac properties and sometimes referred to as nature’s Viagra. It is also highly nutritious and can be used as a health food.

Guanabana or Soursop- Its edible creamy white pulp has been described as having a flavor comparable to pineapple and strawberry. It is full of fiber and vitamins and is claimed to be beneficial in variety of cancers.

Guama (Guaba or ice-cream bean)- The outside and seeds are not edible. The pulp inside melts in your mouth and tastes similar to vanilla ice cream. It is known to lower blood pressure and help with inflammation.

I raise a glass of delicious Corozo juice (it is also made into wine) in the hope that we may soon get the chance to roam the stalls of a Cartagena market again.