Perhaps the tastiest fruit there is

Melicoccus bijugatus , also known as Mamoncillo, Spanish lime or Genip, is a tropical fruit tree that is relatively unknown in our part of the world but certainly worth discovering. This beautiful tree produces small, slightly oblong round fruits that resemble limes.

The fruits appear after a very fragrant white flowering period. When peeled, the sweet orange flesh is revealed, reminiscent of lychees and rambutans. Spanish limes can be enjoyed in countless ways: fresh by sucking on the flesh, cooked into jams or marmalades, boiled in water to make a cold drink, or boiled for a long time in sugar to make a syrup served with rum. The kernel can be roasted and eaten like a peanut.

The tree is tolerant of light frost and dry periods. To encourage fruit formation, it is recommended to plant several trees close together.

Botanical description

Melicoccus bijugatus , like the fruits lychee and rambutan, belongs to the Sapindaceae family and is originally from tropical America.

The tree has been developed to withstand both dry periods and light frost (down to about -5 degrees), making it more adaptable to Sweden than many other tropical fruit trees.

The flowers are white and very fragrant, which attracts pollinators. The fruits develop in clusters and ripen to a green to yellow-green color, hence the name Spanish lime even though they are not related to citrus fruits.

Care

Repot in a pot that is slightly larger than the original, with good drainage. Choose fine potting soil, preferably with added perlite or sand to make the substrate lighter. We grow Mamoncillo in our peat-free soil . Plan on repotting twice a year (spring and autumn) and increase the pot size gradually.

Water moderately but abundantly so that the entire soil is wet. Then wait until the substrate has completely dried before the next watering. The plant recovers better from a lack of water than from too much water. Always water at the base and avoid spraying the foliage.

For indoor cultivation, the plant must be taken outside in the summer where full sun is ideal. During the winter, it should be kept in a cold room that is frost-free but not heated. Preferably under a grow light . Reduce watering drastically during the winter.