Oasis Fruit Monger : The Top 5 Fruits of Colombia

Remember when your mother would say “eat your fruits and vegetables” as you threw your steamed spinach on the floor?  Well now we are all grown up, and while some people may still have a love/hate relationship with vegetables, fruits, we can unanimously agree, are pretty awesome.  For those of you living in the USA and Western Europe, you know a wide variety of fruits are readily available for your consumption whenever your heart desires.  Unfortunately in Buenos Aires, finding fruit more exotic than a pear can prove difficult and the most tropical fruits available (the banana) are often mealy and brown.  Luckily there are greener pastures (literally) to the north, far north in a distant land called Colombia.  Let’s take a look at the best fruits Colombia has to offer:

Zapote

Kind of a cross between a melon and an orange avocado this subtle berryish flavored fruit is found all over Colombia as well as other countries in Central and South America.  The locals are big fans so if you want to fit in we strongly suggest you give it a try, especially in blended smoothie form.

Blend it with:Milk or Water, Sugar, Ice

Lulo

Best consumed in juice form, this tomato-like citrusy, limey tropically tart fruit is hard to compare to any other wordly fruit….ie you just have to try it to savor in its goodness.  Sweet enough on its own, when blended with water it creates a nice foam on top.

Blend it with:Water, Ice (yep thats it!)

Maracuyá

So you thought passion fruit was just a made up flavor by Tropicana?  Well you are very, very, VERY wrong my friend.  Better know, outside of Walmart as maracuyá, it is the village bicycle of the fruit world.  Its tangy, tropical flavor, when mixed with sugar can turn into delicious jams, ice cream, cakes, and even taste great in sauce form on meats.  In Colombia you will find maracuyá everywhere, most commonly in roadside smoothie stands.  Make sure to try it blended with water and a healthy amount of sugar (or no sugar if you hate life).

Goes well with:Yeah, pretty much everything.

Borojo

Not the best when eaten on its own but this strange, zesty little fruit is packed with nutritious vitamins. There’s an interesting spiciness that comes out when mixed in water, but a burst of berriness springs to the foreground with milk.  Oh, and to boot it supposedly has some viagra-like properties when properly prepared.  How bout them borojos?

Blend it with:Water, Milk (try both and see which you like best)

Guanábana

While its juice is not difficult to find in specialty food stores and Latin American neighborhoods around the world, this giant green fruit with little spikes is all over Colombia in juice and non-juice form.  The taste is unique but generally a bit neutral and can vary greatly depending on its ripeness.  It’s a bit difficult to eat on its own, which is why we recommend throwing it in a blender.  Mix it up with some sugar and milk and you will be pleasantly surprised, yes you will!

Blend it with:Milk, Sugar, Ice, any and all alcohol you can get your sticky, fruit-stained hands on.

Any other delicious Colombian fruits worthwhile mentioning?  Let us know!