I Tasted 4 Foraged Fruits Today

Summary

The author describes the experience of foraging and tasting four different fruits in their neighborhood during winter, including lilly pilly, natal plum, rose hips, and passion fruit.

Abstract

In the midst of winter, the author takes a neighborhood walk and discovers the unexpected delight of foraging four distinct fruits: lilly pilly, natal plum, rose hips, and passion fruit. Each fruit offers a unique flavor profile, from the sweet-tart and spongy lilly pilly with a clove flavor to the sweet-tart and mushy rose hips, which the author has previously noted for their nutraceutical benefits. The natal plum is described as oozing but edible, while the passion fruit, though sour due to tartaric acid, is transformed into a refreshing tropical drink with the addition of salt and sugar. The author finds joy in this diversity of flavors and encourages city planners

The joy of finding free fruits in the neighborhood

Image by author

It’s the thick of winter. Even in sunny California, the trees are dormant. Most of them have leaves, yet they look dull.

Despite this, I managed to pick 4 different fruits on my neighborhood walk.

What are they?

Well, they are lilly pilly, natal plum, rose hips, and passion fruit.

Lilly pilly (Syzygium smithii) is a fruit from the Myrtaceae family. The tree was in a neighbor’s yard with branches spreading out. I took advantage of a stick to pick a few. Washed, we ate the fruit, which tasted sweet-tart, spongy texture, and clove flavor. It made our tongue purple, just like Java plum.

Lilly Pilly: Image by author

Then I plucked a few natal plums (Carissa sp.) from groundcover plants in the neighborhood. It’s an Apocyanaceae family fruit and oozes but is edible.

Natal plum: Image by author

The rose bushes are sporting ripe rose hips. I gathered a few of these Rosaceae fruits. A mushy one tasted sweet-tart. In the past, I have published articles on the nutraceutical value of rose hips.

Rose hip: Image by author

A neighborhood passion flower vine had ripe purple passion fruits. This fruit from the Passifloraceae family is well-regarded as an exotic tropical fruit. I scooped the pulp. It was flavorful, but quite sour due to tartaric acid.

Passion fruit: Image by author

So, I added salt and sugar to the pulp and diluted, it to make a refreshing tropical drink.

Passion fruit juice: Image by author

The diversity of flavor tasting added cheer to the gloomy cold days.

I am eager to find out what fruit bounty other seasons will offer.

I urge city planners to go for permaculture and edible landscaping. Foraging free, healthy, and flavorful fruits tight in your neighborhood, is exciting.