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Focusing On Food |
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Tree Tomato – The Exotic Fruit
Researched and written by Wisam Hasan Faraj Obregon
Overview
The tree tomato (Cyphomandra befacea) or tamarillo is one of the most exotic native fruits from South America. It belongs to the potato family, Solanaceae, and originates from the eastern slopes of the Colombian, Ecuadorian and Peruvian Andes. It is grown in the mild and fresh climate of the Colombian Central highlands at 1,200 and 3,000 metres above sea level and it is a bush like plant with large leaves reaching 2 to 3 metres in height. It is extremely fast growing, it requires a lot of water and yields between 40-60 lbs of fruit per annum. The optimum temperature for growing the tree tomato is between 14 - 20°C.
It is now cultivated in Sri Lanka, India and other parts of Asia as well as Australia and New Zealand. The original name, tree tomato, was used until 1967 when New Zealand invented the tropical sounding name tamarillo to market it.
Medicinal Uses
As a natural remedy the tree tomato is considered a fruit that relieves stress and helps to cure migraines and severe headaches. It is used to treat obesity - because it is low in calories - as well as high blood pressure. It also contains phosphorus, calcium, potassium, nitrogen, iron, beta-carotene (pro vitamin A), vitamin B 6, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E and carbohydrates.
It is used for colds, sore throats, liver diseases and diabetes and it is said to improve the immune and circulatory systems.
How it is Used
The tree tomato is 2 or 3 inches long and 1˝ to 2 inches wide and and resembles a hen's egg in shape. It is eaten fresh, often with sugar, or used to make juices, jams, desserts, ice cream, chutneys, jelly and stewed fruit but the skin and seeds should be removed first. In Colombia it is usually drunk as a juice (occasionally with milk) while in New Zealand and the US it is used in salads and puddings.
Others Characteristics
Colombia has exported the tree tomato to the United Kingdom, Spain, Ecuador, Holland, France and Germany. The tree tomato exports from Colombia have increased by 15% between 1991 and 2000 and this increase shows the potential growth possible in the exotic fruits market. In the international market the pulp is available either chilled or frozen.
In 1996 Colombia exported 1,036 tons and this has expanded so much that by 2002 the Colombian annual production had reached more than 112,000 tons which is cultivated on 7,300 hectares of land.
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Tree Tomato Bush
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Tree Tomato Orchards in the Andes |
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Tree Tomatoes |
Tree Tomatoes |
For More Information try visiting:-
Sites in English
www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/tree_tomato.html
Sites in Spanish
http://huitoto.udea.edu.co/FrutasTropicales/lulo.html
Wisam Hasan Faraj Obregon graduated in Business Studies from Universidad Externado de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia in September 2003. He spent six months with The Food Club as our scholarship student as part of his final year studies.
Tree Tomato.Aug 2003