The REAL Sweet Sixteen: Tart and Tiny
June 20th, 2013
Welcome back to day three of the REAL Sweet Sixteen exotic fruit tournament. Thanks to everyone who has been voting and participating on twitter and facebook! Today’s category is Tart and Tiny because sometimes the biggest flavors come in the smallest packages, and that is certainly the case with these four fun-sized contestants. Although small in stature, these four fruits pack a bigger punch than most of their larger competitors, and they’re great for snacks to boot! Below are descriptions of each fruit; the winner of this category will go on to compete against the three winners of the other categories. Vote for your favorite, give us your reasons in the comments. May the best fruit win!
Uchuva
Native to South America, the Uchuva is now grown in Africa, Asia, and Australia, among other locales. This sweet, tart, orange berry is the size of a marble, but its shape and size is disguised by the papery calyx that encloses each berry. It is closely related to the Tomatillo which also has a calyx, and is distantly related to the tomato, eggplant and potato. In folk medicine the Uchuva has been used to treat cancer, leukemia, malaria, asthma, dermatitis, and rheumatism. However, here in Colombia we give Uchuvas a different purpose: a chaser for the local liquor, Aguardiente.
Mora
Oftentimes confused for blackberries or raspberries, Mora is one of the few berries that grows in Colombia. The flavor has been compared to a mix of rhubarb and cranberry and is certainly tart. Mora is popular in juices and jams. It’s rich in B Group Vitamins, Vitamin C, iron and helps counteract anemia and strengthen bones and teeth. The Mora plant produces berries for up to 20 years!
Mamoncillo
Commonly called Spanish Lime, Mamoncillo looks exactly like a tiny lime on the outside. Once the skin has been punctured, the light orange flesh surrounding a large seed is revealed. The name Mamoncillo comes from the verb mamar which means “to suck” because the fruit must be sucked off of the seed. The flavor is described as lychee meets lime, and the texture is very lychee-like
Madroño
Just when we thought we had seen and tried all of the fruits Medellín had to offer, we happened upon this little spiky yellow golf ball about a month ago. Madroños can be found growing near the Pacific coast as well as in the Mediterranean. Their flavor is sour, sweet and tart, and if you told me they were the inspiration for the candy SweeTarts, I would believe you. To keep you supplied with trivia knowledge, the Madroño tree is part of Madrid’s coat of arms and can be seen on taxi cabs, man-hole covers, buses, etc. You can even find a statue in the center of the city, Puerta del Sol, of a bear eating the fruit from a Madroño tree.
So which fruit has your vote? Vote here, on facebook, or tweet us your pick! And don’t forget to vote in the previous contests, “Playing Hard to Get” and “Passionate for Passion Fruit” if you haven’t already.
Online Poll @ FluidSurveys.com…
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The REAL Sweet 16: Passionate for Passion Fruit
June 19th, 2013
It’s day two of the REAL Sweet 16 tournament, and today’s contestants are four fruits from the passion fruit family. However, their outward appearances are very different, as are the flavors on the inside, which range from tangy, to sweet, to savory.
Below are descriptions of each fruit; the winner of this category will go on to compete against the three winners of the other categories. Vote for your favorite, give us your reasons in the comments, and keep the conversation going on facebook and twitter. May the best fruit win!
Granadilla
Sometimes called “alien” or “booger fruit” by our guests, Granadillas certainly have an odd, slimy texture. But don’t let that stop you from trying it! The eggshell-like exterior gives way to seed pods that closely resemble fish eyes, and a sweet flavor that has made it a crowd favorite. The protective shell makes this fruit ideal for tossing in your backpack for an easy, mess-free snack, not to mention healthy as they contain vitamins A, C, K, phosphorus,iron, and calcium. Granadillas grow between northern Argentina and Mexico, as well as parts of Africa and Australia. Most of our guests from around the world have never seen them despite supposedly being exported to North America, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland and Spain.
Maracuyá
Used in juice and desserts, Maracuyá is considered to be one of Colombia’s most important fruits. Yellow on the outside with neon orange pulp on the inside, the tangy flavor also goes great in a cocktail. All over the world it is used in ice creams, yoghurts, soft drinks, wine, and even as a mild sedative in Brazil! Passion fruit grows on a vine and gets its name from the flower that grows on the vine, Passion Flower. Here’s a tip for trivia night: the passion flower is Paraguay’s national flower.
Curuba Larga
This member of the passion fruit family has a bit of an identity crisis. In South America alone it has no fewer than 13 names: curuba, curuba de Castilla, curuba sabanera blanca, taxo, tacso, tagso, tauso, parcha, tumbo, tumbo del norte, trompos, tintin and purpur. It is more commonly known in English speaking countries as banana passion fruit, which only refers to its shape and color, not to the flavor. Unlike its cousins, Curuba Larga is almost savory rather than tangy or sweet. It is a popular juice when mixed with milk, giving it a flavor strikingly similar to cold cream of mushroom soup.
Curuba Purpura
Also known as curuba redonda (round), this purple passion fruit is very similar in taste to maracuya, but is preferred in particular by the Aussies and those with more refined palates. Less acidic than maracuyá, curuba purpura is eaten rather than juiced. Some of our guests have been known to cut off the top of the curuba, pour in a shot of Colombia’s national liquor, Aguardiente, and shoot it. It is time to update its wikipedia entry with its new use: nature’s shot glass.
So which fruit has your vote? Vote here, on facebook, or tweet us your pick! And don’t forget to vote in yesterday’s contest, “Playing Hard to Get” if you haven’t already.
Online Poll @ FluidSurveys.com…
Survey Software by FluidSurveys
And for your viewing pleasure, a bonus picture of passion flowers because they are insanely cool looking, like something out of Avatar. Click on the picture to see even more!
The REAL Sweet Sixteen: Vote for Your Favorite “Hard to Get” Exotic Fruit
June 18th, 2013
Welcome to day one of voting in the REAL Sweet Sixteen Exotic Fruit Tourney! The first four fruits vying for your votes represent the “Playing Hard to Get” category. These fruits take longer to grow but are definitely worth the wait. Because they can take months to grow and ripen they’re not always available in the market, making them some of the most expensive fruits you can buy. But we think you’ll agree that they’re worth every peso!
Below are descriptions of each fruit; the winner of this category will go on to compete against the three winners of the other categories. Vote for your favorite, give us your reasons in the comments, and keep the conversation going on facebook and twitter. May the best fruit win!
Mangostino
Growing mostly in Southeast Asia, the mangostino (or mangosteen as they are called elsewhere) is a relatively new addition to Colombia’s extensive fruit arsenal, and many Colombians have yet to try what is called the “Queen of Fruit.” What’s with the name? Well, legend has it that Queen Victoria offered a reward of 100 pounds sterling to anyone who could bring her Mangostinos. The queen wasn’t the only fan; New York Times journalist and gourmand RW Apple Jr. was quoted as saying “”No other fruit, for me, is so thrillingly, intoxicatingly luscious…I’d rather eat one than a hot fudge sundae…”
Pitahaya
You may know this mildly sweet cactus fruit by its other name, Dragon Fruit, or you may have seen its pink cousin in Southeast Asia. Yellow and spiny on the outside, and clear with black seeds on the inside, many people remark on texture’s similarity to kiwi. Like kiwi, Pitahaya is rich in Vitamin C as well as calcium, antioxidants, and omega-3s. It’s also rich in natural fiber, making it a great digestive aid. So don’t eat too much, no matter how much you love the flavor!
Guama
This peculiar fruit (technically a legume) is native to the Amazon region of South America, and grows in pods that can reach the length of an arm. The fruit itself is a little over an inch long and resembles a cotton ball but is surprisingly moist. The odd texture is accompanied by a mildly sweet flavor some have likened to vanilla ice cream. A little bonus: the large seed can be used as prosthetic finger nails!
Feijoa
This green, egg-sized fruit has only recently come onto the Colombian scene in the last 25 years, but has become quite popular in that time. Because of its resemblance to the guava, many people have inaccurately called it a type of guava (myself included). When ripe, the pulp turns from white to translucent and the flavor has been described as a mix between pineapple and guava or pineapple and strawberry, with hints of winter green or spearmint, truly a combination that must be tasted to be believed.
So which fruit has your vote? Vote here, on facebook, or tweet us your pick!
Online Poll @ FluidSurveys.com…
Survey Software by FluidSurveys
The REAL Sweet Sixteen: Colombia’s Exotic Fruits Compete To Be Your Favorite!
June 17th, 2013
Click here to see more fruit pics!
As anyone who has visited Colombia will tell you, there are countless fruits and juices to be found in this fertile country. Medellin has the great fortune of having an especially large variety because of its proximity to warm and cold climates. With so many delicious fruits, which one reigns supreme? It’s time to find out with our very own Sweet Sixteen bracket!
We have taken 16 of Colombia’s most popular fruits and divided them into 4 categories: Playing Hard to Get, Passionate for Passion Fruit, Tart and Tiny, and the Wild Cards. Vote for your favorite fruit in each category and the winner of each bracket will go on to compete against each other in the Final Four next week. 16 fruits will enter, only one will emerge victorious!
Here are the contestants:
Playing Hard to Get:
These four fruits take longer to grow but are definitely worth the wait. Because they can take months to grow and ripen they’re not always available at the market, making them some of the most expensive fruits you can buy. But we think you’ll agree that they’re worth every peso!
Mangostino
Pitahaya
Guama
Feijoa
Passionate for Passion Fruit:
Similar to the seed structure of a pomegranate, these four fruits are all in the passion fruit family. However, their outward appearances are very different, as are the flavors on the inside, which range from tangy, to sweet, to savory.
Granadilla
Maracuyá
Curuba Larga
Curuba Redonda
Tart ‘n’ Tiny:
Sometimes the biggest flavors come in the smallest packages, and that is certainly the case with these four fun-sized contestants. Although small in stature, these four fruits pack a bigger punch than most of their larger competitors, and they’re great for snacks to boot!
Uchuva
Mora
Mamoncillo
Madroño
Wild Card:
Our contest wouldn’t be complete without some of these Colombian standards on the list. They may not have anything in common except that they’re all delicious and they taste best right here in Colombia!
Mango
Zapote
Nispero
Papaya
Voting begins officially begins tomorrow, but feel free to post your favorite fruits from each category in the comment section below. What’s that you say? You aren’t familiar with these exotic fruits? Well that’s an easy fix: simply come visit us at our Bed and Breakfast in Medellin and join us for our Exotic Fruit Tasting Tour! In the mean time, every day this week we’ll give you more information on each of the fruits and their flavors, so stay tuned!
Medellin Christmas Celebration: Los Alumbrados
December 9th, 2011
Every year, Medellin comes alive with the Christmas spirit. The entire city participates to cover the landscape in millions of colorful lights and decorations. Nowhere is this more evident and magnificent than along the Medellin river where the city dedicates countless man hours and millions of pesos in electricity bills to create one of the most impressive Christmas light displays in the world.
This event is called Los Alumbrados and begins in early December and continues through early January but the locals are so enthusiastic about the tradition that the preparations often start in September. This year seems to be one of the most spectacular in recent memory, which is no easy feat because every year seems to be more impressive than the last. Each year a different theme is chosen for the celebration and this year’s features the various barrios (communities) of Medellin and highlights a specific facet of each.
The city goes to great lengths to give everyone a chance to see the Alumbrados up close by shutting down the highway that runs along the Medellin River. This creates a “boardwalk” type atmosphere with over a hundred stalls for food vendors, souvenir shops, and entertainers. Locals and visitors alike come down to the river to take in the millions of lights and creative decorations.
We took a video of the nearly 2 kilometer stretch along the river during the daytime to give you an idea of just how large, detailed, and creative the Christmas celebration is. We hope you like it!
(A description (in Spanish) of the Alumbrados can be found here.)
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