If you are a regular follower of this blog, you will be realizing the large number of fruits that exist. Succulent, tasty and full of Vitamins, so you can choose your favorites or opt for a combination of several to give yourself an authentic and highly healthy energy boost. If you want to further expand the list of tropical fruits with excellent flavor and rich in nutrients, write down the suckers, also called “mamoncillos”. The mamones are a tropical fruit rich in vitamin B and that you will like to try.
Scientifically called as Melicoccus bijugatus, its cultivation is popular in tropical countries, and can be found in areas of Southeast Asia and Latin America. There are other names for it, such as lemongrass, maco, guaya, papamundo and quenepa. All of them refer to the fruit or edible drupes which They are born in a tree of the Sapindaceae family.
Do you want to know everything about this specimen and what are its properties and benefits that its consumption brings? The Vitamin B It will be the main protagonist, but not the only one, because it provides other interesting nutrients to the body and is of great value for the kitchen.
What is mamón or mamoncillo?
As we said a couple of paragraphs ago, mamoncillo comes from a tree of the sapindaceae family, the same one from which other very similar fruits come and are also valued in gastronomy as with the lychee and longan.
The lemongrass tree can reach up to 25 meters in height in the case of the tallest specimens, although it is not unusual to find one that exceeds 30 meters or barely stays at 12 meters. The size of the tree will depend on the habitat. can achieve in its development.
When the rainy season begins, the tree gives us the beautiful picture with its white flowers, quite small in size, with just 4 or 5 greenish-white petals that give off a very special aroma.
The fruit, which is what interests us most, is also small, just 2 to 4 centimeters in diameter. These fruits are grouped in clusters, which They remind us of grapes in their appearance, with a thin green shell, while the drupe itself is orange-yellow and translucent in appearance. Of course, most of the fruit is occupied by its seed, which is large and hard, similar to that of the loquat, but whitish in color.
What is the fruit of the mamoncillo like?
On the outside, the mamoncillo looks like an olive due to the greenish color of its thin skin. Inside, however, its very juicy pulp and when you bite him he surprises us with a bittersweet, that is, rather sweet but with a very characteristic slight acid touch.
If we had to look for similarities with other fruits, mamones resemble a combination of fruits such as melon, pineapple and even guava in terms of flavor. While due to its gelatinous appearance it is identical to the grape or the fruit that we mentioned before and that is from the same family: the lichi.
Due to its refreshing flavor, texture and qualities, mamón is highly valued for preparing drinks, ice cream and other desserts.
Vitamin B and other nutritional contributions of infants
The mamons or lemongrass They are a good natural source of nutrients and, especially, of Group B vitamins, including vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6. Consuming these vitamins is important because they play an essential role in the proper functioning of the brain, in the production of red blood cells and in the nervous system.
La Vitamin B2In addition, he works in the fat metabolism, proteins and carbohydrates, also favoring the skin and vision health. The skin also has an impact Vitamin B3, that also Improves digestion. While Vitamin B5 influences the hormone production and B6 is fundamental in the fetal brain development and children, which is why its consumption is mandatory during pregnancy and childhood.
Added to all this is the role of Vitamin C, which stands out for helping the body to better absorb iron and strengthen the immune system.
How to consume mamons
The suckers can be eaten directly, simply removing the skin and bone. You can too add it to salads to create sweet and sour salad recipes or Fruit salad along with other tropical fruits such as pineapple, kiwi, papaya, mango or to provide a touch of acidity along with sweeter fruits such as banana and strawberry.
If you are not afraid to experiment with flavors and the mixture of sweet and salty, it is very tasty. mamón garnish on roast meat and on the plates grilled fish. And the same thing happens with foods like couscous and rice, which lend themselves to being served exquisitely with all kinds of accompaniment, including mamoncillos.
Another very common alternative is to prepare shakes, smoothies and desserts using these fruits.
All about growing suckling pigs
If you would like to cultivate suckers you have to know that these need climates that are humid, warm and lots of light. As for the soils, they require that they be well drained and, much better, if they have a certain acidity. Irrigation is essential, especially in the first years. Because mamons are a laborious and demanding crop, since they can take up to 5 years to bear fruit.
It must also be taken into account that they are delicate fruits and, when harvesting them, they must be handled delicately so as not to damage them.
How to get the most out of suckers
With the fruit of mamón, apart from the uses that we have seen, they are also made beer and spirits. But it is that of Melicoccus bijugatus everything is used, because the Leaves can be infused and seeds roasted and ground and both formulas are used to treat diseases such as diarrhea and dysentery.
In addition to their medical usesFrom the tree, its wood is used for cabinetmaking, carpentry and construction.
Mammons are a tropical fruit rich in vitamin B and with important contributions to our gastronomy and our health. If you haven't tried them yet, don't delay.