Commentary

All fruits ripe

I ASKED P the other day, "What is your favourite Jamaican fruit?" He said: 'You know I have no idea, I see so many American apples, peaches, and grapes that Jamaican fruit as a favourite is not really up there. I kind of think of them as just exotic.'

You see, P has become a bit of a townie so you have to see with him. I try to get him to log on to the real world and understand that Jamaica is not the capital of Kingston and there is whole world of activity outside of Six Miles, the Harbour View round-a-bout and the aisles of Mega Mart and Price Smart that he needs to find out about.

And here lies the story with the fruit and the 'born again' campaign that I totally endorsed about buying Jamaican.

Jamaica has the greatest collection of fruit in the region but we have not really exploited them. Why? Maybe, because we don't see people consuming them on our cable television programmes and in ads that suggest these are cool things to eat. But we have great fruit, think about it.

Here is a list of my top five Jamaican fruit:

1.Naseberry

2.St. Julian mango [the Julie]

3.Custard Apple

4.Jackfruit

5.June Plum

You know, I could only find one person in my small survey that shared my number one - I shook his hand, smart man. You need to understand there is nothing as exquisite as the taste of properly chilled ready to eat Naseberry. Ooh God, my mouth waters here just writing about it.

There are some people who think a mango is a mango. Well, I am here to tell you, hell no. The St. Julian has the texture that tells you it was the Rolls Royce of mangoes when the great man was setting up the Garden of Eden. No other mango can test and the Julie makes the greatest smoothie --- with honey of course.

The custard apple - custie - is the Chippendales of fruit - yes, truly unusual with a flavour that says I need to have more. The eating of the custie is what makes it even more interesting as you can wrap your entire face into the process - yes Lord.

Unique flavour

Jackfruit is just up there with the most unique of flavours. I understand that there are many people who don't like it and I understand it is an acquired taste thing but - 'sorry fi all a yu, half a yu life gone!'

June Plum is just too special. Ripe and green it has a vibe, a serious vibe, and when you drop in the salt - good Lord.

Following in my list of top Jamaican fruits are:

6.Guava

7.Cashew [really exotic fruit dis - and it makes a wicked drink.]

8.Mamme Apple [another exotic one that you must acquire the taste for]

9.O. Apple

10 Guinep

11 Coolie Plum

12.Shaddock [A wicked type of citrus - looks like a grapefruit but is deep red inside and sweet like -- wow]

13.Tamarind

Things like sweet sop, sour sop, hog plum, Star apple, sugar apple, rose apple just can't really make my list. And just food for thought, why the hell we have so many things called apple that aren't apples?

You know, with all these fruits it is hard to understand why on earth we import so many foreign fruits that don't offer half the variety in terms of flavour. Can you tell me why? Maybe this is a call for marketing to our farmers - but believe me our fruits are special - really, really special.

[email comments to myfriendp@hotmail.com]