I really enjoyed reading through this thread, and I can really relate to most of what has been said here.
I grew up in Orange County California, back when orange groves were everywhere. I found the oranges to be great, for use as projectiles that is
. We used to roam those groves as kids, chucking oranges at each others heads, but rarely eating them.
I never really was fond of fruit, with the exception of watermelon and honeydew. All I was exposed to I suppose was the typical north american supermarket fare, which I found pretty tasteless.
My first exposure to tropical flavors was through eating tropical fruit flavor life saver candy. I can still remember thinking how wonderful they were. That was at least 30 years ago.
Then I moved to my current home in South Florida in 2004. The previous owner had 3 mango trees, 3 sweetsop, 1 guanabana, 1 custard apple, 1 hog plum, 1 caimito, 1 sapodilla, and a lot of coconut.
After the first season, I was completely hooked, possibly obsessed
. I never new fruit could be this good. So I went kinda nuts planting out mostly mango's (20 or so) and a few other things like Jackfruit, Lychee, Mulberry, Carambola, etc.
I also try to share with many co-workers, friends, etc. Most really like them, but few have planted out any trees. I also find the folks who tend to be the most passionate about the fruit are from the Carribean and South America. In general North Americans seem much less enthusiastic, myself excluded
