Cyphomandra abutiloides - Dwarf Tamarillo

[Nicola]

I bought some seeds at Tradewindfruits of Cyphomandra abutiloides: https://www.tradewindsfruit.com/cyphomandra-abutiloides-dwarf-tamarillo-seeds
and the fruit tastes disgusting! Does anyone know how to use the fruit/ has recipes? And yes, the fruit I tried were ripe!

[Kevin Jones]

My personal experience with Cyphomandras is... they really stink when brushed against.
Unless you enjoy the fragrance of Urine!
In all fairness... I never let it stick around to set fruit... too smelly!

Kevin

[Plantinyum]

My personal experience with Cyphomandras is... they really stink when brushed against.
Unless you enjoy the fragrance of Urine!
In all fairness... I never let it stick around to set fruit... too smelly!

Kevin

interesting, i grow tamarillo and never had much problems with the scent , it was unpleasant only when i touched the leaves, and still not terrible.
Guess it deppends on the person, but if there was a reason not to grow it, for me it would not be the smell surely ....

[Paradise Redefined]

I had a plant last year. The leaves are really smelly, to me kind of like tar. It started to fruit at about 9 months old after starting indoor really early. I only had about 8 fruits before winter shut down the flowering. They taste really tropical in flavor with a little bitter after taste. I heard the fruits taste better after the stems start to get woody.

The plants get minor frost damage at 31f. I lost the plant completely when temps hit their lowest at 28f. I took a cutting inside that rooted so Ill try again this year and see how they go. It definitely has a leg up on last year.

[Nicola]

Thank you! I found the fruit tasting bad and smelling worse.

[pop_kun]

I had one that fruited profusely and season over season the flavor didn't improve. Always had a terrible astringent aftertaste that wouldn't go away. It was pretty and I didnt have the stinky leaves issue, but one of the worst fruit I've ever grown. Bleh.

[elouicious]

I believe normal tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea) are frequently consumed in a few ways-

Sprinkled with sugar on top and eaten out of hand- I found this to be alright

Cooked (often with mint) as a marinade to meats- I have not tried this

I didn't find it to be an amazing fruit- but possibly good as a marinade with meat

[Flgarden]

I bought a fruit, ate it raw, liked it and planted seeds. I don't know how good they will be but i do find their leaves stinky.
Ana