Author Topic: What does Membrillo (Gustavia superba) taste like?  (Read 1429 times)

Mike T

  • Zone 12a
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9014
  • Cairns,Nth Qld, Australia
    • Zone 12a
    • View Profile
What does Membrillo (Gustavia superba) taste like?
« on: October 03, 2020, 10:12:22 PM »


A few years ago I shared some plants with friends of Membrillos which I has grown from seeds received from Jim West in Ecuador. Now they are flowering and being appreciated for both flowers and being a handsome tree I am getting enquiries as to the taste of the fruit. Having never tried the fruit I'd thought some of the seasoned campaigners here may have the answers I need as published info is hazy. I think I should have kept one for myself.

HIfarm

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1145
    • Paukaa, HI, USA zone 12b
    • View Profile
Re: What does Membrillo (Gustavia superba) taste like?
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2020, 10:33:54 PM »
Any idea about how many years to flowering?  I'll be interested in hearing reports on the flavor, I've got a few seedlings.  The flowers are really impressive so, if for nothing else, I can find room for them for that.

John

Nyuu

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 330
    • Florida , lake placid 9b
    • View Profile
Re: What does Membrillo (Gustavia superba) taste like?
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2020, 10:41:14 PM »
If like Gustavia augusta going to be slow growing . slow as molasses in January

Mike T

  • Zone 12a
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9014
  • Cairns,Nth Qld, Australia
    • Zone 12a
    • View Profile
Re: What does Membrillo (Gustavia superba) taste like?
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2020, 10:41:56 PM »
That would be a bit over 4 years old and 6 or 7 feet high I think. yes it would be a good feature tree even if fruit didn't live up to expectations. While that tree has some small fruit I expect them to be the size of an orange when mature and much like a canistel inside.


Hylo

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10
    • Australia
    • View Profile
Re: What does Membrillo (Gustavia superba) taste like?
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2020, 02:20:03 AM »




Beautiful new leaf colour at the moment too.

Mike T

  • Zone 12a
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9014
  • Cairns,Nth Qld, Australia
    • Zone 12a
    • View Profile
Re: What does Membrillo (Gustavia superba) taste like?
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2020, 04:53:42 PM »


I heard from Jim West just now and he says they are pretty good to eat and he has a number of species with good tasting fruit including G.longifolia which has flowers pictured above. Jim apparently can send seeds out now but maybe in a limited way and I presume he can receive them as well.

aroideana

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 20
    • Tropical north Queensland, Australia
    • View Profile
Re: What does Membrillo (Gustavia superba) taste like?
« Reply #6 on: May 05, 2022, 07:25:54 PM »
Tastes disgusting .

guaycuyacu

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 34
    • ecuador
    • View Profile
    • guaycuyacu seeds
Re: What does Membrillo (Gustavia superba) taste like?
« Reply #7 on: May 08, 2022, 02:09:20 PM »
it is an unusual fruit, savory not sweet, often eaten cooked.  it is a commercial fruit in the colombian chocó.  pacó is the local name.  ive hear others say they dont like it.  i like it ok, but G. macarenensis is my favorite of the gustavias, rich and oily.   but there also there are those who dont like it.

shot

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 967
    • usa fl bokeelia 10
    • View Profile
Re: What does Membrillo (Gustavia superba) taste like?
« Reply #8 on: May 08, 2022, 04:50:26 PM »
It's good to have some savory fruits !Just sweeeet gets old .

cassowary

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 606
    • Australia FNQ 13a Tropical Monsoon
    • View Profile
    • cassowaryseeds
Re: What does Membrillo (Gustavia superba) taste like?
« Reply #9 on: June 04, 2023, 09:00:28 PM »
They are delicious!!!
Just got to eat it when ripe.

IMO the flavor is better then ackee, avo, dabai and safou. But the yield is so low that all over it's not better then the four I mentioned. I haven't tasted great dabai so maybe Dabai is better in flavor.

I can't wait to try a G. macarenensis, must be super good!!
CASSOWARYSEEDS.COM
Seed shop and Seed exchange

Mike T

  • Zone 12a
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9014
  • Cairns,Nth Qld, Australia
    • Zone 12a
    • View Profile
Re: What does Membrillo (Gustavia superba) taste like?
« Reply #10 on: June 17, 2023, 11:47:09 PM »
G. macarenensis is supposed to be the best for eating and mine is still small.

REGENESIS CR

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 1
    • Costa Rica, Southern Pacific
    • View Profile
Re: What does Membrillo (Gustavia superba) taste like?
« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2024, 11:01:20 AM »
I lived high in the central mountain range of Veraguas, Panama as a Peace Corps Volunteer.  Membrillo season was my favorite, as the stews and tortillas would take on a rich and satisfying cheesy flavor.  following are more details i can recall about this amazing fruit.... It was grown as a midstory tree between the upper canopy of nitrogen fixers and ojoche, and the understory of mostly cafe with some cacao.  Here in the heavy shade, they produced abundant fruits for 1/2 months of the year.  however at the CATIE institute in Costa Rica where a friend was living, the Membrillos produced for 8 months out of the year, as they were in full sun, and a few meters away from a pond. 

In terms of preparation, i believe the fruit was peeled with a knife to remove the outer 2 layers (one visible and the second almost unoticeable, which is bitter) before boiling and discarding the water.