benefits of tamarillo fruits

Tamarillo is not the best fruit to enjoy raw because it can be extremely acidic. However, when it is ripe it can be eaten with a sprinkling of salt or sugar and a little lime or lemon juice. Scoop out the pulp, with it many black seeds, and enjoy the flesh. The flavor of which could be compared to tomato, alkakengi, gooseberry, or plum.

The tree tomato is an excellent source of antioxidants because it contains a type of flavonoid known as anthocyanins. Furthermore, and more importantly it contains the carotenoids lycopene and beta carotene. Free radicals are the cause of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Moreover, numerous invitro studies have demonstrated that lycopene is particularly effective against prostate cancer. Lycopene, along with the other carotenoids, betacorotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, help protect and repair cells against DNA damage, thereby helping to prevent premature aging. However, of the four carotenoids, lycopene has by far the most antioxidant activity.

Tamarillo is also a good source of vitamin C, as well as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium and magnesium. One hundred grams of tamarillo fruit pulp has 2g of protien, 1.6g of fiber and about 50 calories. The group of flavonoids called anthocyanins are found in red or purple plant color pigments, known as phytochemicals. Aside from tamarillo, anthocyanins are also found in cranberries, blueberries and red cabbage. These flavonoids are antimicrobial, antiinflammatory and they help neutralize free radicals. They can also provide health benefits against diabetes, nuerological diseases, cancer and aging.

The pointy end of the fruit was scored with a cross so that when they were cooked it peeled back like a flower. They were poached with star anise and served with honeyed yoghurt. (Its funny how I remember all of this but forget who I was with and when it was!) I have served them like this many times since then, often with a sweet baked ricotta. They are also good stewed with other fruits and berries just scoop them out of their skin first.

They make a fabulous jam either by itself or with other fruit that sets really well beacause they are so high in pectin. The tree tomato is an excellent source of antioxidants because it contains a type of flavonoid known as anthocyanins. Furthermore, and more importantly it contains the carotenoids lycopene and beta carotene (vitamin A).

Its flowers are pinky white through to lavender, and the fruits may be purplered, orange, yellow and some have stripes running down their skins. The sweetest are the yellow and orange ones, and when you slice them open they have black seeds inside, so they resemble passion fruit and have been mistaken for an eggshaped persimmon. The tree is fast growing and reaches peak production of fruit at four years old. The fruits hang from the branches and 16 of them come from a cluster of flowers that may be comprised of between 10 and 50. Leaves have a faintly musky smell and are evergreen.