Purple Fruit With White Latex Oozing From It: Star Apple of Panama

Chrysophyllum cainito / Caimito

Were you one of the kids that ate paste in grade-school art class? You remember that Elmer's glue paste that actually smelled pretty good like spearmint (because it contained spearmint oil) so many kids in class tasted on a dare or maybe not on a dare? I don't personally remember eating it but I was always up for a dare so I probably did and I'm definitely not going to deny it. It's okay if you did, no judgement here in fact, I might identify as a glue eater because the monkeys and squirrels here love it!

To be more precise, it's latex the monkeys are consuming via this delicious fruit called Caimito which is in season right now. That white milky substance you see oozing from the fruit in the photo is a natural latex. It's super strange yet delicious to eat: after opening the fruit, the white and purple color flesh inside is the edible part spitting out the seeds. That is, unless you're a Capuchin monkey then you eat the seeds. It is sweet, with a fresh creamy taste of coconut, pear, and vanilla. It's delicious but just weird enough that you won't likely go back for more. Once that latex hits the open air on the lips it turns sticky and stays there for a while so the best way to eat it is with a spoon to avoid the latex sensation.

Caimito tree

The tree is a highly prized ornamental with its beautiful long sweeping branches of glossy green leaves that are golden-bronze underneath, with fragrant flowers, and a star patterned fruit. Human, monkey, squirrel, or bird, this is a tree we all love having around especially this time of year.

If you are like a lot of people living in a cold winter right now or just simply looking forward to a break from life and school in a few months over spring break, we still have some availability and would love to host you in this tropical paradise which also happens to be the best time for tuna fishing.

We may not have star apple in March, but we will have mangoes and other fruits for your indulgence along with warm water, great surf, peace & quiet (monkeys excepted) and a beautiful place to spend time with your loved ones.

With love from Morrillo,

Cari & Ryan

Owners and hosts