Written by Anna-Marie Barnes
This article was first published in Lifestyle Block
New Zealand horticulture has a reputation for turning obscure fruits into success stories. From Chinese gooseberries (now recognised far and wide as kiwifruit) to feijoas, it seems we can take a species little-known outside of its native range, cultivate it successfully in our amenable climate, make it a domestic favourite, and then more often than not, turn it into star on the international stage. The tamarillo, Cyphomandra betacea (syn. Solanum betaceum), formerly known as the tree tomato, or ‘arbol de tomate’ in Spanish, fits neatly into this category. My first encounter with a tamarillo was at the age of about eight or nine years of age. Every Thursday, I’d accompany my Mum on a trip to the (big smoke) of Blenheim after school – it entailed a music lesson and a swimming lesson for me, shopping for Mum, and then a trip to a small fruit and vege stall just south of town before heading northwards home. I’d obviously been eyeing up the tamarillos for a few weeks, and who wouldn’t be fascinated by their exotic shape and ruby-red hue? Mum was pretty good about letting me try new things (but always with the proviso “as long as you eat it”) but the lady who owned the stall very kindly nipped off up to her house, returning with a teaspoon and a little pile of raw sugar. She sliced a tamarillo in half so I could eat it on the way home – it was great. If somehow you’re reading this, Mrs Rainbird, I haven’t forgotten, and thank you. [Read more…] about Your Backyard Fruit Bowl – Tamarillos