Genips and Sea Grapes and Figs, Oh My!


I love tropical fruit, the more exotic, the better.  Whenever I travel to the Caribbean, I make a point of visiting the local markets or vendors for local fruit. In St. Kitts, genips, shown above, are sold on almost every street corner of Basseterre. Genips are like lychees, you peel them and suck out the pulp, around the seed which is slimy and slightly sweet.


Figs are what Kittitians call the miniature bananas pictured above. I don't like bananas but I do enjoy figs, which are sweeter and creamier than the bananas grown in the U.S.


Sea grapes grow on towering trees that tend to grow near the sea. This sweet fruit is also sold by many street vendors in St. Kitts. There's nothing like nibbling on a juicy bunch, as the sun warms your shoulders. Do you have a favorite fruit that you discovered on your travels?

Comments

lisa said…
I didn't know those were like lychee. I wish I'd tried them while I was on St. Kitts. I bet they're amazing.
December 7, 2010 at 10:06 PM
Fly Girl said…
Lisa, they are similar to lychee but I like lychee better. Did you see genips when you were on St. Kitts? Thanks for dropping by.
December 8, 2010 at 6:17 AM
Jean-Luc Picard said…
You're a font of knowledge regarding things that are around the world.
December 11, 2010 at 9:19 AM
eden said…
Those bananas are similar to what we have in the Philippines. My first time to see genips and sea grapes. I think I would love them.
December 12, 2010 at 2:34 AM
Fly Girl said…
Eden, I think you would too!
December 12, 2010 at 6:39 AM
Mary R said…
Those sea grapes look delicious! We have them in Okinawa too, but the word here describes a type of seaweed with little green spindly balls. I actually love them!
December 12, 2010 at 11:23 PM
A Cuban In London said…
Genips. You just taught me something new. Now, I have another reason to go to my local African-Caribbean market. :-)

Great post. I loved lychees when I was in Malaysia recently.

Greetings from London.
December 13, 2010 at 1:19 AM
Fly Girl said…
Mary, seaweed? I know it's healthy but it's probably the only thing that reeks of the sea that I'm not carzy about.

Cubano, genips are very interesting, I don't know if I saw them at the African Caribbean market when I was last in London but I think you'll like them.
December 13, 2010 at 5:42 AM
Catherine said…
love the different selection of fruits here - my favourite is the mango here - delish!! my least favourite discovery - the durian in Thailand...
December 14, 2010 at 4:33 PM
Fly Girl said…
Catherine, Mexican mangos and avocados are my favorites.
December 14, 2010 at 4:40 PM
Steve said…
When I was in Exuma, I saw these sea grape trees but not the fruit. Must have been too early in the season. Gives me an excuse to return!
December 24, 2010 at 10:30 AM
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