Our Fruit Tree Orchard

~The Fruit Orchard of Corazon del Rio~

In June of 2020
we planted our
fruit orchard.

We welcome our guest to enjoy
the many tasty tropical fruits
we grow!

A description of the eighteen fruit tree varieties we planted are listed below...

Bananas are one of the most popular fruits worldwide. They contain essential nutrients that can have a protective impact on health. Eating bananas can help lower blood pressure and may reduce the risk of cancer. An excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, and potassium, they provide fiber, are low in fat, cholesterol-free and low in sodium. A regular sized banana has about 95 calories. One banana eaten each day restores the balance of potassium.

Plantain a type of banana, but with a different flavor and culinary use. They tend to be larger in size, have a thicker skin, are starchier and lower in sugar. Plantains are almost always cooked before eating and are nutritionally very similar to a potato but contain more of certain vitamins and minerals. They're a rich source of fiber, vitamins A, C, and B-6, and magnesium and potassium.

Coconut Coconuts are known for their versatility of uses, ranging from food to cosmetics. The inner flesh of the mature seed, as well as the coconut milk extracted from it, forms a regular part of the diets of many people in the tropics and subtropics. Coconuts are distinct from other fruits because their endosperm contains a large quantity of clear liquid called coconut water or juice

Carambola (star fruit) The fruit is delicious and entirely edible, eat it out of the hand or cook it, use in salads or in smoothies. The best time to eat a carambola is right when it ripens, it will lack any green coloring. This fruit is low in sugar and high in vitamin C which is a very important antioxidant that helps the bodies fight colds and infections. This fruit is high in potassium which will help with muscles and blood circulation.

Guanabana (Soursop) is often compared to ice cream and enjoyed raw or in a smoothie. The pouches of white, soft flesh can be pulled from the fruit like string cheese, leaving the large, black seeds behind. Its taste is unique and seems to hint at a combination of flavors: pineapple, banana, and coconut. Many studies show that this fruit is very effective in helping the body to cure cancer. This fruit is high in carbohydrates particularly fructose. Boiling leaves in water reduces fever and smashing leaves together and rubbing over irritated skin helps healing and prevents scars.

Rambutan: Rambutan in Malay, Indonesian, and Filipino literally means hairy, caused by the ‘hair’ that covers this fruit. It’s very watery and has a huge seed in the center which you should not eat and have caution if a child is eating them, to not choke on the seed. It tastes pretty decent and has the texture of a green grape. If refrigerated they are cool and refreshing on a hot day.

Mamey Sapote looks a lot like a rounded sweet potato when it is sitting on a vendor’s stand. The ripe fruit gives to the touch and the bright pulp has a slightly grainy texture as well as taste that suggests pumpkin. It is a very delicately and tasteful fruit. Often eaten without the peel, it is actually not necessary to remove the rind before enjoying this delicious fruit

Mango is often the favorite of visitors of Costa Rica. Mango is high in a long list of phytochemicals which is what fights diseases for fruits and has been known to work well in humans also. Costa Rica is not extremely big on cultivating mangos but most months you don't have trouble finding one just hanging on a random tree. Make sure you do not eat the skin of the mango as it contains "urushiol" which is the chemical in poison ivy.

Mangostan (Mangosteen) Well there is nothing like Mangosteen and that is why they are so hard to find. I guess this is a perfect example of not quantity but quality. The mangosteen is known as the best tasting fruit on the planet. The best tasting comments are just opinions of some. This fruit is hard to find but if you get the chance go ahead and try it. It is a delicious fruit but don't expect large amounts.

Aguacate (Avocado) You have probably tried this one and if you come to Costa Rica plan on trying it again. One of the more common fruits in Latin America the Avocado is in salads and of course in guacamole. It has been proven to help with breast and prostate cancer. It has also been known to help with cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Biriba (Rollinia) can be 5 to 20 centimeters in diameter, with thick, woody stems. The skin is covered in small, diamond shaped sections, each with a soft, spiky protuberance. It matures from green to yellow, and are often harvested when green and will mature off the tree. The aromatic flesh is bright white or translucent with a gelatinous texture. It is fibreless with a smooth, almost creamy, consistency and contains small, inedible, dark brown, elliptical seeds. It has a sweet-tart flavor with nuances of pineapple, banana, coconut, and other tropical flavors.

Jack Fruit One tree can produce up to three tons of food from this huge and utterly unique fruit per year, providing an almost miraculous source of nourishment for people living in the tropics. It is also increasingly being used in other parts of the world, particularly in the U.S., as a plant-based meat alternative because the young, unripe fruits soak up flavor well and have a stringy, “meat-like” texture when cooked.

Cacao Want to know where your chocolate comes from? From a hot, humid climate where rain falls frequently and your clothes stick to your back during summer. On small farms, you’ll find trees populated with large, colorful fruit – although it won’t look like anything you’d find in the supermarket. This fruit is the cacao pod, inside which grows the seeds that are fermented, roasted, ground, conch, temper and molded to make the chocolate bars we know and love.

Nispero (Loquat) can be eaten off the tree, with the stem removed. They can be cut and used in a fruit salad, or you can poach them in light syrup to serve. Because loquats contain lots of pectins, they can easily be made into jam or preserves, or baked into pies and tarts. They can be blanched, peeled, seeded, and frozen for later use. As with apricots, the seeds have cyanide compounds and should be removed before using the fruits in cooking. The harvested fruit will keep for about 10 days at room temperature, or sixty days in cold storage for 60 days with three days when removed.

Mandarin Orange is one of the most popular citrus fruits is the mandarin orange, more commonly known as a Cutie or Halo. These small, flavor-packed oranges are a favorite among kids and adults alike. There are so many varieties and tips to growing your own mandarin tree; first, let’s start with the difference (if any) between a Cutie or Halo. You can also keep reading to learn about the different mandarin tree varieties, tips for growing them indoors and outdoors and how to maintain and grow a healthy tree.

Miracle fruit, (Synsepalum dulcificum) an evergreen shrub of the family Sapotaceae, grown for its mild fruits that make subsequently eaten sour foods taste sweet. The miracle fruit plant is native to tropical West Africa, where it is used locally to sweeten palm wine and other beverages.

Black pepper is produced from the still-green, unripe drupe of the pepper plant, which are cooked briefly in hot water to clean them and speed up the drying process. The drupes dry in the sun for several days, during which the pepper skin around the seed shrinks and darkens into a thin, wrinkled black layer. Once dry, the spice is called black peppercorn. Once the peppercorns are dried, pepper spirit and oil can be extracted from the berries by crushing them.

Chico Sapote fruit is oval in shape and brown in color and the skin feels rough. It has black seeds inside the pulp. It is normally eaten fresh and has a malt-pear flavor with brown sugar. That's why if you have a drink of alcohol, they always say you smell like "chico" because of the malt flavor.

Arasa In traditional medicine, it is beneficial in treating nearly 50 types of disorders such as asthma, dysentery, arthritis, boils and acne, etc. The leaves, the bark and the fibre are used for fodder, dye, tanning, and the milk is used as a sealant.

Other fruits you might find at one of the many fruit stands along the road

Maracuya (Purple Passion Fruit) Much of the information of the Granadilla holds true for this plant but one of the main characteristics about the Purple Passion fruit is that the peel of the fruit has shown up in studies to work very effectively on asthma symptons. This same peel contains high levels of flavanoid which has been known to reduce pain in Osteoarthritis patients. Some research is showing that purple passion fruit peel may help with controlling asthma symptoms.

Maracuya (Golden Passion Fruit) Maracuya is an edible fruit that is shaped like an egg, the tough skin wrinkles to let you know it is ready! This fruit has an outer shell that protects the jelly and seeds on the inside. \The fruit can be prepared with utensils, or without if you are in a pinch. If you don-t have anything to cut it with, just make a hole and suck out the tasty insides! If you are going to open it up, simply cut it in half with a knife after giving it a good washing. You can scoop out the insides and eat them up! Passion fruit juice is good for people who have high blood pressure.

Mamoncillo o Mamon (Melicoccus Bijugatus) Round fruit that grows in bunches. The green, smooth rind protects a round seed that is wrapped in a yellowish, juicy pulp. Mamoncillo can be eaten as hand-fruit, simply sucking the pulp out of the rind.

Carao (Cassia grandis): It is known worldwide to be an amazing natural anemia treatment. It actually has a slightly sweet taste (due to the natural sugar content) and is quite tasty. In this case smell and taste are not at first reconcilable

Noni Fruit (Morinda Citrifolia): The noni plant produces a green fruit that indigenous Cultures in Asia have been drinking for 2000 to 3000 years.

Granadilla ~ Passion Fruit (Passiflora Quadrangularis): It is used for making fruit drinks and often added to other drinks to increase sugar levels and flavors.

Marañon (Anacardium Occidentale). Cashews are extravagant fruits that have many different uses. They originate in tropical America, and the cashew fruit has one small but tough external nut. The fruit itself has a smooth exterior, similar to paprika. Scientifically, the small seed is the real fruit and the paprika-like ‘fruit’ is the peduncle.The seed, or nut, is the most valuable part. It is roasted to create a delicious, dry nut with high levels of oil and protein.

Fruta de Pan (Artocarpus Altilis). Breadfruit is a big, oval-shaped fruit that grows on a large tree. The fruit has a thick rind like pineapple which has to be removed before processing the fruit. The white flesh is seedless. Breadfruit can be served cooked, fried, or baked, and if the fruit is well-prepared it really looks like a slice of bread.

Caimito (Chrysophyllum Cainito). Star apples are related to sapotes and sapodillas. The fruit is round and the size of a regular orange. Depending on the variety, the rind can be green with white pulp, or it can have a purple rind with pulp of the same color. It can be eaten fresh, or it can be used to produce jellies or marmalades.

Soncoya (Annona Purpurea). The main thing which differs it from other annonaceous fruits is the spiky hard skin, somewhat resembling a durian, which terminates in short hooks curved towards the stem, and is very aromatic when ripening.TheSoncoya has a pleasant peachy/apricot/pawpaw flavour, but is of a quite fibrous texture.

Water Apple (Genus Syzgium) Originally from Asia, it is now found all over tropical America. Is a small pear-shaped bright red fruit containing white meat and one large seed. It fruits only twice a year, when ready has an unforgettable magenta color.

Guayaba (pronounced gwy-ah-bah) Known as “guava” in English, the texture of this round, fragrant fruit is similar to that of a pear. Its thin rind – which may be slightly bitter – and tiny, edible seeds can be eaten along with its soft flesh. The inside of the fruit is sweet, but not too sugary, and is either off-white or deep pink.

Mamones (pronounced ma-mó-nais) These small, green circular fruits can be cracked open with one’s teeth. The most common way to eat them is to suck the peach-colored pulp that coats the large seed inside. They taste a bit like limes, and have many names throughout the Caribbean: quenapa, genip, guaya, lemoncillo and Spanish lime.

Tamarindo (pronounced tam-ar-een-do) These long, curved shells – which resemble brown pods – are primarily used in Costa Rica for making juice. The brownish-reddish flesh found inside is both sweet and sour. It is also sometimes used to make paste, syrup or jam. The fruit looks similar to a bean and is a type of legume but much larger than most beans. One interesting fact about this fruit is that the pulp is used to carve furniture. If you eat enough of Tamarindo it can get rid of worms and also in excess it is a powerful laxative.

Papaya (Papaya) Carica papaya We love Papaya and Costa Rica is the spot for getting your papaya. The hundreds of seeds on the inside of the papaya are used for grinding up and making pepper. Christopher called this the "Fruit of the Angels". This fruit is known to be excellent for the digestive system and it is all due to an enzyme known as Papain. This fruit has been labeled as one of the worlds healthiest foods and if I went through all of the positive affects and preventatives this fruit could give you then you would not have time to book a Costa Rica vacation with us.

Macadamia (integrifolia) If you want to get a good look at plenty of Macadamia you might want to consider doing an immersion in our Costa Rica Spanish school in Sitio de Mata. It is here in the Turrialba that you find the plantations. You will not find a large market for these on road side stands like other fruits. Macadamias that aren't harvested, fall off trees and rodents like to go eat them. When a field is full of rodents getting fat off of tasty nuts it makes for the perfect area for snakes to hang out looking for that fat rodent. These nuts unlike almonds or cashews are low in protien but high in fat. This is also the common powder substance used by law enforcement to mimic crack cocaine rocks when doing a drug bust or sting.

Guaba (Ice Cream Bean) Inga edulis This is commonly known as the Inga and when dealing with kid friendly family vacations the word Ice Cream Bean makes it much easier to get them to try a new fruit. If you join us on the Pacuare River tour we know the perfect tree that is located on the right side just after a nice class IV rapid where everyone can pick their own Guaba. It is shaped like the Tamarindo but is green in color. But without a doubt the best part is that this fruit actually taste like vanilla ice-cream coming off a tree.

Guava (Guayaba) Psidium guajava This is a very nutritious fruit and very easy to eat as all you have to do is grab it off the tree and bite into it. Just check for worms as it is very delicious and other insects enjoy eating it also. That is how ancient mythology thought that the Spirits came out at night to feed on Guava. The skin is considered the more nutritious part of the fruit. It has been known to help prevent acne and even prevent cancer. The leaf extract of the Guava tree has a number of medicinal uses such as curing coughs and helping diaraeha.

Mountain Apple (Manzana de Agua) Syzygium malaccense This is a very easy fruit to eat that you just grab off the tree and take a bite. Again you want to make sure the fruit you grab is not the second serving of another little critter. This fruit contains oleanolic acid which is an anti-HIV acid. This fruit gets its name because it is and tastes just like water mixed with just a little bit of apple. This can be seen popular on fruit stands around the country and a tree can bear up to 700 fruits.