Foodie on the Fly: Fruitful Adventures in Jamaica

By Alex Bachert

Vacation is not only about relaxing, but also about trying something new. For a foodie like me, this means experimenting with new foods. On my recent trip to Jamaica, I stepped out of my comfort zone of bananas, pineapples, and papayas and dabbled in a variety of new fruits. Here are some of the sweet eats I stumbled upon:

Star Apple
Ripe from November through March, I caught the tail end of the star apple season. A smooth purple-black fruit that resembles a large plum, a star apple is full of a sweet and fleshy jello-like substance. It is often enjoyed by cutting and eating with a spoon but I opted for the local way– poke a hole on top and suck out the goodness.

Otaheite Apple
Introduced to me by the “fruuuuuuuuit lady” as a Jamaican apple, a Otaheite Apple deviates from the tropical flavor of many Jamaican fruits. I wasn’t the biggest fan of this flower-like fruit, but I’d say it’s uniqueness earns it a spot on the list. Similar in both the smell and taste of a rose, the snowy white flesh will melt in your mouth.

Sugar Cane
This is technically a grass, but I had to add sugar cane to the list. Originally brought to Jamaica by Columbus, sugar cane has rapidly spread throughout the island. Available peeled and cut, the best way to enjoy sugar cane is to bite into it and suck out all of the juice.

Sour Sop
Hidden inside the prickly outer skin is a treasure of juicy pulp. Although I enjoyed raw sour sop on the beach, I preferred it as a drink. Combined with lime juice, sour sop is a sweet drink that is known to treat hypertension and colds.

Mango
I’m no novice to these tropical treats, but I’ve never tasted anything as succulent and sweet as a mango ripe off the trees in Jamaica. Accustomed to large greenish red mangos in the states, I was apprehensive at first to fork over 200 Jamaican dollars for a tiny mango. One bite however and I realized that the equivalent of $1 American was a steal.

Alexandria Bachert is a 22-year-old vegan with a passion for life and love. Alex believes that her enthusiasm for feeling good is contagious and would like to use her words to educate others on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. She has a background in Journalism and Health Communication and currently works as sales & marketing coordinator for a technology company. Alex can be found making nut milk, working out, and giggling.