"Fruits of Trinidad and Tobago"

I have a list of fruits that we ate as children growing up in Trinidad. Some of the fruits may result with a “what is dat, me eh know dat” or “damn I remember dat”. I may not get them all but if you think I missed something please leave a comment to the post and I will update the list. 

Please scroll down below this Photo list for individually listed fruits!

Some of the fruits found in Trinidad & Tobago:

Arrowroot - The powder arrowroot is derived from the root of the arrowroot plant and is used as a thickener for sauces. It does not have any taste.

Balata – Oh gosh, so sweet... thumbs up for Balata. Now these fruits are not easy to get and can be found in some really tall trees. The fruit is very sweet but there is very little 'flesh' and a seed that is big inside (shell outside). You won't regret eating this fruit!

Bananas (aka Ripe Fig) – sweet especially if the birds start to eat them. Now we can't forget the following - Sikyé, Silk, Gros Michel, Mataboro and Lacatan. Bananas are really good for the potassium but you can cut them up (ripe) freeze and use in smoothies.

Bananas (aka Green Fig) - Good for soups and for boiling and eating with salt fish  buljol (yummy). One thing to note is that green bananas contain 'resistant starch' that is helpful for persons who want to control their blood sugar levels.

Barbadine (aka Giant Granadilla) - This fruit can be used (when ripe) to make a juice that is very similar to that of sour sop. This fruit unlike the sour sop grows on a vine that can be as long as 50 feet in length (sorry Trinis I am still using yards, feet and inches).

Breadfruit - Come on ah good 'oil down' or roasted... not considered poor people food anymore. There are two varieties - yellow and white (inside). The yellow variety is most popular in Trinidad. It is an excellent source of potassium, carbohydrate and fiber.

Black Sapote - This fruit is not so popular in Trinidad; I never ate this fruit! It is also known as Chocolate Pudding Fruit, Chocolate Persimmon and Zapote Prieto.

Cacao (Cocoa) Pods -




Cacao (Ripe Cacao in the pod) - The pulp that surrounds the cocoa bean tastes good... Just try it (ripe ones please)

Cacao (Cocoa Seeds) - Trinidad and Tobago's cocoa has been used to flavor other cocoa varieties. Trinidad's cocoa has won many awards because of its unique flavor.

Cocoa bean niblets are added to smoothies as a mood enhancer... try it! The nibs contain 'theobromine' that acts as a stimulant and a diuretic.

Cachiman (aka Cashima)- This fruit is also known as Jamaican Apple because it is sweet and tastes somewhat like custard.

Caimite aka Caimito or Star Apple – I am drooling now – I love this fruit.

Caimite (Small Variety) - There is a small variety of caimite that I remember eating in an estate in the Manzanilla area. This variety did not turn purple when ripe (remained green in color). I need a photo of this variety (please send in to me at ananda2456@gmail.com)... thank you!

Carailli - Gosh bitter like hell but I liked eating it as I matured (or should I say tolerated the taste)! I just learnt that that it is used as an antiinfective, antipyretic, anthelmintic and laxative

Cashew (Red and Yellow); cashew nut – Cashew was good for tying yuh tongue but the good ones were the ones the birds picked at, other than that the jam was really good. Cashew nuts, well now we could talk – loved roasting them and shelling and eating it right off the galvanize tray we roasted them on.

Chalta (Elephant Apple) - Now this is one fruit that I don't think you will eat "jus' so". This is still used to make anchar in the same manner green mangoes are used to make anchar.

Chataigne: This is Chataigne or as it is known is some places as 'bread nut'. This one was brought to my attention by Mingoao; it was not part of the listing. I don't know how I missed it because I have eaten so much curried chataigne with roti.



Chataigne Seeds: I don't know of anyone who did not enjoy eating chataigne seeds aka 'farting pills' as a youth. I said 'farting pills' because that is the name we called the boiled seeds of the fruits that fell from the trees.

Chenette (Quenepas) – a kids delight - too much work to enjoy this fruit if you ask me and most of the time they are not sweet!

Christophine (Chayote) - It looks somewhat like a pear but is in fact a vegetable. Trinidadian s love to use this vegetable in Chow Mein. It is cut into finger strips and added to the meal.


Coconut (Green variety) - This is the one that you will see on so many trucks (for sale) in towns across the country. Coconut water is low in calories, high potassium content and reputed to lower blood pressure.

Coconut (Chiney Coconut) - Same health benefits of the regular variety above but is generally better tasting (sweet). There are the Yellow and Green varieties and they are round and smaller than the regular variety. 

Coconut (Dry) - ideal for many recipes including sugar cake and the milk for callaloo and in the copra stage is used to make coconut oil.

Coconut Jelly (Soft) - Now you can't simply drink coconut water and leave that soft delicious jelly in the shell... if you do, then you don't know what a treat you are missing. It is the coconut water that forms the jelly. Enjoy it and remember to leave us a line about the day you enjoyed eating coconut jelly.

Cherries – was not a lover of the cherries (yellow and red in color).

Cocorite – l loved going in the ‘forest’ to get cocorite. The one with the white pulp was nice but the jewel was the one with the pink flesh inside – yummy.

Custard Apple - This fruit is creamy inside with a very delightful taste.






Damson - I need help with this one! Gail told me that it is a type of plum!

Douns (Doung) – I ate it but can’t remember the taste. I believe it is also known as crabapple (not sure).Oh and they also call it 'coolie plum'.

Fat Pork – This fruit is also known as 'Coco Plum' I ate it but don’t know what people loved about this fruit. Thanks for the photo Gailos... Paramin Gold!

Five Fingers (Star Fruit or Carambola) – I was not a lover of this fruit but it is good with salt and pepper! The fruit is also rich in antioxidants and vitamin C.





Governor Plum (Flacourtia indica) - Dark purple when ripe

Garnicia - This fruit is also known as Lemon Drop Mangosteen fruit

Grapefruits - When ripe these fruits are a treat!




Shaddock (Pomelo) - The pink grapefruit is really sweet, for some reason we called it 'shaddock'(I don't have a clue about the name but that is what I remember call it. My grandfather had a tree in his back yard next to an old latrine (man that tree produced so much sweet fruit). I guess the latrine helped – lol.


Gri Gri - I can't remember the taste of this one but I do recall that I liked eating it... appreciate it because it takes a lot to get the fruit!

Gru Gru Bef (grugru bef) aka Banga fruit – Hard shell with a sticky delight inside.

Guava – Yes, as a youth I loved making guava jelly, guava jam and guava cheese eh... I had to boil the fruit outside in the yard on stones.

Hog Plum – Gosh yuh had to have ‘real belly to eat that’ – "Dat ting sour boi"!

Lime - a little lime juice to 'cut the freshness' from meat is a must!

Lemon - The smell and skin of this fruit always peeked my curisity - lemon juice is ok!

Mamisiporte - I don't recall eating this fruit but I heard so many people raving about the taste!

Mango – Now we talking, that was tea, breakfast and dinner. Curry mango, masala mango.

Mango (green) - ideal for curry




Noni - Some people swear that the juice from this fruit has healing capabilities... I know it stinks! I tried it and believe me there has to be a better way to feel good!




Nutmeg - Yes we have nutmeg! So you thought we got them all from Grenada? Nah, nah nah, doh try dat!

Oranges – Loved going to the country estate in Biche that was a treat eating the fruit picked from the trees.

Passion fruit – Had enough of this growing on our fence – delicious juice when served very cold.

Paw Paw (Papaya) – It was an acquired taste for me but now I just love eating it.

Penny-Piece - OK, I got a photo and some information... not much pulp but sweet! This fruit is also known as 'chocky apple'. 

Portugals aka Potigal is a favorite fruit similar to mandarins

Peewah and Kerikel - I wasn't a lover of these/to each his own.This fruit is a member of the palm tree family and is also related to the gru gru that kids love so much.

Pineapple – Who doesn’t love pineapple?

Plums - I am talking about the regular plums that you find in the back yards of Trini homes. The green ones are great as a kid's desert with salt and 'bird peppers'. The ripe ones are yellow and are loved by the birds.

Pois Doux- This is a very unusual fruit but has a good taste to it... I doubt that it will be one that you would have a craving for though.

Pommecythre – If you don’t like pommecythre then something is really wrong with you. When they are ripe they are a delight and when pickled in salt water and pepper … exotic. Also known as June Plum and Golden Apple.

Pomegranate - This is one of the top ten fruits to use. It has been used to lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol. Research shows that it can be effective against various forms of cancer and also Alzheimer's disease.

Pommerac – This fruit is known elsewhere as the Otaheite Apple (Maple Apple). They had to be really ripe to be enjoyed; some people craved it. I simply ate it if it was available but I was not a love of this fruit.

Primrose - This fruit is also known as "Rose Apple". I was told that you can get this fruit in Paramin (in the Northern Range). Well at least Gail (Wack Radio Shoutbox) told me that you can find them in Paramin.

Sapodilla (Naseberry) – OMG so delicious.The outer color is brown and when ripe is so delicious.

Roucou - I remember this was used for food coloring... I loved squishing them and getting my hands red!


Series (Cerise) – This is a kid's delight! Purple in color when ripe; we used to roll them between our palms until soft then suck the content out - yes the good 'ole' days!

Shaddock - Better known as Pink Grapefruit

Stinking Toe – One of my favorite but not easy to pick from the tree.




Sour Cherries - Sour? Hell yes, but with salt and pepper is a great treat!

Soursop (Guanabana) – The drinks were simply delicious served cold (with ice) on a hot day.

Sugar Apple – I can't recall eating this fruit; it is also known as Sweet Sop. I may be confusing this one with Cachima. If I did eat this fruit I simply can't recall at this time.

Sugar cane – Goes without saying – we love it!

Sorrel - Come on, christmas is not the same without sorrel.This fruit is also known as Roselle or Rosella fruit.

Tamarind (tambran) – Yummy - "Tambran sauce & Tramban balls". The 'Chiney tambran' is round and soft.

Tamarind Dayzah aka 'Chiney Tambran' - This is an unusual fruit that is very soft inside. I remember eating this on because (fortunately) one of our neighbors had a tree in their yard. This is not the kind of fruit that would cause your 'mouth to water'!

Tangerine - We like to call this fruit 'Potigal' (Portugal)

Tonka fruit,(Tanka) Bean – “Doh eat it or else you will get short breath” – yea right, I love eating tonka beans!

Tipitambo (Topi Tambo) - Is this a fruit? I thought you had to did it out of the ground? Hey but it is nice to eat!

Watermelon – But of course we love it.

Zaboca (Avocado) - I like the round ones that are like butter inside/put it in bread with a lil salt...now we talking.

If I missed any fruit or misrepresented any fruit here please leave a comment and I will adjust the posting. It was done to help us all recall the fruits we loved or did not like eating as children 'back in the day'!

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