South American Fruits (types and products)

Native to tropical America, from where it has spread to other tropical parts of the world, guava (Psidium guajava) is a fruit-bearing tree or bush that has long been harvested by the local indigenous people living in Argentina, e... READ MORE

The açaí palm is a palm tree cultivated for hearts of palm and for its fruit, known as the açaí berry. The berries are highly sought after due to their supposed medicinal properties, and they are often classified by pro... READ MORE

Guarana is a plant that is cultivated throughout northern parts of Brazil and Venezuela, countries that are often praised for their berries. The name of the plant comes from the Guarani tribe that lives in Brazil. The tribe believes that guarana h... READ MORE

Malbec originally comes from southwest France, but recently it has become one of the most important grape varieties in Argentina, where it developed an entirely different flavor profile. Due to the unique geographic and climatic features,... READ MORE

Cape gooseberry is a plump yellow fruit, yielded from an unusual perennial plant native to high-altitude areas. The plant and the fruit share the same name, and are believed to have originated in Brazil, from where they spread to other So... READ MORE

Jabuticaba are traditional Brazilian berries native to the states of Minas Gerais, Goiás, and São Paolo. The berries are dark purple in color with a thick skin and they grow on tree trunks. Jabuticaba berries have a very short shelf ... READ MORE

Lúcuma is a fruit native to the Andean region of South America, most notably valleys of Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador. It is characterized by a high nutritional value, as it is full of calcium, protein, iron, zinc, and beta-carotene. Its... READ MORE

Pequi (lat. Caryocar brasiliense), also known as souari nut, is a fruit native to Brazil and commonly found in the Brazilian Cerrado region. It is a small, round fruit with thick, yellow, or orange skin that is covered in small, sharp spi... READ MORE

A passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) variety that grows wild in the province of Misiones in the Parana Forest of northeastern Argentina, mburucuya is distinguished by bright green leaves, white flowers, and shallow roots. This per... READ MORE

Native to South America, aguaymanto (Physalis peruviana), called topotopo in the indigenous Quechua language, is a perennial herb that produces edible, round, yellowish-orange berries which have a soft, succulent flesh c... READ MORE

Babaco (lat. Vasconcellea × heilbornii) is a fruit native to the highland regions of Ecuador, belonging to the Caricaceae family and related to the papaya. The fruit is distinct in its characteristics and cultivation, featuring an e... READ MORE

Tamarillo is a small shrub or tree that’s native to the Andean regions of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. The small egg-shaped fruits are succulent and have a slightly sweet to subacid flavor of the pulp. The flavors are often d... READ MORE

Uvalha is the tropical fruit of the Eugenia pyriformis tree, native to southern Brazil, where it grows wild. The fruits are spherical to oblate, and the pulp is juicy, very aromatic, with an acid to subacid flavor. It is mostly used to make refres... READ MORE

Cocona is a tropical fruit growing in South America and the Andean region. It is characterized by its thin, yet tough skin, and a tart, fruity flavor. Cocona's flesh is very similar to that of a tomato, and it is often used in the prepara... READ MORE

Belonging to the passionfruit family, banana passionfruit is a tropical fruit that is native to South America’s Andean regions of Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. With its distinctive oval shape and light yellow to o... READ MORE

Mountain papaya is an evergreen softwood tree that’s native to the Andes from southern Colombia to central Chile, but it’s also cultivated in subtropical and cool mountain climates of Southeast Asia and Africa. The tree produces fruits... READ MORE

JUBAEA CHILENSIS WINE PALM IS ENDANGERED. Coquito nuts are the fruits of Jubaea chilensis wine palm, which is native to the coastal areas of Chile. Visually, the nuts look similar to tiny coconuts, while the flavor of the firm white interior is sw... READ MORE

Chilean myrtle (Myrceugenia apiculata) is a fruit-bearing evergreen tree that grows throughout Chile and Argentina, including the Argentine provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro, and Chubut, and in particular the forest a... READ MORE

Murta con membrillo is a traditional dessert or a type of preserve that hails from southern Chile. It is made with quince and the fruit of Chilean guava (Myrtus ugni). Chilean guava is a shrub native to the area that produces small-sized ... READ MORE

Indigenous to the Americas, this species of wild cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) is believed to have originated in Mexico from where it has spread throughout Northern Argentina, particularly in the region of Chaco. The cactus plant has fles... READ MORE

Stretching across northern Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil, the vast plains of Gran Chaco, meaning Hunting Land in the Quechua language, are the home for various indigenous forest fruits including white carob, chañar, and ... READ MORE