What is in a name?

Wikipedia says:

The Jabuticaba (also called Brasilian Grape Tree, Jaboticaba, Jabotica, Guaperu, Guapuru, Hivapuru, Sabará and Ybapuru) is a fruit-bearing tree native to Brasil.

The fruit is purplish black, with a white pulp; it can be eaten raw or be used to make jellies and drinks (plain juice or wine).

The fruit tree (named jabuticabeira in Portuguese has red leaves when young, turning green posteriorly. Its flowers are white and grow directly from its trunk. The jabuticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora [Myrtaceae]) is a small tree native to the Minas Gerais region near Rio de Janeiro in southern Brazil grown for the purple, grape-like fruits it produces.

Traditionally, an astringent decoction of the sun-dried skins has been used as a treatment for hemoptysis, asthma, diarrhea, and gargled for chronic inflammation of the tonsils.

The fruit is 3-4 cm in diameter with one to four large seeds, borne directly on the main trunks and branches of the plant, lending a distinctive appearance to the fruiting tree. It has a thick, purple, astringent skin that covers a sweet, white, gelatinous flesh. Common in Brasilian markets, jaboticabas are largely eaten fresh; their popularity has been likened to that of grapes in the US. Fresh fruit may begin to ferment 3 to 4 days after harvest, so they are often used to make jams, tarts, strong wines, and liqueurs. Several potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory anti-cancer compounds have been isolated from the fruit.


The name is derived from the Old Tupi language"Red-footed tortoise" Jabuti (tortoise) + Caba (place), meaning the place where you find tortoises.

Here is the view from the back of our big tree. The berries are more plentiful and larger.














Here is our tortoise. They are called "jabuti" by the Tupi. Our Mr. Tortoise loves the berries. So does Mrs. Tortoise!



In a couple weeks we will all share in the bounty.



Photos by Judy Kennedy