Cocona: A Superfruit from South America
What is Cocona?
Cocona, also known as Peach Tomato, Orinoko Apple, or Turkey Berry, is a fruit native to South America. It’s related to the naranjilla and has a flavor similar to a tomato. Cocona is a berry about the size of an avocado, with orangish-yellow to red skin and yellow pulp. It’s a popular food and medicine among the indigenous people of Latin America.
Cocona Plant
The cocona plant (Solanum sessiliflorum) is a herbaceous shrub that grows up to 6 1/2 feet tall. It has hairy twigs and downy stems with ovate, scalloped leaves. The plant produces clusters of yellow-green flowers with five petals.
Cocona Fruit
Cocona fruit is surrounded by a thin, tough skin covered with peach-like fuzz. As it ripens, the skin becomes smooth and changes color from golden orange to reddish brown or deep purplish red. The fruit is picked when fully ripe and has a mild tomato-like aroma. The pulp contains numerous flat, oval, cream-colored seeds.
Cocona Fruit Benefits
Cocona fruit is highly nutritious, rich in iron, vitamin B5, calcium, and phosphorus. It also contains carotene, thiamin, riboflavin, and dietary fiber. Cocona fruit is low in calories and has been shown to reduce cholesterol, excess uric acid, and relieve kidney and liver diseases. The juice has also been used to treat burns and venomous snake bites.
Growing Cocona
Cocona is not frost-hardy and must be grown in full sun. It can be propagated by seed or root cuttings. The plant prefers well-drained soil and can tolerate sand, clay, and scarified limestone.
To grow cocona from seed:
- Plant the seeds 3/8 of an inch deep in rows that are 8 inches apart.
- Germination should occur between 15 and 40 days.
- Fertilize the plants six times during the year with 10-8-10 NPK fertilizer.
- Cocona plants begin fruiting six to seven months from seed propagation.
Using Cocona
Cocona fruit can be eaten fresh, juiced, stewed, frozen, pickled, or candied. It’s often used in jams, marmalades, sauces, and pie fillings. Cocona can also be added to salads or cooked with meat and fish dishes.
Conclusion
Cocona is a versatile and nutritious fruit with a variety of culinary and medicinal uses. It’s easy to grow and can be enjoyed fresh or processed into a variety of products.
