Having managed a fresh food market for a decade, I have seen my fair share of interesting fruit and vegetables and am always on the lookout for anything 'new' to my taste buds. Spotted this 'Achacha' fruit at the supermarket yesterday and bought some to try (the pimply boy on the checkout was stumped!). At $11.99 per kilogram, it is not terribly cheap but worth a try if you like the occasional indulgence in exotic fruit. Queensland readers and those in tropical climes will no doubt have seen them, as will regular visitors to the Eveleigh Markets in Sydney.
Originally from the Amazon and now grown on plantations in far north Queensland, Achacha is a cousin of the mangosteen, and the taste and texture are not dissimilar. The season runs from December through to mid March. We lined up to buy some shelled vacuum-packed macadamia nuts from a stall at the Capital Region Farmer's Markets yesterday and will enjoy them as an Australia Day treat, roasted and spiced with some wattleseed from Herbie's Spices.
Mangosteen is one of those tropical fruit indulgences that contains morsels of flesh that melt in the mouth. This little fruit is perfect in a fruit salad and also great eaten fresh from the hand. Availability is generally from February to April, however you will find it available earlier in the year.
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Market BasketGood Things in season and ripe for the market basket each month. |