Oh, yee of little faith!! I have always felt that if something doesn’t grow in this bioregion it is surely not that people haven’t tried! But I am wrong! Friends, like Sarah and Filip from the Auroville tree house community and my old friend Freddy from Matrimandir Gardens, keep reminding me of this in practice! Water apple or rose apple, Syzygium aqueum, ( not to be confused with Java apple, name Syzygium samarangense) is a delicious crunchy fruit that grows easily in humid and hot climates. When ripe the fruits are sweet and when immature, they have an astringent quality which makes them ideal for pickles and chutneys.

The fruits have massive nutritional and medicinal value, such as vitamin C and A which helps the eyes, and have a high quantity of B vitamins. They also have vast amounts of trace minerals such as iron, calcium, and antioxidants and it does not end there!! The leaves also contain flavonoids, which offer anti-inflammatory properties for those suffering from chronic conditions. I imagine we could make a powder with the leaves or boil it in tea like we do with Soursop.

Yesterday there was some good rain so we took the opportunity to plant 8 trees. I am looking forward to welcoming this fruit into our kitchen and sharing it with people who subscribe to the basket service or the lunch scheme! A food forest, with its many micro-climates, can stretch what is normally possible to grow. This plant has taught me to keep experimenting!