Family: Malpighiaceae
Common name: Peanut butter fruit, Bunchosia argentea, Monk’s Plum, Peanut Butter Tree, Caferana, Cafe bois, Cafe moka, Bunchoise Des Andes, Ameishia
Peanut butter fruit tree is known for its deep red fruits that smell and taste like peanut butter – sticky and sweet. The tree is native to South America, but they grow well in most tropical countries.
These trees have also been introduced into US, but under the name Bunchosia argentea, which is a wrong name for Bunchosia glandulifera.
Tree characteristics
These trees are small in size growing 7-8 meters tall and about 6 meters in diameter. The trunk is greyish-brown, slightly rough in texture.
Peanut butter fruit tree has leaves that are dark green and glossy with wavy margins and a pointy tip. They are 10-15 cm long and 4-6 cm in width.
During summer and spring the tree produces abundant yellow flowers that are 1-2 cm in diameter. They are produced in large clusters, each flower have 5 delicate yellow petals.
The tree also produces small ellipsoidal fruits that are 2-4 cm long, initially green, turning orange and then deep red as they ripen.
The skin of the fruit is smooth and the flesh is sticky sweet. The taste of the pulp is reminiscent of peanut butter, giving the tree its name.
The pulp contains one or two light brown, elliptical seeds that are about 1 cm long. The fruits can be harvested when they are orange in color and left in the open to ripen and turn sweet.
Gardening Tips
Peanut butter fruit trees prefer bright sunlight and well-drained soil. They grow well in warm tropical weather, blooming and fruiting even in peak monsoon season.
Regular watering and fertilization is needed only during the growing years of the tree. Once they are established in the soil, these trees need very little care and attention. The roots of the Peanut butter tree are non-invasive and hence they can be grown near compound walls or buildings.
Pruning can be done to maintain the shape and structure of the tree. These trees are relatively pest-tolerant, growing and fruiting well year after year.
Uses of Peanut butter fruit tree
The fruits are eaten raw or used in salads, jams, and preserves. The fruit does not store well once it’s ripe, and hence should be consumed quickly or refrigerated. They can be made into relishes or jams so that they can be stored for longer periods.
Peanut butter fruits are rich in Vitamin C, lycopene, caffeine, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and ß-carotenes. The presence of these and other micronutrients make them nutritionally valuable. The fruits also have antidiabetic and antioxidant properties.
Peanut butter fruits can act is a mild stimulant since they contain caffeine. The unique taste of the fruits make them very attractive – an exotic addition to your garden.
The flowers and fruits can also attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, insects, and small animals to your garden.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds and stem cuttings. Seeds can be dried in the sun, and soil in a well-draining potting mix, where they germinate in a few weeks.
Semi-hardwood cuttings can be dipped in rooting hormones and planted in soil in a humid environment where they take root in a few weeks.
Photographed at: Thrissur, Kerala
