GRUMICHAMA
EUGENIA BRASILIENSIS (PURPLE)/EUGENIA DOMBEYI (YELLOW). Family: MYRTACEAE Other names include Brazilian Cherry, Spanish Cherry, Brazilian Plum, Grumixameira, Grumixama, Cumbixaba, Grumixaba, Ibaporoti, Oula and Sinaili
Do you like the sweet, rich flavor of Bing cherries but can't grow traditional cherry trees in your tropical or subtropical climate? Like many deciduous trees, cherries require a chill period during their winter dormancy. This is the number of continuous hours the tree must spend in temperatures lower than 45 degrees F. Without a chill period, deciduous trees don't prosper.
If you live in an area where you can't grow traditional cherry trees, the grumichama tree, with its dark purple, sweet tasting fruit is an alternative for the Bing cherry.
Also known as the Brazil cherry, this berry producing tree is native to South America. Grown primarily as a backyard ornamental fruit tree, the Grumichama cherry isn't likely to garner much commercial attention due its smaller fruit size and lower fruit-to-pit ratio. The fruit comes in both a yellow and a deep purple "version".
The slow growing Grumichama can take four to five years to produce fruit when the tree is started from seeds. Grumichama cherry trees can also be propagated by cuttings or grafting. The tree can reach heights of 25 to 35 feet but are often pruned to nine to ten feet tall or grown as a hedge to facilitate an easier harvest.
The fruit is a healthy snack that can help with weight loss. It is low in calories and carbohydrate but packed with vitamins, minerals and protein. A good weight loss combination. It is very high in fiber. Consequently, this fiber helps to increase the absorption of water in the intestine facilitating the formation and elimination of stools.
Studies have shown this fruit to offer considerable support to your immune system. Hence it aids the body’s capacity to fight off a number of diseases.
Research has shown the Grumichama peel is a nutritious source of bioactive compounds with prebiotic effects. So in ordinary language, the peel is great for your gut health and can help to prevent disease. The grumichama comes in a dark purple and a yellow color.
A few fun facts about grumichama:
The fruit is slowly becoming an endangered species due to its slow growth and low dispersal rate.
Grumichama fruit can also be used as an ingredient in cosmetics, as its antioxidants can help protect the skin from damage caused by the sun and other environmental pollutants. The fruit can also be used as an exfoliant, to remove dead skin cells and help promote a healthy, glowing complexion.
Grumichama fruit is often eaten fresh, out of hand, or used in jams and jellies. Its sweet-tart flavor is similar to that of a cherry, and it can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to desserts. The fruit can also be dried and used as a sweetener, or made into a syrup that can be used as a topping or flavoring.
The tree may flower and fruit several times per year. Unlike fruit trees in colder climates, where they often fruit once, and flowers in spring, when it comes to tropical fruits, things like water - or lack thereof - extreme heat or even wind, can determine if a tree fruits or not, so trees here can be a tad more unpredictable. It's all about learning whatever "trick" works for your plant.
The tree can grow up to 49 feet in height. However, pruning can make your tree fit nicely in a suburban garden. Indeed it is sometimes pruned into a hedge.
This tree has a fairly shallow root system. Hence it will require watering regularly during the ‘dry season’.
In addition, seedlings and fruiting trees need a lot of rain or extra water. This is for growth in the case of the seeding, and to prevent fruit drop in the case of mature fruiting trees.
In Brazil, the leaf or bark infusion in water is aromatic, astringent, diuretic and employed as a treatment for rheumatism and gastrointestinal disorders