Driving around the island of Maui recently, I was amazed at how overwhelmingly fruitful the island is. Pineapples, papayas, coconuts, and mangoes literally fall off of the trees all around.
As they can be found here in abundance, I came across many casually set-up fruit stands. I found many unexpected treats, including many fruits and vegetables I had never seen. I decided to try any plant food I could find that I had never tried. I bought them from the stands, local organic farm grocers, and in some cases, picked them right off the tree. I had along my trusty portable oracle (cell phone) and did some easy research to help prepare (and happily consume) my findings. If you are not heading to Maui anytime soon, most of this produce can be found at Whole Foods, Choices, Superstore or independent grocers, depending on the season.
Recommended as is, in smoothies, fruit salads, and desserts: chico (or sapodilla), ice-cream-beans, white sapote (tasted like creamy banana-vanilla cream pudding), soursop, chayote fruit. The high maintenance of the bunch: cacao pods and banana leaf buds, not recommended unless you have a lot of time to prepare.
Photos by Angela Fama and Joel Tong.
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