Syzygium malaccense
The shape and texture of this fruit from India that adapted well to the North, Northeast and Southeast regions of Brazil is reminiscent of pears, with a thin peel that goes from pinkish to deep red. Sweet and fragrant (some say the aroma is of rose water), the fruit can be eaten fresh, used to prepare jams, or be poached in sugar syrup. The harvest runs from January to May. Fun fact: in História da alimentação no Brasil (History of Food in Brazil), Luís da Câmara Cascudo states that water apples “do not appear at the table of distinct people or are enjoyed by eminent creatures. They belong to popular predilections.”
