Quenepas Health Benefits ~ Spanish Limes | Mamoncillos
Quenepas
Many Latin Americans refer to quenepas—also known as mamoncillo, mamones, or Spanish limes—as tangy, tropical fruits. At the tips of the branches of big, lush trees, they grow in clusters of twelve or more fruits.
The thin skin, which occasionally protrudes in the opposite direction of the stem end, is leathery, tough, and smooth. The meat, which is called the “aril,” can have colors ranging from pale yellow to salmon-orange.
When you peel or bite into the fruit, a delectable surprise is revealed. Unripe mamoncillo may have a little “hairy” texture and taste sour.
Mamoncillo pulp, when ripe, tastes like a cross between lychee and lime. It is pleasantly acidic.
Mamoncillos | Spanish Limes | Quenepas
Although quenepas is known by many various names around the world, its remarkable nutritional content and health benefits—which include the capacity to lower blood pressure, strengthen bones, promote digestion, elevate the immune system, elevate mood, and regulate hormones—do not diminish.
Quenepas Tree
Melicoccus bijugatus, a tree belonging to the soapberry family, is scientifically known as quenepas, or Spanish lime. This tree produces small, spherical, green fruit that grows in big bunches and has a thin, hard skin.
This fruit, which originated in the tropical regions of the New World, is now a mainstay of many Caribbean and Central American cultures and cuisines.
There are several names for this fruit, such as guinep, skinip, limoncillo, and mamon, but they all relate to the same fruit, which tastes sweet and tart and resembles a cross between lime and lychee.
The creamy, velvety pulp that remains after the skin is removed is full of vitamins and minerals that are highly good for human health.
Quenepas fruit tree
Because there is a big seed within the fruit, most people eat it by sucking on the pulp until the seed is all that’s left.
In the New World’s tropical regions, quenepas are used in a broad range of cuisines and preparations due to their distinct and potent flavor as well as their high nutritional content.
It provides substantial levels of vitamin C and vitamin A, along with some dietary fiber, calcium, iron, tryptophan, lysine, and other potent organic acids and antioxidants.
This is what many people on diets are searching for—no fats and very few calories.
It should come as no surprise that quenepas can have a significant impact on human health given their impressive diversity of minerals.
Quenepas Health Benefits
Keeps Eyesight in Good Condition
By consuming this mouthwatering fruit, you can preserve your vision. Because of its high vitamin A content, it prevents nyctalopia.
Perfect for Losing Weight
Since quenepas contain no fat, you can consume as many as you like. Moreover, high in water content and fiber, which speeds up your metabolism.
Helps Suitable Sleep Routines
This fruit contains a lot of amino acid that has a sedative effect. You will consequently get a restful night’s sleep. Healthy sleep habits are essential for both physical and mental well-being.
Ratios Vital Signs
Antioxidants are essential for repairing the harm that free radicals do to our bodies. Quenepa will maintain the health of your blood vessels. Furthermore, it improves cardiac health.
Muscle Health Preservation
Iron is found in quenepas, which is beneficial to health and muscle function. The release of muscle protein is stimulated by iron, which is good for muscle cells.
Stronger Bones and Teeth
For your teeth to remain strong and healthy, your body requires calcium and vitamin D. A fantastic source of these nutrients is quesepas. Your teeth and bones will be stronger as a result.
Other benefits include
- An excellent source of vitamin A
- The little fruits also have tryptophan, which aids in the production of serotonin.
- Phenolic chemicals are also present in mamoncillo.
- In the Caribbean, fruit pulp has been utilized to help the digestive system.
How to Eat
- Fresh macaroncillo is typically consumed raw, straight from the skin. To peel aside the thin skin and reveal the pulp, bite into or puncture it.
- Sucking the pulp from the seed and popping the entire fruit into your mouth is the optimal method of consumption.
- Masonry peels can be used to produce a simple syrup for desserts and beverages by combining equal amounts of sugar and water and simmering it.
- The fruits are steeped in sugar and rum in Puerto Rico to create a sweet alcoholic beverage.
Tips for Storing
Mamoncillo has a leathery skin that keeps it fresh for several weeks. If the peel is not removed, refrigeration is not required.
Season
June through September.
Where it is obtained and grown
Dominican Republic
Nutritional Information
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 30
- Total Fat 4g28%
- Saturated Fat 0g0%
- Cholesterol 0mg9%
- Total Carbohydrate 12g38%
- Dietary Fiber 0g0%
- Sugars 0g0%
- Protein 11g
- Vitamin A0%
- Vitamin C0%
- Calcium0%
- Iron0%
How to Make Quenepas Juice
Quenepas Juice Recipe Tips
Quenepas have a taste that is somewhere between lychee and lime, with hints of both sweetness and sourness.
Although they can be used to make drinks, pastries, and jellies, they are best eaten fresh.
You can bite into the fruit whole, extract the fruit by sucking it out of the seed, then consume it! Take caution since the juice can stain!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds quenepas, peeled
- 1-inch piece of ginger, blended and strained
- ¼ liter of water
- 1 lime, juiced
- Honey, to taste
Guidelines
- While you remove the quenepa skins and transfer them to a big bowl, meanwhile bring the water to a boil.
- After that, cover the fruit with boiling water and leave for 20 minutes or until cool.
- Then, using your hands, massage all the fruits to release the juice and flesh into the water by rubbing the pulp from the seeds.
- Finally, add the lime juice after straining the mixture. Add sugar to taste. Put away in the fridge.
Q&As
Spanish Lime near me ~ What is another name for Spanish limes?
Common Names: limoncillo, macao, maco, mammon, mauco, quenepa (Spanish), genip, ginep, guenepa, and Spanish lime (English).
Releted Fruit Crops: rambutan, longan, and lychee.
Source: Mamoncillo is indigenous to the Island of Margarita in northern South America.
Where are quenepas originally from
Quenepa is thought to have originated in Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guyanas. Cultivation has led to its naturalization in the West Indies, Mexico, Central America, the Galapagos Islands, and much of tropical South America.
What is the name of the Mamoncillo tree in English?
Common Names: limoncillo, macao, maco, mammon, mauco, quenepa (Spanish), genip, ginep, guenepa, and Spanish lime (English).
Releted Fruit Crops: rambutan, longan, and lychee.
Origin: The Island of Margarita and northern South America are the native habitats of Mamoncillo.
How long does a quenepa tree take to grow?
The mamoncillo begins to bear fruit in the summer and early fall after four to five years of growth.
When grown from seeds, it might take up to 8 years for it to bear fruit.
Spanish lime tree ~ What is Spanish lime used for?
In addition to vitamins and minerals, the fruits provide tryptophan, a naturally occurring substance that helps the body manufacture serotonin, which promotes sleep.
Mamoncillo fruits are eaten as a natural laxative in Central and South America, and the flesh has been used to treat upset stomachs and other digestive problems.
Buy quenepas online ~ What fruit is similar to quenepas?
Rambutan
The fruits of a subtropical tree belonging to the Sapindaceae family—also referred to as the soapberry family—are called quenepa. They share a tight relationship with rambutan, longan, and lychee.
Mamones fruit in English
Spanish lime
Mamoncillos, also called mamón, mamones, Spanish lime, quenepa, guinep, limoncillo, and a variety of other names, are native to Mexico, South and Central America, and the Caribbean. Traditionally, they are consumed raw or cooked into drinks, sweets, and jellies.
