Strawberry Guava replaced with Grumichama!

After consultation with a number of 12 Trees Project advisors and discussions with a number of participating chefs, the project has decided to replace strawberry guava with grumichama, (Eugenia braziliensis).

Although the invasiveness of strawberry guava is questionable at lower elevations in dry parts of Kona, the plant is prevalent in many upper elevation areas of Kona and is considered invasive. One of the areas the project wishes to focus on is bringing the more unusual fruit into cultivation in order to provide chefs and consumers with fresh fruit choices.

Those who have tried the grumichama thoroughly enjoy the flavor. The taste is like a cross between jaboticaba and black cherry. The fruit is often called Brazil cherry or local cherry.

More information on grumichama:

http://www.hawaiifruit.net/fruitdata/_grumichama.html

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/grumichama.html

http://www.montosogardens.com/eugenia_brasiliensis.htm