What is Pitomba?
Pitomba is the fruit of an evergreen shrub native to Brazil. The fruit is little known outside of Brazil, despite several attempts to grow the plant in areas other than its tropical home. Pitomba fruit is reminiscent of apricots in shape, color, and flavor, although sometimes slightly more bitter in taste. Pitomba, like its relative, the surinam cherry, is also frequently used to provide a landscaping accent and appears in hedges, topiaries, and on its own. The pitomba shrub can grow up to 25 feet (7.5 meters) in height, although it is rarely allowed to attain this height by gardeners. It has long, glossy, dark green leaves that are somewhat paler underneath, and new growth has small bronze hairs on the underside of the leaves. The pitomba shrub produces white to orange-yellow flowers that appear singly in late spring or early summer. In some areas, the pitomba shrub may flower more frequently. The pitomba fruit is round and orange in color, with creamy flesh. It may contain a pit, or
