Fruits of Mexico

Since I moved to Ajijic, friends from NOB (north of the border) often ask me about daily life. I put off answering because I wasn’t getting a creative charge out of writing about such things as what I eat, etc. Today’s different. I went crazy over a new fruit I bought at the market, rambutan.

Here’s a bowl of them, and one cut open to reveal the delicious luminous fruit shaped like an egg. The texture in the mouth is like a not-too-juicy plum and the taste packs a sweet, creamy-rich, flowery flavor, very refreshing. Careful not to bite the  pit!

As for other fruits I’ve tried here, I’ve come to really enjoy the cactus fruit called tuna, both white and red varieties. I sampled the coveted pitaya when they were in season, but couldn’t comprehend the popularity. I  Iike guayaba better in smoothies than fresh. I loved papaya and mango and all the berries before I ever got here, although I never knew raspberries and blueberries could grow this huge. Fresh figs are new for me. And the giant apricots keep me reaching for another.

It’s all grown in Mexico, regional to where I live. There are lots and lots of fruits I don’t know yet. I like the idea that it will take me the rest of my life, both literally and metaphorically speaking, to sample all the fruits of Mexico,