| Features: | Choose red or gold tamarillos. |
| Season: | June - November |
| Origin: | New Zealand |
Tamarillos (aka tree tomatoes, java plums, tomate de arbol) are brightly colored, very juicy fruit that look rather like oblong tomatoes with dark seeds. Their flavor is bitter and rather tangy, with a hint of sweetness…sometimes compared to passion fruit as well as tomatoes.
Gold tamarillos tend to be sweeter and larger than red tamarillos. Both varieties are high in vitamins A and C while being rather low in calories.
Storage: Tamarillos are ripe when they yield slightly when gently pressed. Once ripe, they should be refrigerated tightly wrapped in plastic. They will keep for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
For long term storage, extra tamarillos can be frozen, but they should be peeled or turned into a puree first.
Shelf Life: Up to two weeks fresh.
Most people consider tamarillo skin unpleasantly bitter, so you should either peel the fruit before eating/cooking it or simply scoop the flesh out of cut halves are you would a kiwi fruit.
While you can use a vegetable peeler, the recommended way to remove tamarillo skin is to first loosen it by soaking them in boiling water for three to four minutes. Drain the hot water and recover with cold water, peeling them by hand under the surface.
Some South American cultures use sweetened tamarillo puree as a base for refreshing drinks. They can also be pickled (particularly gold tamarillos), roasted, grilled, poached in sugar syrup or turned into jams, sauces, and marmalades.
Tamarillos pair well with savory tomato-friendly flavors like basil, oregano, avocado, onions, garlic, and fresh peppers. To use them as a fruit in desserts, pair them with flavors like cinnamon, star anise, honey, orange, cream (particularly ice cream), brown sugar, and mint.
Note: Tamarillo juice can stain, so don’t cut them on wood cutting boards and avoid getting it on your clothing.
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