The Scared Jamaican: The Fruit Edition

There comes a time when a patriotic Jamaican foodie has to man up... or woman up in my case and venture out into unchartered food waters. I've come to the realization that there are many local foods I haven't tried for a variety of reasons, one such reason is I had a very urbanized granny who clearly forgot her St. Mary roots as she didn't really eat much "country" foods.

So today I'm trying out three Jamaican fruits I haven't tried. What could possibly go wrong? Well, let me take you on a journey through my first encounter with Star Apple, Golden Cup, and Red Skin Banana – it was a rollercoaster of flavors and nerves.

See my reaction in action here! And be sure to recommend some fruits/foods for me to try...

First up on my fruity hit list was the star apple. I must admit, the name alone has always had me confused why do we have a fruit shaped like a circle called a Star Apple, yet we have a fruit shaped like a star called a Jimbilin? Make it make sense!

I'm used to the dark purple ones and not sure if it made a difference that this one was green, but I pressed on. I was warned about the milky sap that oozes when you cut into it and the inside is supposed to look like a star, but it looked so far from a star and more like a vagina to me, don't you agree? Let me know in the comments. Undeterred (and a little nervous), I took my first bite. The texture was creamy and surprisingly fresh in taste, there was a hint of sweetness, but the real kicker was it was spicy! I was so taken aback but realized I used the knife a few minutes prior to cut up some Scotch Bonnet peppers! Haha

Next in line was the golden cup, a fruit that looked like a guava, which is something I've never had. Holding this shiny marvel in my hand. I popped it open cautiously and was greeted with a million little seeds with flesh on them. It looked oddly familiar, but I still can't place it. The seeds were crunchy, and the tart flavor wasn't anything to write home about. On to the next...

Now, let’s talk about the red skin banana. Bananas are familiar, right? Well, not this one. This was a whole new breed of banana – dark red on the outside, almost letting the banana pass off as rotting. Peeling back the crimson skin, I uncovered a surprisingly creamy and slightly tangy banana inside. It was familiar yet different, like meeting an old friend in a new outfit. The red skin banana definitely left its mark, proving that sometimes it's worth stepping out of your comfort zone.

Reflecting on my fruity escapade, I realized that fear of the unknown almost deprived me of new experiences with flavors and this is the reason I started "The Scared Epicurean" to try new foods!

So, if you find yourself face-to-face with an exotic fruit, don’t let fear hold you back. Embrace the adventure, take a bite, and savor the moment. Who knows? You might discover your new favorite snack or get an allergy attack. Until next time, keep exploring and tasting the world – one fruit at a time!

Bon Appétit !