Lulo Plum

Description/Taste

Lulo fruits are small in size, averaging 4 to 6 centimeters in diameter and 40 to 120 grams in weight, and have a round to ovate shape with a curved, uniform nature. The fruits are capped with a five-pointed, rough, brown calyx, and the skin is thick, ranging from 3 to 4 millimeters in depth. The skin is also leathery, tough, and inedible, either smooth or covered in brittle hairs. These hairs are typically brown and can be removed from the skin, but care should be taken to wear gloves as these hairs may irritate sensitive skin. Lulo fruits ripen from green to a bright orange-yellow, and the skin is easily bruised or damaged. Underneath the surface, a pale orange membrane encases four chambers with a gelatinous, aqueous, jelly-like pulp. The pulp is filled with translucent yellow-green juice and small, flat, pale-yellow seeds, giving the mixture a slippery, slightly crunchy consistency. Lulo fruits are only consumed ripe, and mature fruits have a soft give when gently squeezed. The fruits will also have a bright golden orange hue and should be even in color with an aromatic quality. Ripe Lulo fruits have a sweet, acidic, and sour taste with tangy and refreshing tropical kiwi, lime, and citrus notes. The fruits also have a subtly rhubarb-like nuance, and the flavor will vary depending on the region and climate the fruit is grown in. When cooked, Lulo fruits develop a mellower, sweet, and less tangy taste.