Quenepas
Quenepa ~ the fruit of a Caribbean tree, with green skin, pink flesh, and a large pit. The best ones are grown in Ponce, a town on the south coast of Puerto Rico. Quenepas are available fresh mostly during August. They are sold in bunches or packed in small plastic bags, and can be stored at room temperature.
Thanks to Puerto Rican Cooking for the description. It’s pronounced keh-neh-pah. (Close enough for English speakers.)
I was surprised to see these at our grocery store in Orlando. So I bought a small pack of them because I thought I remembered Rob saying he like them the first time we went to Puerto Rico years ago. Apparently I was wrong and he didn’t care for them. I like them but don’t love them. They brought back a lot of memories. My uncle, Tio Eddie, loves them. At least I think he does. I remember visiting Puerto Rico in the summers and buying bunches of quenepas on the side of the street as we drove through the southern part of the island, usually on our way to my aunt and uncle’s house.
The thing about quenepas is that you don’t eat them, you suck on them. The pit inside is big and you just suck on the peach flesh until it’s all gone. I guess you could suck on one for hours.
Wikipedia has more info if you’re interested. There are tons of different names for this fruit. The last line in the Wikipedia entry is this: “According to Caribbean folk wisdom, girls learn the art of kissing by eating the sweet flesh of this fruit.”
maybe they taste better in puerto rico.
Comment by rob — July 17, 2006 @ 12:19 pm
For those interested in buying these delicious fruits go to http://www.bongosmania.com the ladies there are very nice.
To add to original post– quenepas can be roasted too… i believe people in one of the caribbean island eat them like that. It is said to resemble roasted sunflower seeds. So, from now on after sucking quenepa pulp you may want to try roasting the seeds!
Comment by Reyna — July 28, 2006 @ 2:25 pm
Hello,
I am trying to find out what the english word for Quenepas is.
Thank you
Comment by Johanne — August 2, 2006 @ 1:48 pm
Johanne, I believe that in English Quenepas are called Spanish Limes or Genips. They have many other names in Spanish as well.
Comment by patricia — August 2, 2006 @ 1:57 pm
We eat them in Honduras, too, and they were good there, too!
Comment by estef — February 5, 2007 @ 9:45 pm
Hola! La primera vez que yo porbe esta deliciosa fruta fue durante la estacion de Huracan Hortencia en el ano ‘96, creo. Una lindisima chica subio un arbol llevando con ella 3 or 4 sacos plasticos para llenarlos de quenepas para mi. Estuve quedandome en un apartamento cerca de La Parguera y no pude entrarlo durante aquel tiempo dado al la tormenta. La nina, sabiendo que por eso no tenia nada que comer subio el arbol para darme algo de comer. !Vaya que memoria emociante! Elizabeth, La Gitana Griega
Comment by elizabeth — March 3, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
I’m Puerto Rican American from Philadelphia. My wonderful memories of this delicious, sweet fruit is when I was young my sisters would walk to the street cornere where a latino grocer would sell fruits outside of his van. The quenepas were always the first to go along with the riped, juicy mangos. I miss eating quenepas and living in the west coast has been difficult in finding them. When I ask about them, I often get a look of “WHAT?, NEVER HEARD OF IT.” I thought that of all places Whole Foods Organic Grocery Store would have them, but with great dismay and disappoint they don’t. LOL, bummer! Please introduce this exotic fruit to the gringos, so that every grocery store can carry them. Heck, Let’s introduce it as a healthy fruit that will burn off calories and see how fast they’ll put it on the market. Linda Gonzalez, una latina en Las Vegas.
Comment by Linda — July 31, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
THE ONES FROM HAITI ARE GOOD TOO!!! WE CALL THEM KENEP….PRONOUNCED ALMOST THE SAME WAY!! I LOVE EATING THEM.
Comment by STEPHANIE — August 13, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
Linda from Philly…yes, wicked marketing idea!!! I am so sick of tripping on chicken bones and garbage from people who gluttonously devour Micky D-crap…anyhow, you get the picture. There are sooooo many great foods (especially the tropical fruits!!) out there in the big bad world-and surprisingly many won’t turn one’s butt or arteries into a lard-depot… I am so glad to know the PR name for these divine little fruits! Now when I am out of the DR hood and into the PR hood, I’ll know what to ask for!!
Comment by B — August 21, 2007 @ 12:25 am
You can get fresh quenepas at http://www.bongosmania.com
Ojo! Season is almost over but you still have time to order some.
Bongos
Comment by Bongosmania — August 22, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
In Cuba we call them “Mamoncillos”…people sale them in the streets so cheap!. They are not so good here in USA…mainly because they are from warm weather…the weather and soil place a huge difference…The peak season is late June thru August!….
Comment by dew79 — August 22, 2007 @ 9:59 pm
I grew up in Ponce so quenepas were a big part of our summer diet. They also make a liquor called Billis with these fruits. They boil the seed with the peach looking flesh, pour the liquid into a plastic container and then bury the container in the backyard for three days. It’s very good but also very strong. You should try it!!
Comment by Adrian — August 28, 2007 @ 10:34 am
I’m a Puertorican living in Corinth,MS I haven’t tasted not uNa, not DoS, and not tReS quenepas since i’ve been here. This place is horrible in tring to find fruits. DON’T COME HERE IF YOU ARE HISPANIC. BUt I really do miss eating that delicousness mhh mhh mhh. I could almost taste it NOT, BECAUSE I 4 GOT HOW IT TASTES. DARN, BUT THEY WERE GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!
AM I RIGHT HOMIES.
Comment by Tatiana — September 12, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
This fruit is very popular in Trinidad and Tobago. I grew up in Trinidad and it was one of my favourite fruit. It is very popular with children of all ages.
In Trinidad it is called Chennett. I am not sure of the spelling of this word. It is very delicious.
Comment by Kay — September 24, 2007 @ 6:49 am
Remove the peel and pack the fruit in a jar. Fill the jar with your favorite rum (gin might be good too). Stir gently (dont spill the rum dumbo) removing the pulp from the seeds. Cover and let sit for … 1/2 a day?
Drink, enjoy and dont plan on driving anywhere for a while
Comment by Francisco — November 9, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
In orlando, where I live now, the grocery store in my neighborhood sells quenepas during the season. They are imported from the Caribbean. I’m lucky to live in Orlando where there are so many hispanics. I can find the food I love very easily.
Comment by patricia — November 11, 2007 @ 12:20 am
I love them, remember when “papi” used to take us to Ponce and buy them buy the bunches, in Ponce they called them “limoncillos”. In my “barrio” we used to let the boys climb up the trees and pick some for us. Who ever picked more used to get a big kiss from us girls.
Comment by ana — January 6, 2008 @ 3:25 am
I look forward to eating this every summer. I live in the NY/NJ/PA so we get them here do to the large hispanic population but they still are not as good as the ones from Puerto Rico. I wish I could grow them year round at my house!
Comment by Pedro — July 4, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
man, i love eating this exotic fruit. I am from Nicaragua and when I visited about 6 years ago I fell in love with them. I have been looking for them everywhere! I was told and from reading this that they sell the “mamones” in Orlando, i will be visiting next month can someone be a sweet heart and tell me where in Orlando I can find them?
Comment by jay — July 8, 2008 @ 1:43 am
Jay,
If you’re coming to Orlando I think most Publix grocery stores would have quenepas. In Kissimmee, just south of Orlando there is a Latino grocery store called Publix Sabor. It’s a grocery store with Hispanic influence. I haven’t been there yet. Here’s the info:
1980 East Osceola Parkway
Kissimmee, FL 34743-8600
(407) 348-8422
There are also some local Latino markets in Orlando that I would think have them.
Comment by Patricia — July 10, 2008 @ 10:38 am
I love Quenepas!!! I am eating some right now!
Comment by Angel — September 18, 2008 @ 5:39 pm
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