Cape Gooseberry

Appears in
Oxford Companion to Food

By Alan Davidson

Published 2014

  • About

Cape gooseberry Physalis peruviana, is thought to be a native of Peru and Chile, but the cape in its name is the Cape of Good Hope; the fruit enjoyed an early vogue in S. Africa, whither it was taken before 1807 and whence it travelled on to Australia and New Zealand. It thrives particularly in New South Wales and New Zealand.

It has been introduced to many other countries, including India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. It is now widely known by the Hawaiian name poha, since it is cultivated and consumed with especial enthusiasm by the Hawaiians. It is also among the fruits which are sometimes called ground cherry.