Genipap

genipap Genipa americana, also known as ‘marmalade box’ in some formerly British W. Indian islands, the fruit of a tall tree native to tropical America.

The fruit is 9–15 cm (3–6") long, oval shaped, but with a rounded middle. It has a thin, brown, leathery skin, within which there is a thin layer of grainy flesh, which turns yellow on exposure; and below this are many flat, round seeds encased in a brownish-yellow pulp. The fruit is only edible when overripe, and the flavour, likened by Popenoe (1932) to that of dried apples, is very pronounced. Its main use is for soft drinks, in the Philippines as well as in C. America, but it can also be made into preserves or pickles.