Acerola

This is both the name of a shrublike tree of the Caribbean and that of its fruit. The name acerola refers to the tree’s resemblance to the Mediterranean tree azarole. The acerola fruit resembles a small cherry; it is dark red and sweet, yet tart; some say it is closer in flavor to a raspberry. Acerola is also known by the names West Indies cherry, Puerto Rican cherry, and Barbados cherry; scientifically, it is classified as Malpighia punicifolia. The trees grow, for the most part, in the West Indies but have been adapted for cultivation in the United States. Acerola cherries are extremely high in vitamin C (having 20 times that of oranges when compared by weight) and are used for juice and in preserves.