General Information
Mamoncillo, or Spanish limes, grow in clusters of 12 or more fruits at the end of the branches of large green, leafy trees. Individual branches are removed and the fruits are commonly sold in clusters. The small fruits measure 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter and are almost perfectly round. The thin skin is smooth, tough, and leathery with the occasional protrusion opposite the stem end. The pulp has a gelatinous and glistening appearance, similar to that of a lychee. The flesh is referred to as the “aril” and can range in color from salmon-orange to pale yellow. It clings to a large white seed (sometimes two) at the center of the fruit. Unripe Mamoncillo can be sour and have a slightly ‘hairy’ texture. When Mamoncillo are ripe, the pulp is sweetly acidic and can be compared to a cross between a lime and a lychee.
History
Mamoncillo is native to northern South America and the Caribbean, specifically Colombia and Venezuela, and the islands just off their coasts. They grow mainly in tropical areas and are found in some parts of tropical Africa and the Pacific. The little green fruits are commercially cultivated in the very southern portion of Florida in the United States and in some home gardens. Mamoncillo may be found at the end of the summer in specialty stores catering to Caribbean and Cuban tastes in the northeastern United States.
