Fruit Trees of Mexico Tamarind

Tamarind (English) Tamarindo (Spanish), Pah-Ch'uhuk (Maya) Tamarindus indica, Fabaceae Family. Native to Africa, brought during Colonial times to Yucatan, tamarind evergreen trees bear great amounts of fruits pods from April to July. Maya people enjoy the tart sweet aromatic rich flavor of this fruit, Tamarind is highly popular among Maya people. Fruit pods hang in clusters up to six to eight inches long. tamarind is eaten ripe, fresh, in candies, juices, and in sauces.

Fruit Trees of Mexico Plantain

Plantain (English), Plátano Macho (Spanish) Xib Ja'as (Maya), Musa balbisiana, Musaceae Family. Native to India, nowadays cultivated in many subtropical regions like Yucatan. Plantain tree bears flower and fruits in the same manner as a banana tree; plantain plants propagate with suckers frim the mother plant which dies after bearing fruit.  Fruits are eaten always fried green or ripe.

Fruit Trees of Mexico Bananas

Bananas (English), Plátanos (Spanish) Ja'as (Maya), Musa paradisiaca, Musaceae Family. Native to Southeast Asia, banana hybrids are now widely cultivated in subtropical world regions. Banana trees are evergreen herbaceous plants that only bear fruits once from a pseudo-stem with a large flower at its tip; from the flower grow multiple clusters of fruits creating a large column fruit pendant; banana leafs are used to wrap tamales and other Mayan cooking delights.