Genipapo

What Is Genipapo?

Genipapo (Portuguese "jenipapo") is the fruit of a tree (Genipa americana) that grows in the tropical regions of Central and South America (especially the Brazilian Amazon). The juice of the unripe fruit contains a pigment that turns dark blue-black on contact with air; this property has traditionally been used by indigenous peoples for body painting.

Once ripe, the fruit has a sweet, aromatic, and slightly tangy taste; in this form it is eaten fresh or used to make juice, syrup, and liqueur.

Nutritional Values of Genipapo

100 g of ripe, raw genipapo contains around 55 kcal of energy; it carries vitamin C. Values are approximate.

How Should Genipapo Be Consumed?

Genipapo can be considered part of a balanced diet as a vitamin C source; only fully ripe fruit is consumed directly.

This information is general; genipapo is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Genipapo?

A good ripe genipapo has yellowish-brown skin, yields to slight pressure, and has a sweet-aromatic smell. A fruit with green-hard skin has not yet ripened and its staining property is more pronounced.

• Skin should be yellowish-brown
• Should yield to slight pressure
• Smell should be sweet-aromatic

How to Store Genipapo?

Unripe genipapo is kept at room temperature; once ripe it is recommended to be consumed within a few days in the refrigerator.

Using Genipapo in the Kitchen

Genipapo is most often used in Brazil to make juice, syrup, jam, and the traditional "licor de jenipapo" (genipapo liqueur); ripe fruit is also eaten fresh.

Why Does Genipapo Stain the Skin?

A compound called genipin in the unripe fruit's juice undergoes a chemical reaction on contact with air and proteins, forming a dark blue-black color; Amazonian indigenous peoples have used this property for traditional body painting (similar to a temporary tattoo).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is genipapo staining permanent?

It is a temporary stain on the skin that fades within days-weeks; it is not permanent tattoo ink.

How is genipapo juice prepared?

The flesh of the ripe fruit is pressed and strained, and sugar can be added to make juice, or it can be fermented into a mildly alcoholic drink.

Is genipapo available in Turkey?

It is not; it is a product native to South America, with practically no import in fresh or processed form.