ARACA BOI
(Eugenia stipilata)

A tree of araca boi

Other name: Araza

Family: Myrtaceae

            Araca boi is a minor fruit from the Western Amazon.  It is cultivated on small properties throughout the basin of the Solimoes (Alto Amazonas).   It can be seen being sold in small town markets.

Araca boi fruit and foliage

Description:

A shrub or small tree up to 2.5 m  with a fair degree of branching from the base;

            Leaves are simple, opposite, elliptical to slightly oval, 6 to 18 x 3.5 to 9.5 cm.

Flowers borne in axillary racemes, usually with two to five flowers which are 1 cm wide and pedicellate; sepals 4, rounded; petals 5, white, oval; stamens numerous, ovary with three or four locules.

Araca boi flowers

            Fruit a sub spherical berry, reaching 12 cm in diameter and weighing 750 g when ripe; flesh yellow and thin; skin shiny. velvety and yellow,

            Seeds few, oblong, measuring up to 2.5 cm.

Utilization:

Araca boi fruits are edible.  These  have a very distinct aromatic flavour.  The edible portion is white pulp, which has a sour taste.  It is a rich source of vitamin C.  Araca boi fruits are, however,  rarely eaten raw because of their sour taste.  But these are widely used to make juices, soft drinks, ice-cream, preserve and even desserts.

Araca boi fruits

            In Brazil, a few pieces of this fruit are used to savour the Brazilian sugarcane liquor cachaca.  This is a special ritual treat in Brazilian country side.

Cultivation:

New plants of araca boi plants are raised from seed.  The seeds, however, loose their viability soon, so these should be used very soon after extraction.

            This fruit has a potential for being developed as an orchard crop and therefore deserves to be promoted.  A couple of projects are already in progress in South America for its domestication.