It’s a small tree compared to the towering figs and cecropias of the rainforest canopy, evergreen and interesting enough to be ornamental even in a place like Costa Rica where everything that grows is beautiful. Its leaves are glossy and almost leathery, intense dark green on one side and a shimmery gold on the other, which makes for quite a show when the wind blows. The first time I saw it, it bore no fruit. This time, my second stay in a small rental house about twenty minutes south of La Fortuna, it is covered in round fruits about the size of a baseball, green until ripe, then a deep, eggplant purple. I had to know what this was! So I did some research and discovered that I have stumbled upon a caimito tree, otherwise known as star apple, and it holds some amazing health properties with the potential to benefit me greatly.
The fruit is a bit like a fig, a bit like a plum. Not much like an apple, despite its name. The outer rind is filled with a latex substance that is bitter and inedible. Inside, close to the core, the pulp is sweet and can be eaten right off the tree or used in various recipes. The leaves, however, are of greatest interest to me. Boiled into a decoction, particularly when mixed with the leaves of tradescantia zebrina (wandering jew,) they offer significant anti-inflammatory, anti-arrhythmia, and anti-hypertension properties as well as help regulate blood sugar. I talk about this more in the video linked above, as well as discuss some other plants and fungus material with significant health benefits.
As a bonus, the video also has information about how to support your favorite YouTubers. Watch ‘til the end. Some good stuff to know!
