Last week I was on the hunt for fresh fruit to decorate the three tiered tart I was making for a photoshoot. I visited the Union Square Greenmarket and my favorite fresh produce shop in Chelsea Market, who often carry a unique selection of fruits and vegetables. The goal was to find fruit that was not only appropriate in scale, but also in color scheme. I wanted to stay somewhat neutral in palette, with soft greens and pale oranges being the focus.
I saw these unusual berries when I walked into the store, and knew they would be the perfect compliment to the green champagne grapes, mini seckle pears, and tiny apricots that I was using. What I didn’t know, was that they are a nutritional powerhouse, primed to emerge as the next super fruit in our arsenal of healthy foods.
What were these called? Pichuberries!
These tiny, waxy berries grow inside husks like tomatillos do. The fruit is sweet and juicy with a tart aftertaste. They orginated in Peru, and are grown commercially in Columbia.
Pichuberries have a low glycemic index, and are high in antioxidents, minerals and protein. The fruit is also a good source of vitamins A, E, D, P and B complex vitamins B1, B12 and B6. Just 3 oz. of pichuberries can provide 39% of the recommended daily requirement of vitamin D. They also contain a compound called withanolides, which are associated with inhibiting cancer cell growth, and reducing inflammation.
The list of health benefits is so long, that the pichubery has its own website, where you can learn more about it.
Move over acai, these little guys are coming for you!
Photos courtesty of pichuberry.com
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Tags: antioxident, berries, Chelsea Market, fresh fruit, fruits and vegetables, minerals, pichuberries, super fruit, the Union Square Greenmarket, vitamins
Indigo jones 
September 25, 2015 at 10:33 pm |
Very cool!!! Are they any relation to English Gooseberries by any chance? Keep smiling 😉
September 26, 2015 at 5:53 pm |
They are referrered to as Cape Gooseberries in Australia, so perhaps they are similar. Thanks for commenting~!
September 26, 2015 at 11:59 pm
Oh awesome! Yeah that makes sense. Cheers 😉