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How to make chocolate dumplings in mango sauce: exotic recipe How to make chocolate dumplings in mango sauce: exotic recipeReady to sneak this onto your dessert menu under a name like "Tropics Lost in Vienna"? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

How to make chocolate dumplings in mango sauce: exotic recipe

How to make chocolate dumplings in mango sauce: exotic recipe
🥟 How to make chocolate dumplings in mango sauce: exotic recipe

Ready to sneak this onto your dessert menu under a name like "Tropics Lost in Vienna"?

🧾 Ingredients

  • 🔸 For the dough:

• 200 g (1 ½ cups) all-purpose flour
  • • 1 egg
  • • 3 tbsp water
  • • Pinch of salt

  • 🔸 For the filling:

• 70 g (2.5 oz) dark chocolate
  • • 3 tbsp heavy cream
  • • 1 tsp cocoa powder (optional)
  • • 1 tsp sugar (if chocolate is too bitter)


🔸 For the mango sauce:
  • • 1 ripe mango (or 150 g mango puree)
  • • 100 ml (just under ½ cup) heavy cream
  • • 1-2 tsp honey
  • • 1 tsp lime or lemon juice
  • • Pinch of salt


🔪 Instructions
  • ➡Make the dough: Mix flour, egg, water, and salt into a soft dough. Knead, wrap, and rest for 30 minutes.
  • ➡Prepare the filling: Melt chocolate with cream over a water bath. Stir in sugar and cocoa if using. Let cool until thick.
  • ➡Shape the dumplings: Roll out dough, cut into circles, fill with chocolate, and seal. Freeze for 10 minutes to firm up.
  • ➡Cook: Boil in lightly salted water. Once they float, cook 2–3 minutes more. Lift out gently.
  • ➡Make the mango sauce: Blend mango, then stir in cream, honey, citrus juice, and salt. Warm gently without boiling.
  • ➡Serve: Arrange dumplings, spoon over sauce, and garnish with mint or lime zest if desired.


🛒 Plant your own Mango Tree and always have mango supply

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Mango

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Botanical bedhead: curly, crazy, and full of surprises Botanical bedhead: curly, crazy, and full of surprises This wild-looking jungle cactus doesn't grow straight - it spirals, twirls, and twists! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Botanical bedhead: curly, crazy, and full of surprises

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks, leaves

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks, leaves

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks, fruit

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks, fruit

🥨 Botanical bedhead: curly, crazy, and full of surprises
  • 🥨 This wild-looking jungle cactus doesn't grow straight - it spirals, twirls, and twists! Meet Epiphyllum guatemalense Monstrosa - Orchid Cactus, or Curly Locks.
  • 🥨 A natural mutation of Epiphyllum guatemalense, Curly Locks creates a tangled cascade of curly stems that look like botanical noodles!
  • 🥨 Perfect for hanging baskets, it blooms fragrant, orchid-like flowers at night and produces juicy, edible pink fruit.
  • 🥨 It's self-pollinating and thrives in bright, indirect light. Let it get root-bound to encourage blooms, and water moderately.
  • 🥨 A must-have oddity for cactus lovers and collectors!


🛒 Get the curly cactus now

📚 More about exotic epiphytic cacti:
Disocactus ackermanni - Red Orchid Cactus
Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night
Pseudorhipsalis (Wittia) amazonica - Blue Flame

#Fun_Facts #Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

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Another Musk from Africa that came before Elon: the true Healer from Zulu Another Musk from Africa that came before Elon: the true Healer from Zulu. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Another Musk from Africa that came before Elon: the true Healer from Zulu

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - flowers

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - flowers

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - flowers

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - flowers

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - flowers

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - flowers

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - leaves

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - leaves

🚀 Another Musk from Africa that came before Elon: the true Healer from Zulu.
  • 🚀 This African Musk has less hype and more goodness: it won't buy Twitter but it might cure your cough!
  • 🚀 Musk Bush (Iboza riparia) - also called Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush, is a highly aromatic shrub with a long tradition of healing use in African herbal medicine. Its soft, velvety leaves release a sweet ginger-like scent when crushed and are packed with medicinal value.
  • 🚀 Medicinal uses

  • 💚 Respiratory relief: The Zulu people traditionally use Iboza as an inhalant for coughs, chest congestion, and even malaria. Crushed leaves are often inhaled or made into a steam bath to clear the lungs.
  • 💚 Natural relaxant: Often used alongside Psychotria viridis for calming effects, this plant is prized for its gentle sedative properties.
  • 💚 Headache and digestive aid: Inhaling the fragrance can ease headaches, and teas or infusions are used to soothe stomach aches.

  • 🚀 Plant facts

  • 💚 Growth: Fast-growing (up to 3 ft/year), up to 6 ft tall, with a full, bushy habit.
  • 💚 Leaves: Bright green, heart-shaped, covered in sticky aromatic hairs.
  • 💚 Flowers: showy mist-like white to lilac spikes hang in beautiful, fragrant dense clusters.
  • 💚 Fragrance: Leaves are scented like ginger with a musky twist - especially fragrant after light pruning.


🚀 Growing tips
  • 💚 Best in full sun or partial shade
  • 💚 Likes rich, well-drained soil and regular summer water, drought tolerant once established.
  • 💚 Prune hard after flowering to keep it compact and boost future blooms.
  • 💚 Grows well in pots in cold climates.


🛒 Order Musk Bush - natural remedy for body and mind

#Food_Forest #Remedies

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Mr B knows: the world was here first Mr B knows: the world was here first "Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Mr B knows: the world was here first

Mr B the Cat sleeping in a box

Mr B the Cat sleeping in a box

⬆️ Mr B knows: the world was here first

"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." - Mark Twain

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats #Quotes

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A flavor bomb of sugar and citrus, syrupy when ripe - Mango Sweet Tart A flavor bomb of sugar and citrus, syrupy when ripe - Mango Sweet Tart Sweet Tart is a Florida-grown mango prized for its rich, sweet-tart flavor and silky, fiberless flesh. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

A flavor bomb of sugar and citrus, syrupy when ripe - Mango Sweet Tart

Mango Sweet Tart - tree with fruit on it

🌈 A flavor bomb of sugar and citrus, syrupy when ripe - Mango Sweet Tart

🥭 Sweet Tart is a Florida-grown mango prized for its rich, sweet-tart flavor and silky, fiberless flesh. Created by breeder Gary Zill, it's known for its dense orange pulp, excellent sugar-acid balance, and juicy texture. The fruit is oval, heavy for its size, and sometimes develops harmless speckles on the skin. Great fresh, underripe or ripe. Tangy when underripe, syrupy when ripe and perfect for containers thanks to its upright growth and high productivity. A standout variety that lives up to its name!

🛒 Shop Mango varieties

📚 Previous posts: #Mango_Rainbow - varieties you should try

#Food_Forest #Mango #Mango_Rainbow

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What is the most colorful houseplant: Chartreuse Vine of Gold What is the most colorful houseplant: Chartreuse Vine of Gold A golden plant? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What is the most colorful houseplant: Chartreuse Vine of Gold

Philodendron Golden Goddess

🌟 What is the most colorful houseplant: Chartreuse Vine of Gold
  • 🌟 A golden plant? Yes, really! Philodendron Golden Goddess isn't just a name - this beauty shines with true golden-chartreuse leaves that glow like sunshine.
  • 🌟 It's not lime, not salad-green, not even neon... it's pure, leafy gold! Bright golden-yellow foliage that grabs attention.
  • 🌟 Discovered in Indonesia, this stunning rare climbing philodendron is a collector's dream.
  • 🌟 Easy to grow and adapts well indoors or out (Zone 9-11). Loves bright, indirect light (no harsh sun). Grows more striking with age - leaves get bigger and bolder over time.
  • 🌟 Whether you let it climb or trail, this plant becomes a showstopper with minimal effort. The Golden Goddess truly lives up to her name - she's radiant, regal, and ridiculously easy to love.


🛒 Bring home this golden treasure!

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden

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Riki's educational television Riki's educational television "I find television very educational. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Rikis educational television

Riki the Cat is watching TV hockey

Riki the Cat is watching TV hockey

😶 Riki's educational television

"I find television very educational. Every time someone turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." - Groucho Marx

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats #Quotes

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Date:

NEW SHORT VIDEO:
Watch Joy Perfume in fool bloom!

Magnolia champaca, the Joy Perfume Tree is the most desirable perfume tree for Southern gardens and a Signature Plant of Top Tropicals! At our Farm in Sebring, these stunning trees bloom almost year-round, filling the air with a fruity, enchanting fragrance.

This is the flower used to make the world's most expensive perfume - Joy! And it smells like fruity bubble gum... you won't stop sniffing it! With lush, lemon-lime leaves and a tall, elegant shape, Champaka is as beautiful as it is fragrant.

Shop online or visit Top Tropicals in Fort Myers or Sebring and bring home your very own Joy Perfume Tree!

We have beautiful Champaka trees in all sizes:
3 gal pot: 3-4 ft tall - ready to bloom within a year, can be shipped
7 gal pot: 5-6 ft tall - ready to bloom, can be shipped
15 gal pot: 7-8 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
25 gal pot: 10 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
*Free delivery for qualified orders - contact us for delivery estimate.

Claim Your Joy Today - Own Your Perfume Champaka

Subscribe to our Channel:

Stay updated with TopTropicals Videos by subscribing to our channel at YouTube.com/TopTropicals and get our latest video news of what is fruiting and blooming!

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Date:

What fruit can reduce your blood pressure?

Top ten tropical fruit that help reduce blood pressure

Q: Can you recommend trees which fruit are beneficial for balancing blood pressure? I have limited space, so I want to be selective and grow a food forest that truly supports my health.

A: You don't need to spend $$$ on doctors and medications to stay healthy and young. By eating right and adding a few powerful plants and fruits to your diet, you can naturally keep your blood pressure in check. If you plant them today - you can harvest your own medicine tomorrow. And don't forget - gardening itself is therapeutic! It keeps you active, reduces stress, and helps your whole body stay in balance.

💚 Top ten tropical fruit that help reduce blood pressure:

🍈 Jackfruit - Contains potassium and magnesium, which help relax blood vessels and regulate blood pressure.

🍉 Guava - Rich in potassium and fiber, supports vascular health and may help lower blood pressure.

🍊 Papaya - High in potassium and antioxidants, promoting healthy blood pressure.

🍌 Banana - Well-known for its high potassium content, which helps counteract sodium and lower blood pressure.

🍍 Pineapple - Contains potassium and bromelain, which may support circulation and reduce inflammation.

🍅 Persimmon - High in fiber and antioxidants, which can contribute to better heart and vascular function.

🍇 Mulberry - Contains resveratrol and other antioxidants linked to heart health and blood pressure support.

🥓Tamarind - Rich in potassium and fiber, may help regulate blood pressure and support arterial health.

🍑 Loquat - Contains potassium, aiding in fluid balance and blood pressure control.

🍒 Tropical Cherry (Eugenia) - Contains antioxidants and supports healthy circulation.

Shop tropical fruit trees that boost your health

Date:

How to grow cold-hardy avocados and how cold-hardy are they? Growing avocados in colder regions is possible with the right variety and care. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

How to grow cold-hardy avocados and how cold-hardy are they?

Cat is growing cold-hardy avocados

Cat is growing cold-hardy avocados

🥑 How to grow cold-hardy avocados and how cold-hardy are they?

Growing avocados in colder regions is possible with the right variety and care. By selecting Cold Hardy varieties, ensuring proper care, and taking protective steps during cold spells, you can successfully grow avocados outside of tropical climates.

The more established your tree, the better it will tolerate colder weather.

🌡 What is Avocado cold hardiness?

Avocados are sensitive to freezing temperatures but some Mexican varieties are cold-hardy, surviving temperatures as low as 15F once established. With proper care, some can endure brief cold snaps down to 10F.
  • 👉 Cold hardiness depends on several factors, including:

  • 🟢 Duration of cold: How long the tree is exposed to freezing temperatures.
  • 🟢 Sun exposure: Trees with more sunlight tend to handle cold better.
  • 🟢 Wind protection: Wind can make cold weather more damaging.
  • 🟢 Tree health: Proper care, including fertilization, can improve cold tolerance.


❄️ How to protect avocados from cold

If you're growing avocados in a cooler climate, it's essential to protect them from harsh cold. Here are some tips:
  • 🟢 Bigger is Better: Larger, more established trees are generally more cold-tolerant than young ones.
  • 🟢 Wind Protection: Cold winds can be more damaging than the temperature itself. Plant your avocado in a sheltered spot, such as on the south or southeast side of a building, where it’s protected from strong winds.
  • 🟢 Good Fertilization: A healthy tree is more likely to withstand cold. Make sure your avocado receives regular fertilization throughout the growing season to keep it strong.
  • 🟢 Watering: Avocados need regular watering, but during winter, they require much less water. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot in cold conditions.


✍️ Specific protection for young plants
  • 🟢 Covering and mulching: When a freeze is expected, mound mulch around the trunk to insulate the roots and cover the tree with a blanket for warmth. For extra protection, use Christmas lights or a small heater under the cover, following safety precautions.
  • 🟢 Microclimates matter: Plant your tree closer to a building for better cold protection. Placing it in the warmest part of your landscape will help it get more heat during winter.
  • 🟢 With proper care and protection, you can enjoy fresh avocados even in cooler climates!


🛒  Shop Cold Hardy Avocados

📚Learn more:

#Food_Forest #Avocado #How_to

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