Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date:

This is how a young Loquat tree is fruiting. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

A young Loquat tree fruiting

🙂 This is how a young Loquat tree is fruiting

For the previous posts⤴️

📚 Loquat in previous posts:
" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" >🎥 YouTube video about Loquat
📁 Overlooked fruit: tasty Loquat recipes (PDF)

🛍 Shop Loquat Trees and enjoy fresh fruit benefits

#Food_Forest #Loquat

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Carambola Jam recipe. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

⭐️ Carambola Jam recipe

😁 Ingredients:

  • · 4 ripe carambolas, washed and thinly sliced
  • · 1 cup granulated sugar
  • · 1/2 cup water
  • · Juice of 1 lemon
  • · 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (optional)


📞 Instructions:

  • · In a saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  • · Add the sliced carambola and ground ginger. Reduce heat and simmer for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fruit softens and the mixture thickens.
  • · Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then transfer to sterilized jars.
  • · Refrigerate and enjoy on toast, with yogurt, or as a glaze for meats.


🎁 This simple yet unusual jam highlights carambola’s unique star shape and tangy-sweet flavor! 😏

🛒 Plant your own Carambola Tree

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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When you have a big crop of Star Fruit: sweet and Spicy Carambola Salsa recipe. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Carambola Salsa

Carambola Salsa

⭐️ When you have a big crop of Star Fruit: sweet and Spicy Carambola Salsa recipe

😁 Ingredients:
  • · 2 ripe Carambola (starfruit), finely diced
  • · 1 small red bell pepper, diced
  • · 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • · 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
  • · 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
  • · Juice of 1 lime
  • · 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
  • · Pinch of salt


📞 Instructions:
  • · Combine the diced carambola, red bell pepper, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro in a bowl.
  • · Add lime juice, honey, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
  • · Chill in the fridge for 15–30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
  • · Serve with tortilla chips, grilled fish, or as a topping for tacos.


🎁 This recipe balances carambola's sweet-tart flavor with a spicy kick! 😏

🛒 Plant your own Carambola Tree

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica)

Loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica)

🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 10: Loquat Tree.
  • 🍑 Loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica) is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and highly cold-hardy tropical fruit tree.
  • 🍑 Heavy Producer: Loquats are juicy, aromatic, and apricot-like in flavor, ripening from early Spring to early Summer.
  • 🍑 Compact and Ideal for Small Gardens: Perfect for beginners and those with limited space.
  • 🍑 Undemanding: Loquat trees thrive in any soil, tolerate summer heat, winter cold, heavy rains, and occasional flooding.
  • 🍑 Nutrient-Rich: High in sugar, acids, vitamins B and C, minerals, and pectin. Eaten fresh or used in fruit salads, jams, jellies, chutneys, sauces, pies, and wine-making. It's also popular as a natural sweetener.


📚 Learn more from previous posts:
" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" >🎥 YouTube video about Loquat
📁 Overlooked fruit: tasty Loquat recipes (PDF)

🛒 Start your fruit garden with Loquats

#Food_Forest #Loquat

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What is the best fruit for summer drinks and wine? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

🍸 What is the best fruit for summer drinks and wine?

  • 🍋 Hands, down, Costa Rican Guava, or Cas Guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum) takes the crown! This tropical gem from Central America is known for its intense flavor, making it perfect for refreshing beverages and creative drinks. The tree is incredibly productive - even young ones yield abundant fruit!

  • 🍋 We discovered this fruit last Summer. The tree was so productive (on the second year!), we didn't know what to do with so much fruit! So we made a concentrated drink and have been drinking it since then. It looks like the juice has antibacterial properties so it doesn't need to be canned, it stores for months in refrigerator.

  • 🍋 Plans for 2025 season crop: Homemade Cas Guava wine!

Next summer, we are going to try making wine with Cas Guava. Its bold, tangy flavor is sure to produce a delicious, unique brew!

💯 Why choose Cas Guava?

  • • Packed with vitamin C - four times more than lemons - for a powerful immune boost.
  • • Rich in antioxidants to combat stress and inflammation.
  • • Hardy and low-maintenance, thriving in poor soils and resisting pests.

  • 🍸 Recipe: Cas Guava Juice Concentrate


    • Ingredients:

•  Fresh Cas Guavas
  • •  Sugar (to taste)


    • Instructions:
  • • Wash the guavas, cut in half and place them in a large pot with enough water to cover.
  • • Add sugar to taste and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5-10 min until the fruit softens.
  • • Let sit for a few hours so the fruit softens more.
  • • Strain the liquid through a colander to remove the pulp.
  • • Bottle the concentrate and refrigerate.
  • • To serve, dilute with water to your liking for a flavorful, tangy drink!


    • This concentrate doesn’t need sterilizing/canning and stays fresh for months, thanks to Cas Guava’s natural antibacterial properties.


🍸 Traditional Favorite: Agua de Cas

Cas Guava is the key ingredient in Costa Rica's famous Agua de Cas, a blend of cas juice, water, and sugar. It's a refreshing, slightly acidic drink that's perfect for hot days.

With its vibrant taste, rich nutrients, and endless possibilities, Cas Guava is a must-have for gardeners and culinary adventurers alike!

📚 Learn more:

🛒 Order Cas Guava

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Guava

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

What is the best fruit for summer drinks and wine? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

🍸 What is the best fruit for summer drinks and wine?

  • 🍋 Hands, down, Costa Rican Guava, or Cas Guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum) takes the crown! This tropical gem from Central America is known for its intense flavor, making it perfect for refreshing beverages and creative drinks. The tree is incredibly productive - even young ones yield abundant fruit!

  • 🍋 We discovered this fruit last Summer. The tree was so productive (on the second year!), we didn't know what to do with so much fruit! So we made a concentrated drink and have been drinking it since then. It looks like the juice has antibacterial properties so it doesn't need to be canned, it stores for months in refrigerator.

  • 🍋 Plans for 2025 season crop: Homemade Cas Guava wine!

Next summer, we are going to try making wine with Cas Guava. Its bold, tangy flavor is sure to produce a delicious, unique brew!

💯 Why choose Cas Guava?

  • • Packed with vitamin C - four times more than lemons - for a powerful immune boost.
  • • Rich in antioxidants to combat stress and inflammation.
  • • Hardy and low-maintenance, thriving in poor soils and resisting pests.

  • 🍸 Recipe: Cas Guava Juice Concentrate


    • Ingredients:

•  Fresh Cas Guavas
  • •  Sugar (to taste)


    • Instructions:
  • • Wash the guavas, cut in half and place them in a large pot with enough water to cover.
  • • Add sugar to taste and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5-10 min until the fruit softens.
  • • Let sit for a few hours so the fruit softens more.
  • • Strain the liquid through a colander to remove the pulp.
  • • Bottle the concentrate and refrigerate.
  • • To serve, dilute with water to your liking for a flavorful, tangy drink!


    • This concentrate doesn’t need sterilizing/canning and stays fresh for months, thanks to Cas Guava’s natural antibacterial properties.


🍸 Traditional Favorite: Agua de Cas

Cas Guava is the key ingredient in Costa Rica's famous Agua de Cas, a blend of cas juice, water, and sugar. It's a refreshing, slightly acidic drink that's perfect for hot days.

With its vibrant taste, rich nutrients, and endless possibilities, Cas Guava is a must-have for gardeners and culinary adventurers alike!

📚 Learn more:

🛒 Order Cas Guava

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Guava

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Did you know which two trees are behind the creation of Eggnog? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Did you know which two trees are behind the creation of Eggnog? Nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans)

Nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans)

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum or Cinnamomum cassia).

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum or Cinnamomum cassia).

☕️ Did you know which two trees are behind the creation of Eggnog?

☕️ Eggnog is made from milk, cream, sugar, beaten eggs, and two spices: Nutmeg and Cinnamon. Both nutmeg and cinnamon come from spice trees:

Nutmeg is made from the seed of the Nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans).

🔥Cinnamon comes from the bark of the Cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum verum or Cinnamomum cassia).

These spices add the classic, warming flavors that make eggnog so popular during the holiday season.

🛒 Shop Spice Trees

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Fun_facts

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Are these new Christmas ornaments? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida, fruit

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida, fruit

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida, tree

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida, tree

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida, fruit

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida, fruit

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida, fruit

Akee, Ackee - Blighia sapida, fruit

Are these new Christmas ornaments? Ackee monster fruit!
  • ⛔️ Ackee (Akee) is the national fruit of Jamaica and is known for its unique bizarre shape, resembling giant red pear.
  • ⛔️ When properly prepared, its soft, creamy flesh is a key ingredient in the popular Jamaican dish, "ackee and saltfish." The fruit makes a delicious nutritious meal tasting like eggs and potatoes.
  • ⛔️ The fruit is native to West Africa, but it was introduced to the Caribbean in the 18th century and has since become a symbol of Jamaican cuisine.
  • ⛔️ Akee is actually a vegetable growing on a tree! Akee tree is easy to grow, undemanding, fast growing, and fruits right away. Sometimes it fruits twice a year!


📚 More prom previous posts:
Akee deliciousness
What is number one tree-grown vegetable
Grow Your Own Food: Akee
📱 How" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" > to cook perfect Akee

🛒 Order Akee tree

#Food_Forest #Nature_Wonders #Recipes

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Do you have Longevity Spinach in your garden? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Gynura crepioides - Okinawa Spinach, Purple leaves

Gynura crepioides - Okinawa Spinach, Purple leaves

Longevity Spinach (Gynura)

Longevity Spinach (Gynura)

Gynura crepioides - Okinawa Spinach, Purple leaves

Gynura crepioides - Okinawa Spinach, Purple leaves

Gynura crepioides - Okinawa Spinach, Purple leaves

Gynura crepioides - Okinawa Spinach, Purple leaves

Do you have Longevity Spinach in your garden?
  • Longevity Spinach (Gynura) is a leafy green plant known for its mild flavor and nutritional benefits. It is one of the Superfoods, known for its longevity-promoting properties in traditional medicine. There are two varieties - Green (Gynura procubens) and Purple leaves (Gynura crepioides - Okinawa Spinach).
  • It's often used in Southeast Asian cuisine, added to soups, stews, and salads for its health-promoting properties, including immune support and improved digestion.
  • It is prized for being easy to grow and rich in vitamins and antioxidants. This green is also known as cholesterol spinach, and there are many claims that it lowers can cholesterol.
  • Perfect for hot and humid climates unlike traditional Spinach that only grown in cooler areas. It will thrive in any type of soil, any type of light other than dark shade, and is pest-free.
  • Very adaptable to container gardening and even grows well on a windowsill.
  • The leaves and young shoot tips can be steamed, used in stir fry, tempura, stews, and soups. Just add them at the very end.


Check out the recipes⬇️⬇️⬇️

📚 Learn more:
5 most useful edibles for tropical garden
How to make healthy food taste delicious: Longevity Spinach Super-food Recipes
Gynura: Longevity Spinach Superfood Recipes

🎥 Best" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" > Hot Weather Spinach Crops - Longevity and Okinawa Spinach

🛒 Plant Longevity Spinach and live long

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Remedies

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How to make a healthy Avocado Tropical Smoothie - recipe. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

How to make a healthy Avocado Tropical Smoothie - recipe
How to make a healthy Avocado Tropical Smoothie - recipe

Ingredients:

  • · 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
  • · 1 cup coconut milk (or any plant-based milk)
  • · 1/2 cup fresh pineapple chunks
  • · 1/2 banana
  • · 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup (optional)
  • · 1/2 cup ice cubes


Instructions:

  • · Combine all the ingredients in a blender.
  • · Blend until smooth and creamy.
  • · Taste and adjust sweetness with honey or agave if needed.
  • · Pour into a glass and serve immediately.


🐸 This smoothie is rich, creamy, and packed with tropical vibes - a refreshing and healthy treat!

🛒 Plant your own Avocado Tree

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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