Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 3 Mar 2026

Jaboticaba reduction sauce: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Jaboticaba reduction sauce

Jaboticaba reduction sauce

Myrciaria cauliflora - Jaboticaba fruit

Myrciaria cauliflora - Jaboticaba fruit

🍴 Jaboticaba reduction sauce: quick-n-fun exotic recipes
  • 🔵Simmer crushed fruit with a little sugar until thick and glossy.
  • 🔵Strain and drizzle over roasted pork.


🌿 About the plant:


A Brazilian tree that fruits directly on the trunk. The grape-like fruit has a thick skin and juicy pulp inside.

🏡 In the garden:


Grows well in warm, humid climates. Slow growing but very ornamental. Can be grown in large pots when young.

🛒 Plant Jaboticaba tree now, don't wait - it's slow growing!

📚 Learn more:




#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Date: 27 Feb 2026

Grilled star fruit slices: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Grilled star fruit slices on grill pan

Grilled star fruit slices on grill pan

Averrhoa carambola - Star Fruit Carambola Tree

Averrhoa carambola - Star Fruit Carambola Tree

🍴 Grilled star fruit slices: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

  • 🟡Slice crosswise into stars and grill briefly.
  • 🟡The heat caramelizes the edges and softens the tart bite.


🌿 About the plant:


Carambola, or Star Fruit, is a small tropical tree with glossy leaves and crisp, juicy fruit that slices into perfect stars.

🏡 In the garden:


Thrives in zones 9-11. Likes sun, regular water, and protection from strong winds. Dwarf varieties do well in large containers.

🛒 Plant Star Fruit Carambola Tree

📚 Learn more:


#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Date: 7 Mar 2026

Sapodilla caramel toast: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Sapodilla caramel toast

Sapodilla caramel toast

Sapodilla (Achras zapota) fruit

Sapodilla (Achras zapota) fruit

🍴 Sapodilla caramel toast: quick-n-fun exotic recipes
  • 🔴Mash ripe sapodilla and warm gently in a pan.
  • 🔴Spread over toasted bread with a pinch of salt.


🌿 About the plant:


Sapodilla is a tropical evergreen producing brown fruit with sweet, brown-sugar flavored flesh.

🏡 In the garden:


Likes heat and humidity. Grafted or air layered trees fruit earlier. Drought tolerant once established but best with regular watering.

🛒 Add Sapodilla - Brown Sugar Fruit tree to your Food Forest

📚 Learn more:


#Food_Forest #Recipes

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 14 Jul 2019

A Cup of Tea Plant

By Onika Amell, tropical plant specialist

A: I live in Ave Maria, Florida. I want to try my hand at growing my own tea. Which plant do I need?

A: Most people do not realize they are actually enjoying camellias when they sip their cup of tea. True tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, an evergreen shrub or small tree.
In the fall and winter, the plant will produce small white flowers with a lovely fragrance. The foliage is shiny and dark green with a very nice informal and open look. Camellia sinensis (or tea plant, as it is commonly known) prefers a temperature between 65 and 86 degrees, which makes Florida an ideal area to grow them. However, if you live in colder zones, you can certainly succeed growing your own tea plants using a greenhouse. Alternatively, you can use containers which can be brought inside when temperatures start falling. Tea plants will usually survive a very slight freeze, though the leaves may be damaged or killed. It will not tolerate a hard freeze. They prefer full sun or light shade in the garden.
Tea plants will become small trees or large bushes if not pruned. Hardcore tea growers trim back the shoots repeatedly to a height of around 4 feet to encourage new growth and to contain the size.
Make sure to pick an area of your landscape where it does not flood or remain wet during our rainy season. Camellia sinensis does not like wet feet at all. They prefer well-drained, sandy and slightly acidic soil. If grown in a container, add some sphagnum moss to the potting mix. They will benefit from frequent applications of small amounts of fertilizer.
You will need some patience, too. Your plant should be around 3 years old before you start harvesting leaves.

Recommended fertilizers:

Tropical Greenhouse Plus - Plant Booster
Tropical Allure - Smart-Release Booster

Harvesting recipes

Now that you know how to grow the Tea, you need to check this out: the Harvesting recipes how to harvest and make different kinds of real tea: Green Tea, Japanese Style Green Tea, Oolong Tea, Black Tea, Orthodox Indian Tea... Continue reading...

Date: 9 Jun 2024

Where does the tea come from?

Camellia sinensis - Tea Leaf

Camellia sinensis - Tea Leaf

☕️ Where does the tea come from? Tea Leaf Plant!

  • 🍃 Camellia sinensis - Tea Leaf. Yes, tea comes from a camellia!
  • 🍃 Tea Leaf is a small evergreen tree, usually pruned back to shrubs in cultivation.
  • 🍃 In the fall and winter, the plant will produce small white flowers with a lovely fragrance.
  • 🍃 Tea is the second most commonly drank liquid on earth after water. It has numerous medicinal benefits mainly due to its antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
  • 🍃 To grow Tea Leaf Plant, make sure to pick an area of your landscape where it does not flood or remain wet during our rainy season. Camellia sinensis do not like wet feet at all. They prefer well-drained, sandy and slightly acidic soil.


📚 Learn more: Tea Leaf Plant and Tea Harvesting Recipes

🛒 Shop Tea Leaf Plant

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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