Our host explained that it was naranjilla juice. Naranjilla, a Spanish name, means “little orange.” It had a delicate flavor that reminded us of a mixture of pineapple, orange and apple, with maybe a hint of tomato juice thrown in. To make this fine thirst quencher, Carlos explained how he had peeled the fruit, put it in a blender, added water and then sweetened it a bit with sugar.

A few days later we saw some naranjillas in a market stall. They had been brought in from their jungle home beneath the towering Andes mountains. At a distance they did indeed look like little oranges, just about the size of tangerines. But when we came closer, the appearance changed from that of oranges to smooth and shiny-skinned tomatoes. However, when we picked one up we were surprised to discover that it had minute fuzz, something like a peach, but fuzz. that was hard and brittle. What a strange fruit, this fuzzy tomato-like orange!

Higher up in the Andes the sierra people have what they call tomate de árbol, the “tree tomato,” growing in their patios along with varieties of tropical flowers. The plants are about nine feet tall and bear fruit that is multicolored, ranging from bright orange to a deep purple. The fruit is not round like a tomato, but oblong and shaped at the ends like a miniature football. The taste? Well, it is a bit like tomato juice, only much sweeter. It makes not only a tasty drink, but also delicious preserves.

Introduced to Other Strange Fruits

Sometime later we had another pleasant experience when we were first served a drink made from badea. The badea grows on a vine and resembles a small yellow watermelon with a skin so shiny that it looks as if it has just been waxed. It too makes a delicious drink that tastes something like pineapple juice, but without the acid tang of the pineapple. Our big surprise, however, came when we found this drink full of seeds and we were told to eat them, the assurance being that this was the best part. Chewing these seeds (about the size of those of watermelons) gave the drink an entirely different taste, reminding us of certain grapes grown in the northern hemisphere.

Probably the most popular treatment for minor liver ailments here in Ecuador is a drink made from the fruit called tamarindo. And should you be looking for tamarindo in the market, look for what appear to be big beans in brown pods about six to eight inches long. Then, inside, instead of beans as you would expect, the pod is filled with a sticky substance that looks very much like the flesh of prunes, and, of course, seeds are included. A drink made from this fruit is quite pleasant, a bit like apple cider. But, remember, it is a mild laxative. However, if that is what you want, you will agree, it certainly is a nice-tasting medicine!