# What is this fruit?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit/73803>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 25, 2001, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit/73803 "2001-07-25T23:32:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit/73803/1 "2001-07-25T23:32:58Z")

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We called them _quenepas_ in my house when I was growing up. They are tropical and come in bunches. They have a thin green rind which you bite into to reveal what looks like a big wet cottonball. This you suck on. It is sourly sweet.

Are they really called quenepas? Do they have an English name? Is there another way to eat these addictive treats besides raw?

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**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2001, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit/73803/2 "2001-07-26T00:03:10Z")

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From what you have said, yes those are called _quenepas_. I do not know if there is an English translation for that word. So far, I only know it is eaten raw, but then I am not a fan of them. Tried the fruit once with a hairpin instead of my fingers to grasp it. It is not recommended for small kids to eat the fruit solely with their fingers and not supervised by adults because the children might choke.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2001, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit/73803/3 "2001-07-26T00:15:30Z")

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I found this:  
[Spanish Lime, Genip, Quenepa, Mamoncillo](http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Sapindaceae/Melicoccus_bijugatus.html)  
They are related to Lychees and Rambutans.

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**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit/73803/4 "2001-07-26T00:28:43Z")

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Thanks \*_Mangetrout_. Roasting the nut that site says, interesting.

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**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2001, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-fruit/73803/5 "2001-07-26T00:41:55Z")

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They are called “guineps” in Jamaica. It’s a native fruit of Brazil.