MyrtaceaeLC
Arazá
Eugenia stipitata
11 min read
Also available in:Español
Native Region
Western Amazon Basin (Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador)
Max Height
2.5-15 meters (8-50 feet)
Family
Myrtaceae
Conservation
LC
Uses
Juice and beveragesIce cream and dessertsJams and marmaladesTraditional medicineOrnamentalLand rehabilitation
Season
Flowering
Jan-Dec
Fruiting
Jan-Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
FlowersFruits
Arazá (Araçá-boi)
✅Amazonian Superfruit in Costa Rica
The Arazá (Eugenia stipitata), also known as Araçá-boi or Membrillo, is a remarkable Amazonian fruit tree that has found a home in Costa Rica's tropical lowlands. Famous for its intensely aromatic fruits that contain twice the vitamin C of oranges, the arazá transforms into delicious juices, ice creams, and desserts when blended with sugar. This lesser-known superfruit represents an exciting addition to Costa Rica's diverse tropical fruit cultivation.
Quick Reference
- Scientific Name
- Eugenia stipitata
- Family
- Myrtaceae
- Maximum Height
- 2.5-15 m
- Native Region
- Western Amazon Basin
- Conservation
- Least Concern
- Key Trait
- Highly aromatic acidic fruit
🌿
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Taxonomy and Classification
Plantae
Angiosperms
Eudicots
Myrtales
Myrtaceae
Eugenia
E. stipitata
ℹ️Name Origins
- Eugenia: Named after Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663–1736), Austrian general and patron of science - stipitata: Latin, referring to the stalked (stipitate) nature of plant structures - Arazá: From Guaraní "arasa," the indigenous name for this fruit - Araçá-boi: Portuguese name meaning "ox guava" due to the large fruit size
Common Names
| Language/Region | Common Name(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Arazá, Guayaba Amazónica | Most common in Latin America |
| Portuguese | Araçá-boi | Brazilian name |
| Ecuador | Membrillo | Reference to quince-like acidity |
| English | Araza, Amazon Guava | Commercial names |
| Scientific lit. | Stipitate Eugenia | Literal translation |
Subspecies
| Subspecies | Distribution | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| ssp. sororia | Peru, Colombia (Iquitos region) | Larger fruits, up to 12 cm diameter |
| ssp. stipitata | Brazil (Acre) | Smaller fruits, original wild form |
Physical Description
General Form
The Arazá is a shrub or small tree with a densely branched canopy. It can range from a compact 2.5-meter shrub to a 15-meter tree depending on growing conditions. The attractive form and year-round fruit production make it valuable for both commercial cultivation and home gardens.
Mature Height8/100
Crown Spread4/100
Fruit Diameter8/100
Fruit Weight400/100
Identification Features
Bark and Trunk
- Bark color: Brown to reddish
- Texture: Flaking, peeling in patches
- Pattern: Smooth with characteristic shedding
- Trunk: Often multi-stemmed
Leaves
- Type: Simple, opposite
- Shape: Elliptical to slightly oval
- Size: 8-19 cm long, 3.5-9.5 cm wide
- Texture: Dull, dark green above
- Underside: Pale green with short hairs
- Venation: 6-10 pairs of impressed lateral veins
- Apex: Acuminate (pointed)
Flowers
- Size: About 1 cm wide
- Color: White
- Petals: 5, oval
- Stamens: Approximately 70, long and prominent
- Arrangement: Axillary racemes, 2-5 flowers
- Fragrance: Sweet, guava-like
Fruit
- Shape: Globose to oblate (flattened sphere)
- Size: 2-12 cm diameter (cultivated larger)
- Weight: Up to 750 g in selected varieties
- Skin: Thin, velvety, pale green to bright yellow when ripe
- Flesh: Juicy, aromatic, very acidic, thick pulp
- Seeds: Usually 12, recalcitrant (cannot be dried)
- Aroma: Intensely fragrant and distinctive
💡Distinguishing Wild from Cultivated
Wild arazá fruits rarely exceed 7 cm diameter and 30 g weight, while indigenous-selected varieties from Peru can reach 12 cm and 750 g. The cultivated forms represent centuries of selection for larger, more flavorful fruits.
Ecology and Habitat
Natural Distribution
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Peru (Iquitos region) | Native, cultivated | Center of diversity, best varieties |
| Brazil (Acre, Amazonas) | Native | Wild populations on non-floodable terraces |
| Colombia (Amazonia) | Native, cultivated | Commercial production expanding |
| Ecuador | Native, cultivated | Known as membrillo |
| Costa Rica | Introduced, cultivated | Research stations, small farms |
| Central America | Introduced | Limited cultivation |
Climate Preferences
Optimal Conditions
- Temperature: 22-30°C (72-86°F)
- Rainfall: 1500-4000 mm annually
- Elevation: 0-650 m (lowland tropical)
- Climate: Hot, humid tropical
- Soil: Acidic, well-drained, tolerates poor soils
Tolerances
- Shade: Grows well under partial shade
- Poor soils: Adapts to highly leached podzolic soils
- Flooding: Does not tolerate waterlogging
- Drought: Moderate tolerance
- Cold: Sensitive to frost
Ecological Role
Pollinators
- Native bees: Primary pollinators
- Other insects: Various pollinators attracted to flowers
- Self-fertility: Can self-pollinate but cross-pollination improves yield
Wildlife Value
- Birds: Consume ripe fallen fruit
- Mammals: Various species eat the aromatic fruits
- Insects: Nectar source for native bees
Agroforestry Potential
- Shade tolerance: Thrives under taller trees
- Land rehabilitation: Used to restore degraded soils
- Intercropping: Compatible with other tropical crops
- Multi-strata systems: Fits well in diversified plantings
Uses
Culinary Applications
| Preparation | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh juice | Blended with sugar and water | Most common use, extremely refreshing |
| Ice cream | Arazá-flavored helado | Popular in Colombia and Peru |
| Nectars | Sweetened fruit drink | Commercial processing |
| Marmalades | Fruit preserves | Traditional preparation |
| Desserts | Mousses, flans, custards | Gourmet applications |
| Fresh (with sugar) | Eaten raw with sweetener | High acidity requires sugar |
🥤
Arazá Juice Recipe
Amazonian Refreshment
Ingredients:
- 2-3 ripe arazá fruits (about 500g)
- 1 liter cold water
- Sugar to taste (generous amount needed due to acidity)
- Ice
Preparation:
- Select fruits that are slightly soft and intensely fragrant
- Wash and cut fruits, removing any damaged portions
- Scoop flesh and blend thoroughly with water
- Strain to remove seeds and fibers
- Add sugar gradually, tasting until acidity is balanced
- Serve very cold over ice
Tips:
- The pH of arazá juice is around 2.4—very acidic!
- Start with more sugar than you think you need
- The intense aroma is normal and desirable
Nutritional Value
| Nutrient | Amount per 100g | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C | 768 mg | Double that of oranges! |
| Vitamin A | 775 mg | Significant source |
| Vitamin B1 | 9.84 mg | Thiamine |
| Protein (dry weight) | 8-10% | Good protein content |
| Fiber | 5-6.5% | Dietary fiber |
| Zinc | 10-12 ppm | Trace mineral |
✅Nutritional Powerhouse
Arazá contains twice the vitamin C of oranges and shows significant antioxidant, antimutagenic, and antigenotoxic properties. Research suggests it may have potential as a preventive agent against cancer.
Traditional Medicine
| Use | Preparation | Traditional Application |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin supplementation | Fresh juice | Immune system support |
| Digestive health | Fruit consumption | Traditional remedy |
| Antioxidant therapy | Regular consumption | General health maintenance |
Cultivation
Growing Arazá
Pests and Diseases
| Problem | Organism | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit fly | Anastrepha obliqua | Larvae destroy pulp |
| Seed weevil | Atractomerus imigrans | Larvae feed on seeds |
| Pulp weevil | Conotrachellus sp. | Larvae damage pulp |
| Bud/flower weevil | Plectrophoroides impressicolli | Feeds on buds and flowers |
| Black bee | Trigona branneri | Damages skin and pulp |
| Anthracnose | Fungal disease | Post-harvest decay |
Cultural Significance
In Amazonian Traditions
🌿
An Amazonian Heritage Fruit
The arazá represents indigenous knowledge and selection over centuries:
- Indigenous breeding: Best varieties were selected by peoples around Iquitos
- Traditional food: Important part of Amazonian cuisine
- Cultural identity: Represents Amazonian biodiversity
- Sustainable cultivation: Adapts to forest-based agriculture
- Emerging export: Growing international interest
In Costa Rica
- Research cultivation: Studied at CATIE and other institutions
- Small-scale farming: Growing interest among tropical fruit producers
- Specialty markets: Available at select farmers markets
- Agroforestry: Potential crop for diversified systems
Arazá in Costa Rica
Current Status
| Aspect | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Research and experimental | CATIE studies since 1990s |
| Production | Very limited | Small farms, home gardens |
| Regions | Caribbean and Pacific lowlands | Hot, humid areas |
| Markets | Specialty, local | Not widely available |
| Potential | High for niche markets | Unique flavor, health benefits |
Growing Regions
The best conditions for arazá in Costa Rica are found in:
- Caribbean lowlands (Limón): Hot, humid, ideal climate
- South Pacific (Osa Peninsula): Similar conditions
- Northern Zone (San Carlos): Lower elevation areas
Conservation Status
ℹ️Conservation Notes
Status: Least Concern (LC)
While not globally threatened, arazá remains an underutilized crop with significant potential. Conservation priorities include:
- Genetic diversity: Preserving cultivated varieties
- In-situ conservation: Protecting wild populations in Amazon
- Ex-situ collections: Maintaining germplasm in research centers
- Seed challenges: Recalcitrant seeds cannot be stored conventionally
Quick Identification Guide
🔍
How to Recognize Arazá
- Shrub or small tree (2.5-15 m) with dense branching 2. Flaking, reddish-brown bark 3. Large elliptical leaves (8-19 cm) with pointed tips 4. White flowers with many prominent stamens 5. Large round fruits (up to 12 cm) turning yellow when ripe 6. Velvety skin on fruits
- Intensely aromatic with distinctive tropical scent 8. VERY ACIDIC flesh (pH 2.4) 9. Lowland distribution (below 800m elevation)
External Resources
| Resource | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| iNaturalist | Observations | https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/327819 |
| IUCN Red List | Conservation | https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/152946445 |
| World Agroforestry | Technical | worldagroforestry.org |
| CATIE | Research | catie.ac.cr |
References and Further Reading
| Resource | Type | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Giacometti & Lleros (1994) | FAO Publication | Neglected Crops: comprehensive overview |
| Lim TK (2012) | Book | Edible Medicinal Plants Vol. 3 |
| Chun & Alvarez (1995) | CATIE | Pests and diseases in Costa Rica |
| Van Kanten & Beer (2005) | Journal | Production in Costa Rican agroforestry |
| Franco & Shibamoto (2000) | Journal | Volatile composition analysis |
