Related to the guava and such spices as the clove, cinnamon, and allspice, the jaboticaba is a delicious fruit from Brazil. It is a very attractive slow-growing tree which bears its fruit directly on the trunk and branches. The tree can reach 35 to 40 feet in height but is usually seen under 25 feet in Hawaii.

The fruit is round, from nickel to golf ball in size (depending on the variety). In Hawaii we see two types: a small fruited type called 'Murta' and a large fruited type named 'Paulista.' The skin of the fruit is a dark maroon/purple, a bit tougher than a grape, that tastes much like a Concord in flavor. The fruit pulp is juicy and translucent with one to a few small seeds. It is normally eaten as a fresh fruit. It also makes an excellent wine and jelly.

Jaboticaba can be grown on almost any soil but grows best on a rich, deep loam. By seed it takes six to eight years to come into bearing. Jaboticaba can be easily grown along the warm lowlands in Hawaii, though in its native Brazil it prefers a cooler, wetter climate, like our uplands. With ample rain or irrigation the jaboticaba will fruit several times a year. The flowers have a light pleasant scent as an added bonus.