Naranjilla

Solanum quitoense · Tropical fruit

40 pairings

Naranjilla (Solanum quitoense), known as lulo in Colombia and Ecuador, is a small round fruit of the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Behind a brittle orange rind coated in fine, irritant hairs lies translucent green pulp whose flavour is famously described as a cross between rhubarb and lime — bracingly tart, and almost always drunk as a juice rather than eaten out of hand.

Picking a good onedrag

UnderripeOverripe

Half orangeThe stage it is picked and sold at, firm enough to survive the bag. Buy here if you are not juicing today, and keep it out of the fridge until the orange runs over.The one to carry home

Rind colourHalf orange, half green — the stage it is sold at

GiveFirm still, the thumb barely marks the rind

SmellSharp and faint — lime peel more than fruit

Reading a just ripe one. Move the slider and the rest of this page — nutrition, pairings — re-scores with it.

Preparing