A Bumper Crop of Sea Grapes
A Bumper Crop of Sea Grapes
We were at Trunk Bay late yesterday, under overcast skies from the southern bands of Tropical Storm Nicole. It took me a little while to put two and two together, but it became clear that this was sea grape harvest time.
Here's a photo showing sea grapes (Coccoloba uvifera) in various stages of ripening:
When the grapes are fully ripe, they drop off their leader, and can be collected in abundance on the sand below. They have a beautiful purple tint, partially captured in the limited light below:
I suppose that the optimal strategy would be to spread a sheet and whack the branches above with a stick, but I settled for plucking choice ones from the sand and then blowing the sand off them. I managed to pick a handful in a minute; it was a good thing that there were so few people on the beach, as otherwise they would likely have all been unwittingly stepped on. Here's a photo of my bounty:
Sea grapes have a nice taste, sweet and grapey, although they also have a large pit that you spit out. Look out for ripe ones should you be down in late September through mid October.
Nearby trees ripen at different times. Here's a photo of one a few yards away, all of whose sea grapes had already ripened and fallen.
All the best,
Kevin
Here's a photo showing sea grapes (Coccoloba uvifera) in various stages of ripening:
When the grapes are fully ripe, they drop off their leader, and can be collected in abundance on the sand below. They have a beautiful purple tint, partially captured in the limited light below:
I suppose that the optimal strategy would be to spread a sheet and whack the branches above with a stick, but I settled for plucking choice ones from the sand and then blowing the sand off them. I managed to pick a handful in a minute; it was a good thing that there were so few people on the beach, as otherwise they would likely have all been unwittingly stepped on. Here's a photo of my bounty:
Sea grapes have a nice taste, sweet and grapey, although they also have a large pit that you spit out. Look out for ripe ones should you be down in late September through mid October.
Nearby trees ripen at different times. Here's a photo of one a few yards away, all of whose sea grapes had already ripened and fallen.
All the best,
Kevin
Re: A Bumper Crop of Sea Grapes
I would love to taste one someday!
Re: A Bumper Crop of Sea Grapes
I had no idea that sea grapes were edible. Thanks for the tip!
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.