Organic Tropical Fruit Collection

The Tropical Fruit Collection at Tiskita is one of the largest of its kind in the world with over 100 different species of fruit from around the globe. View a list of all our fruits here.

No pesticides are used in our orchards, and all fruits are organic.

History

After graduating from the University of Florida with his degree in tropical fruit culture in the late 1970s, owner Peter Aspinall traveled to Australia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, the Amazon Basin, Thailand and Malaysia visiting local fruit markets, sampling fruits and collecting seeds for his tropical fruit orchard. The result is this staggering collection of tropical fruits, many of which are unknown to the western world.

The Fruits

The collection has many of the more ‘common’ tropical fruits including mangoes, star fruit, papayas, passionfruit, pineapple, banana, guava, lychee, longan, rambutan and dozen citrus including grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, lime and crosses therein. Below are some tropical fruits you may not be familiar with, and a complete list of Tiskita fruits can be found here.

Cashew fruits are abundant in Tiskita. Each fruit produces only one seed which is outside the fruit.

Mangosteen is know as the 'Queen of Fruit', and perhaps the best tasting fruit in the world. The white segments inside are a combination of sweet and sour flavours.

Lansium is a unique fruit with a transparent flesh similar in appearence to a lychee and a citrus-lke taste that cannot be described, but must be tasted!

Copoazu comes from Brazil and is a relative of cacao (the source of chocolate). The pulp surrounding these seeds can be eaten straight or used to make a delicious juice.

Durian is known as 'The King of Fruits' and is extremely popular in Asia. If you can get past the foul smell of this fruit, the pulp around the seeds is much better tasting than smelling.

Mamey sapote has a very rich flesh that is delicious when made into a milkshake.

Imbe is a fleshy relative of the mangosteen and very tart. A delicious imbe jam is often served with breakfast.

Noni is a fruit believed to aid with rhematisim and boosting the immune system. At Tiskita there are many noni plants and guests may try this medicinal fruit, if they can get past the awful smell.

Breadfruit is a starchy fruit that is prepared in a similar fashion as potatoes. Breadfruit chips are sometimes served at meals.

Canistel is also known as the 'egg fruit' as it has a very rich pulp and looks like a yolk. This fruit, like the sapote, is also best when made into a milkshake.

Guanabana (aka soursop) is an excellent fruit that makes a delicious juice and ice cream. Every visitor to Costa Rica should try this flavour.

Cas is a fruit native to Costa Rica. It is related to guava and makes an excellent juice served often at meals.

Many types of starfruit (carambola) grow at Tiskita, including these sweet (right) and acid (left) varieties.