Mystery Ingredient: Cape Gooseberry

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/08/2012 (4867 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What is it?

A pretty, gumball-sized berry, encased in its own little papery, parchment-like husk, which Australian settlers christened after the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, whence the fruit originated. These nutritional nuggets are also known as the golden berry and are highly popular and widely cultivated in Hawaii, where they are known as poha berries.

Looks like:

The yellowy-orange berries look like tiny tomatoes, and similarly contain numerous small seeds. Each berry develops inside a protective, gauzy calyx, which makes the fruit popular in restaurants as an exotic garnish for desserts.

Tastes like:

Cape gooseberries are very juicy with a mildly tart, bittersweet taste. They’re a bit acidic, like a cherry tomato, with notes of citrus, pineapple and peaches.

Used in:

In Hawaii, the golden berries are used for both sweet and savoury dishes. Combined with couscous and cilantro, they make a nice accompaniment to scallops. In South American countries, they are used in savoury sauces and added to yogurt and ice cream, or dipped in chocolate for an exotic treat.

Found at:

Lucky Supermarket, 1051 Winnipeg Ave.