Acerola: The Caribbean Vitamin C Champion
Acerola contains 50-100 times more vitamin C than oranges by weight. The story of this tiny Caribbean cherry-like fruit.
The acerola (Malpighia emarginata), also called Barbados cherry or West Indian cherry, holds a remarkable nutritional record: it contains 50-100 times more vitamin C than an orange by weight. Native to the Caribbean and northern South America, the small bright red fruit has been a staple in regional traditional medicine for centuries.
Origin and history
Native to the Caribbean, southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Spanish colonists encountered the fruit in the 1500s. It became a commercial crop in Puerto Rico and Brazil in the 20th century, primarily for vitamin C extraction.
Where acerola grows today
Brazil is the world's largest commercial producer (mostly for vitamin C supplement extracts). The Caribbean, Mexico, India, and parts of Southeast Asia also produce acerola.
How to grow acerola
USDA Zones 9-11. Small bushy tree (3-5m tall) tolerating brief light frost. Full sun, well-drained soil. First fruit in 2-3 years; multiple crops per year in warm climates.
Bottom line
Tart, perishable, but nutritionally extraordinary. Plant one bush and you have a year-round vitamin C supply growing in the yard.