Sea grapes

If there’s any one West Indian fruit that could use an image makeover or some good PR it’s the much maligned sea grape. It’s not ugly or smelly, or anything like that. The tree upon which it grows isn’t a nuisance either. In fact, when tamed, the tree makes a rather attractive hedge (see photo below).

No, this fruit’s main image problem revolves around a lie long held in some parts of the Caribbean: sea grapes are poisonous.

Not sure where the lie started, or when, but I clearly remember being scolded by my elders during childhood visits to the beach in St. Croix over the supposed dangers associated with consuming these ubiquitous island treats. Instead of eating the sea grapes, my brothers, friends and I would pelt ’em at each other. This may have been better than using sand, but I’m straying way off course here…

Truth: sea grapes are perfectly safe and wonderful to eat.

Well, actually the ripe ones are wonderful eat. You’d know ’em by their dark reddish, almost burgundy color. Green ones like those pictured above are better left for kids’ pelting games.

You’ll find sea grape trees primarily along sandy shores, like these we found in Barbados last year…