Uchuva Superfruit

Is Uchuva the next Superfruit Star? If you’re a fan of the superfruits and their benefits, then here’s a fruit you’re likely to hear a lot about in the near future.

It used to be that a fruit was just a fruit. Then the superfruits came along and upped the ante. Superfruits are like fruits on steroids with their impressive antioxidant profiles and health benefits. Now, a new member of the superfruit family has hit the produce scene and it’s destined to make a splash. This latest newcomer to the world of taste tempting superfruits, the Uchuva, comes all the way from South American and carries with a full list of health benefits that should make it a hit in America.

Uchuva - the next superfruit?

Although the Uchuva fruit is popular in its native country, Columbia, it’s a relative newcomer to the United States. Right now, you’ll find this fruit mostly in dried form as an ingredient in healthy, nutrition bars and fruit and nut mixes sold in health foods stores and natural food markets. Even though it doesn’t have wide distribution in the States as of yet, chances are you’ll be hearing a lot more about it in the future. You may also hear this fruit referred to as the Cape Gooseberry or the Goldenberry fruit.

What are the health benefits of the Uchuva fruit? The Uchuva has the distinction of being an unusually high fiber fruit. In fact, it’s a superstar when it comes to fiber content. A single serving of the dried fruit boasts about fifteen grams of fiber, enough to supply forty-percent of your daily requirement. Compare this to an apple which only has three grams of fiber. It even has a higher fiber content than very high fiber fruits such as the fig, date, and prune. Considering that most people don’t get enough fiber in their diet, a serving of Uchuva fruit can go far towards meeting your daily fiber quota.

What about the other nutritional characteristics of the Uchuva? This superfruit is high in both vitamin A and calcium. Although health claims have been made about the Uchuva fruit such as it’s ability to help regulate blood sugars and detoxify the body, these claims haven’t been substantiated by medical studies as of yet.

How does this superfruit taste? It’s often described as an interesting combination of sweet and tangy and is a nice addition to traditional trail mixes. It can also be used in jams, jellies, sauces, chutney, puddings, and salad dressings and can be added to baked goods such as cakes and cookies.

The only drawback to the Uchuva fruit is it can be difficult to find, although some natural food markets stock it. It’s likely that its availability will increase as it becomes more established in the United States. When it does, you may want to give this sweetly tangy fruit a try.