The Fruit Quiz

We have just arrived home, having been away for a few days to celebrate our eldest granddaughter's special birthday. Thirty close family and friends were all seated outside on a glorious sunshine/blue sky day in her parents' garden. We enjoyed a delicious lunchtime feast followed by chocolate cake and bubbly, there was lots of laughter and fun, which made for a really happy, and memorable day for us all

However, as soon as arrive back in the Cotswolds, we are always happy that we are once again almost safely home, and in our own special corner of the world.

1. The fruit is called Scelerocarya birrea - Marula

2. The principal country in which it grows is South Africa.

3. The local indigenous people call the tree the Elephant tree. Elephants are particularly fond of Marula, and once the scent of the ripe fruit drifts throughout the air, they travel great distances in order to taste it. This is also the signal for the local people to begin harvesting the fruit.

Cheers!!!

4. The main commodity made from the Marula fruit is a liqueur spirit called Amarula. The producers of the liqueur run a not-for-profit conservation organisation in order to fund an elephant programme in a bid to better understand what prompts their migrations, the herd dynamics and their feeding patterns. The likelihood for conflict between people and the animals is expected to escalate as humans take over more of the land where elephants roam.  

Clue. The main product made from this fruit is processed in the Netherlands after it has been distilled and matured. I mentioned this because as soon as the fruit is picked its pulp is immediately transferred to cooling tanks in order to prevent uncontrolled fermenting taking place. It is then despatched to the wine growing region of Stellenboch and prepared for distillation by the wine growing Dutch settlers in that area. It is distilled and matured for two years in French oak barrels before being finally dispatched to the Netherlands where it is blended with cream and other ingredients before being bottled and distributed.

The first correct answer to questions 1. 2. 3. & 4. came from Margaret, and the second correct answer to questions 1. and 2. came from David. The third all correct answers came from Britta following a second attempt. 

I must also mention that David said the main commodity made from the fruit was oil. Whilst they do make an oil from the kernel and husk inside the fruit it is not the main commodity made from using the fruit. Marula oil is similar to Argan oil which also derives from a tree in Morocco. 

Another comment which I must mention came from Gina who happened to answer question 3. The indigenous people name this tree after a large animal, and jokingly Gina said - That is a most magnificent tree. Whatever fruit it produces, there must be mountains of it. Maybe even enough for a herd of elephants. Except the tree has such beautiful symmetry, not something that elephants would leave in good shape!

We only discovered Amarula liqueur recently when we were gifted a bottle. The liqueur has a similar taste to Baileys Irish Cream.

I am not promoting this liqueur