Hawaiian Mountain Apple Season in Hawaii

It is summer, that time of year when the mountain apple trees in Hawaii are laden with sweet juicy fruit. We were looking forward to more Hawaiian mountain apples from our mountain apple tree in the back yard, but feral pigs have attacked the low branches that were heavy with fruit, and actually broke two of the branches off! I wouldn't have minded so much but they only ate the ripe fruit and so all of the other unripe fruit will go to waste. I have blogged before about wild boars on the Big Island and how to attract or repel them. It pretty much comes down to this, if you have something good to eat on your property and it is not fenced in, you are fare game for pigs to invite themselves to a feast.

Luckily, we still had enough of a Hawaiian mountain apple crop to share with our friends, neighbors, and the people who work at our local post office and library. One postal clerk told me someone else had brought them pickled mountain apples. I have never tried that before but she said it was sort of like pickled mango which I love.

Exactly what are Hawaii mountain apples? Mountain apples (Myrtaceae) or Ohi'a 'ai (pronounced oh-he ah eye) in Hawaiian, are delicious apple crossed with pear shaped fruits with a thin waxy like skin. The skin is easily nicked (even from your finger nail so you have to be careful picking them) and comes in a variety of reddish, pinkish, and white hues in a solid color or mixture of these colors. The flesh is white and crunchy but not exactly like an apple or even a pear. It seems crisp but there is more juice in the flesh and has a mild sweet flavor. (If you can describe the mountain apple's fruit flavor in a better way, please share it with us in a comment.) You eat it as is with the skin on, but throw out (or plant) the marble sized seed in the center. It tastes best fresh picked or chilled.

Mountain apples from Hawaii grow on medium to large trees which can grow to over 60 feet in some places. I am pretty sure that they can be found on all of the main Hawaiian Islands. Mountain Apples commonly grow wild in the mountains (which I suppose is how they got their name) at the mid-elevation range rainforests, and make a nice refreshing treat for fortunate hikers.

Ohi'a 'ai was one of the fruits brought to the Hawaiian islands from the original Polynesian voyagers in their trek across the Pacific in canoes. The mountain apple fruit was nourishing, the tree's wood useful for building things, and the bark possessed medicinal qualities. The ingenious and industrious Hawaiian people also made a dye from the Ohi'a 'ai fruit to decorate their tapa bark cloth.

For more photographs of mountain apple fruits and mountain apple trees in Hawaii, visit Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk Project (HEAR.org)--Invasive species information for Hawaii and the Pacific.

Comments

[skeet]

I've never seen Mountain Apples in the stores. I frequently see the trees on properties I inspect but I don't know anyone with a tree so I've never tasted them. You've made me want to track some down! Maybe I'll ask the realtor handling the next home I inspect that has one. :0)

Visiting late for the Carnival of Aloha!

[Kahuapaa]

We have a white mountain apple tree in our back yard.. right now (aug) the tree is LOADED. Hence the reason I am online looking for things to do with them as they are everywhere right now.
I know of two moutain apples the white and my favorite the red.. oh so yummy. I had never heard of it until I moved to Hawaii, but am so lucky to have a tree in my yard.
Vistor of Carnival if your driving by someones home which has a fruit you would like to try this is how you do it. Walk up or call out to the owners of the home. (If no one comes out of replies LEAVE sorry no fruit for you!! lol)When they open their door tell them "aloha" and tell them about "hearing bout (which ever fruit you are asking about) and then ask them if it would be alright if you picked one". Local style with you going and "asking" be ready for the people in the house to go and get a plastic bag and a pole if needed and help you pick a bag full. Most people in Hawaii and everywhere else I am sure love to share.. ever heard about "omiyage"? lol But want to be asked not like some people who just "TAKE"... some shame.
I so hope you get to try some soon!
Try wait..
Why I am here.. does anyone know of things I can do with these mountain apples? Mahalos

[Lynne Mayeda]

I've heard of pickled mountain apples but have never had them. I assume that you would need to select the fruit that are green or half ripe otherwise you'd have "mush". For those who are not familiar with the fruit ... it is so fragile that you literally have to enjoy them just off the tree. By the next day, the fruit does not taste as good or will start to spoil. If anyone has a picked mountain apple recipe, please share. We plant to pick some tomorrow and I'll pick a few green ones and try my pickled mango recipe with it.

[doxycycline]

I've heard of pickled mountain apples but have never had them. I assume that you would need to select the fruit that are green or half ripe otherwise you'd have "mush". For those who are not familiar with the fruit ... it is so fragile that you literally have to enjoy them just off the tree

[elimitecream]

We have a white mountain apple tree in our back yard.. right now (aug) the tree is LOADED. Hence the reason I am online looking for things to do with them as they are everywhere right now.
I know of two moutain apples the white and my favorite the red.. oh so yummy. I had never heard of it until I moved to Hawaii, but am so lucky to have a tree in my yard.

[nexium]

I have discovered your blog today and I love it!! You make very beautifull things and your tutorials are very good. I will add your blog to my list. Congratulations for your works!!

[alohaholly]

I just bought our first white mounatin apple tree to plant and am looking forward to its fruit. Can anyone describe the difference in flavor between the white and red varieties? I think the red mountain apples taste like roses.

[Double Brush]

Mmmm, we have the white variety and I haven't had the red for years. I think the red variety is more perfume like, and a stronger taste maybe?

[James Staley]

Any one know how I can get some seeds for the mountain apple tree? I like try grow some in Northern California.

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[BCAA]

Thanks for taking the time to post such a detailed and informative article. It has given me a lot of inspiration.

[Tutu Gail]

When I was a little girl (long, long time ago!) I remember mountain apples in the Kahana Valley on Oahu. Still there? I hope so.