Growing up, I always knew this fruit as a Spanish lime. Then, a Jamaican friend came over and started calling them genips. A few years later, a Puerto Rican friend told me they were also called quenepas. Since then, I've also heard that they're called mamoncillos in other parts of the Caribbean. In Panama, I think they're called mamones. Wikipedia has a page with still more names.
Despite what I still call them, they're not limes at all. Actually, they're in the same family as lychees, which makes sense considering their similarly leathery skin. Beneath this green skin is a large seed coated in a slimy, peach colored flesh, which actually tastes a bit like a lime. If you happen to see them in a market, be sure to get fruit with unwrinkled, uncracked skin. The most common way of eating them is to remove the skin and suck the pulp from the seed. However, I've also heard of soaking the peeled fruit in rum and sugar to make a drink.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-13-2006 @ 6:28PM
Will said...
In the Dominican Republic they're called limoncillos. If you happen to find some, what your clothes because this will stain them.
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4-27-2006 @ 3:39PM
MaryJane Cooper said...
I used to get Spanish Limes in Key West when I was a kid; does anyone know where to buy them in South Carolina? Thanks, MaryJane
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7-07-2006 @ 12:47AM
Rocio said...
I have fond memories of growing up in San Juan, PR and enjoying the "Quenepas" during the summer. They are usually better in July and August. The best one's usually were the one's from the southern city of Ponce. Just make sure to wash the outside shell first with soap and water and to wear some clothes that you don't mind getting stained. Enjoy!! =)
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10-13-2006 @ 4:15PM
Edgar R. Acosta said...
Like in Puerto Rico, they're also called "quenepas" in the Dominican Republic, but just in the South (in the rest of the country they're called limoncillos, which means little limes). They're wonderful! Too bad they're not exported.
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11-15-2006 @ 7:57AM
Alex said...
I like Spanish limes
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11-24-2006 @ 8:14PM
Eddy Garcia said...
I too used to eat the spanish limes in Key West. I was born there and lived most of my life there. I remember getting the best ones from Mr. Curry's house on Ashe st.
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12-01-2006 @ 1:51AM
Diane Leiws said...
All my fathers side of the family are from Puerto Rico, I would spend every summer there in Mayaguez. My family is all gone now and I really would love to know how to order the quenepas and have them delivered to me here in North carolina.. anyone have any idea please contact me.
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12-21-2006 @ 3:25PM
Angel Echegoyen said...
I got some at a flea market in Ft. Lauderdale this past summer.
They sell them by the box or pound
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12-27-2006 @ 6:42PM
Glynn Judge said...
Growing up in the Panama Canal Zone we called them ginnips ( phonetic sp.). Suspect that is an americanization of the Jamaican genep , as many Jamaicans were imported to work on the canal. Ginnip season was looked forward to with great anticipation by all us kids . Wish I could find some nearby here in SW FL !!
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1-31-2007 @ 1:28AM
Deedee said...
They sell these in New York and I love them but I haven't seen them in years.
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6-18-2007 @ 1:40PM
Ivelisse Velazquez said...
hello i live in Miwaukee Wisconsin and I happened to go to a mexican grocery store and they had 2 lb of quenepas for a $1.49 and i went nut and bought some had everybody in my office try them hahahaha, i used to live en Peñuelas y naci en Ponce so me crie comiendo quenepas i love them, nadie sabia que era eso hazta los mexicanos de aqui.Y wisconsin es al lado de chicago por si no sabian. jajajaja
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7-03-2007 @ 3:35PM
maria said...
I have searched all over South Carolina. I finally did find them in an oriental store on Decker Boulevard Columbia, SC
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7-03-2007 @ 3:45PM
Grant Catton said...
You can buy genips on the streets in New York City in the summer. That's where I was introduced to them. I thought they were Key Limes, then opened one up and was kind of surprised. I love them and eat them by the pound in summer time.
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7-15-2007 @ 10:30PM
Mike R. said...
It's been years since I've had any, but after a looooong wait, I finally found some. I'm eatin some right now, lol!!! Today was a good day!!!!!
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7-17-2007 @ 1:59PM
LC Rojas said...
I grew up in Key West and Mr. Leonard Curry had the sweetest Key Limes on Ashe & Petronia sts. The twin limes were the sweetest. Publix stores sells them here in South Carolina. Lionel Rojas
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7-31-2007 @ 3:29PM
arleen barker said...
http://www.bongosmania.com/servlet/StoreFront
This website is selling quenepas! They are available only till the end of August so hurry if you want to purchase any.
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7-31-2007 @ 11:09PM
eva santamaria said...
i love this fruit...itz the bomb
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8-08-2007 @ 5:59PM
shayna said...
My little sister, my fiance and I are eating them right now, we are of puerto rican decent, so we called them quenepas...however my fiance is dominican and he calls them limoncillos..lol whatever they are called...muy delicioso :)
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9-05-2007 @ 12:09PM
MiMonaNina said...
Does anyone know where I can get Mamones (that's what they're called in Nicaragua) in Chicago? I haven't had any since I was a kid in Nica and I would LOVE to get some! Please help me!
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9-07-2007 @ 3:22PM
Maria said...
I've been looking everywhere in Maryland for them all week. I went to an international store and they had no idea what I was talking about .... sigh!
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