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Tamarillo

What is tamarillo?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Scientific name Solanum betaceum[2]
Family nightshade family / Solanaceae[2]
Native region South America[2]
Fruit type edible fruit[2]
Also called tree tomato[3]
Fruit shape egg-shaped[1]

Tamarillo is the edible fruit of the nightshade-family plant *Solanum betaceum*, also called tree tomato.

Context

Tamarillo is a fruit that is also known as tree tomato in several dictionaries. It is native to South America and is commercially grown in other regions as well [3].

Documented claims

  • Tamarillo is the fruit of an arborescent shrub. [2]
  • It is commercially grown outside South America. [2]
  • Dictionary.com states it is native to the Peruvian Andes. [3]

Questions and answers

What do tamarillos taste like?

Tamarillos have a tart, sweet flavor, similar to a mix of tomato and passionfruit [4].

Can you eat raw tamarillo?

Yes, tamarillos can be eaten raw, but they are often cooked or used in sauces and jams [4].

Sources

  1. TAMARILLO | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary — dictionary.cambridge.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. TAMARILLO Definition & Meaning — merriam-webster.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. TAMARILLO Definition & Meaning — dictionary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. What Is Tamarillo? Learn About This Bright Orange Fruit — thespruceeats.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Nature