25424: Raber: (Reply)Re: 25412: Gordon: (ask) Has anyone heard of Noni Juice (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

> From :   raber88@zoominternet.net


Haitians call the Noni fruit "Konkonb Zonbi" or Zombie Cucumber.  It is used
for various medicinal purposes.  about 5-8 years ago, it went from being a
common worthless item that grew as it pleased in people's yards to  a rare
and expensive one when the rumor spread that it would cure everything
including cancer and AIDS.  All sorts of potions made of Noni showed up
around the country and then the entire frenzy fizzled out.  Noni is closer
to a vegetable than a fruit.

Haiti has many fruits like that are valued in certain regions and suddenly
become extremely popular nationwide.  The passion fruit (grenadia) was one
of those that appeared to have shown up 20 to 25 years ago.  It was suddenly
"discovered" by Port-au-Prince.   Some fruits on the other hand have
disappeared.  One such is the "Calbasi" which could be purchased in Kenscoff
in the 70's.  It lwas gree , the size of a Haitian lime, but was hard like a
calabash.  You cracked it open in a door and sucked the insides (that looked
like green passion fruit) out..  Wild strawberries have vanished as the
forests have vanished.  Up until the 1980's you could find them in the pine
forest.  Peasants would sell them in Port-au-Prince a s luxury item.  They
made wonderful "Confiture" and ice cream..  My favorite was to add
evaporated milk to the confiture or even better, add tthe confiture to
vanilla ice milk..