The Craboo Tree - Byrsonima crassifolia - Muréi in Garifuna, also known as 'Nance', is native to Central and South America, ranging from Southern Mexico all the way to Peru and Brazil. In the Amazon it is called 'murici'. It is also found in Cuba and most of the Eastern Caribbean. In fact, the craboo's claim to fame is that it has the widest native range of any fruit tree!

Craboo trees have elliptical-shaped leaves and bunches of tiny, vibrant orange, yellow and red flowers that bloom in May through June here in Belize. They can grow as high as 10 meters (30 feet) and are found from Corozal to Punta Gorda, and everywhere in between. They are drought tolerant and grow well in sandy soils. The small yellow fruit averages 10-15 mm across and are ready in July and August. The craboo tree is just one of 1100 species in the plant Family Malpighiacea, known as the 'Barbados Cherry' family. And as every Belizean knows, there are several different varieties of craboo: some fruit are tiny and bitter and others are large and sweet. The fruit don't last long, but you can stretch their life by dropping them in a bottle or jar of water. Most people enjoy them mashed with milk, but you can eat them right off the ground (the ripe ones fall to the ground), or buy a bag at the markets. The fruits are rich in calcium and vitamin C.