(hagawa)
Family:  Rubiaceoe
Latin Name: Genipa Americana

The Jagua fruit has been used by the Natives of Central and South America for hundreds of years.  In native tribes today, the unripe fruit’s juice is used to color temporary black designs on one’s skin during celebrations and ceremonies.  Jagua is used as an insect repellent, protection from the sun, as well as for it’s antiseptic, antibiotic, bactericidal and fungicidal properties.  It is also valued for food sources (beverages, desserts, alcoholic drinks etc.) as well as medicinal treatment (I.e. sore throats, colds, bronchitis and asthma). Long ago, South American Indians used it as war paint to protect them during battle. Jagua is a valuable fruit that is still used today.

While the fruit is not yet ripe, if produces ‘genipine’ an element that makes the juice of the fruit black when exposed to air (after being exposed to air, or, being “oxidized” it slowly turns from light blue to dark blue and then finally a sold black color).  A similar process occurs when it is applied to skin.

Jagua, Genipa Americana, is a tall, fast growing tree usually standing between 30 and 65 feet.  The trunk is approximately between 15-30 inches and it is a deciduous tree with abundant foliage.  The leaves are between 4-12 inches an average, and it has white or yellow tubular flowers (about 1.5 inches) with 5 pedals that are formed clustered at the leafs base.  The actual Jagua fruit is a large round or oval shape, with a lelather like covering, it is usually 3 ½ - 6 inches long and 2 ¾ to 3 ½ inches wide.  It contains yellowish or brown seeds inside covered in a  mucilaginous membrane.  The pulp surrounding the seeds produces Genipine, which is the constituent responsible for the black color when oxidized.

Uses of the whole Jagua tree:

• Fruit:  grow within the first 3 years. Providing a valuable food source, medicinal, and natural dye
• Wood:  quick growing sustainable supply used for fuel, relatively 5 - 10 year old trees (elder trees used for timber)
• Bark:  contains high amounts of tannins, used for the treatment of leather. Fibers from the inner bark used to make rough clothing
• Leaves: available year round, eaten by cattle
• Flowers: yield nectar for honeybees.

Other Common Names for Jagua
English: Genipap, Marmalade Box
Former British West Indies: Marmalade Box
Puerto Rico (and a small group of other Spanish speaking countries): caruto, jaripa, and jagua
Columbian and Brazil: genipapa and jenipaga
Colobian Indians: chibana, chipara, and guanapay
Venezuela: guaricha, caruto realsaro, and caranrutoto
Surinam, tapoeripa
Gayana; lara
Bolivia; bi, bicito, and tatumillo
Peru; palo Colorado, vitu, vita, and huitoc
Mexico; meluco
Guatemela; crayo, irayel de Montana and guelli
Costa Rica; guaitil and tapaculo
El Salvador; irayol, tambor, and tine-dientes
Panama; jagua, jagua blanca, and guayatil Colorado

Principal Biochemicals:

Manitol, genipine, tannins, acids (tannic, tartaric, genopocidic) caterine, hydrastine, manit, caffeine, and calcium.

**Currently a program is in development to financially help the communities involves with maintaining and cultivating the Jagua tree.
**Researchers are studying the sustainability of high trade possibilities and economic development.
**Jagua may also soon play a part in replacing harsh pesticides used in agriculture.

There are many sites on the web that have lots of useful information about this amazing tree.  Here are a few:

www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/marton/genipop.html
www.rainforestconservation.org/data sheets/Agra forestry/Genipa.Americana.html
www.TopTropicals.com
www.rain-tree.com/genipap.htm

A special thank you to Natures Body Art
for their contribution and to our education on this wonderful product.