Supposedly one tastes like creamy pineapple and the other like artificial strawberry, which is a wild range for two trees that go by the same name.
The Basics
Ndea, sometimes called African peach, refers to two related species here, Nauclea xanthoxylon and Nauclea latifolia, in the family Rubiaceae.
Origin and Habitat
Both come from swampy savanna areas of the Congo and West Africa.
What It Looks Like
Two distinct trees sharing a common name, which is honestly the most confusing part of growing them.
Uses and Flavor
Neither has fruited for us yet, so I can’t confirm either flavor claim firsthand. But by reputation, one tastes like creamy pineapple and the other like artificial strawberry.
Growing It Here
Got them from Joe, who got them from a fellow collector named Lukas. Still just one surviving plant, and it’s really struggling to make it.
Pests and Diseases to Watch For
Nothing to report yet.
Kenta’s Take
I’m genuinely curious which flavor claim turns out true, or if they’re both exaggerated. Either way, having two mystery fruits under one name is a fun kind of uncertainty.