Fruit Trees of the Turks & Caicos Islands

Creamy Coconut, Tart Tamarind and Sweet Sapodilla on Pristine Providenciales

When the hurricane roars, some will break.

When the storm rages, others will fall.

But sometimes despite everything, some will just bend.

The Palm Tree

Scattered throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands are palm trees, which even under the stress of high winds, will bend over at a 40 degree angle without breaking.

While enjoying the amazing number of things to do on Providenciales like beachcombing, hiking nature trails, kayaking or kitesurfing, you’ll marvel at the colours and varieties of trees. One of them, the palm, is an amazing piece of engineering in a storm. It shoots out a wide network of roots giving it a strong base, its trunk is tough and wirey and it folds up its leaves in high winds.

There are actually many varieties of palm growing in the islands. Some like the fan palm have leaves that fan out from one common point, while the feather palm has leaves on each side of the stem appearing like a feather. The coconut palm is a tall, sometimes reaching up over 90 feet in the air. This palm is a phenomenal food source bearing fruit which is not only delicious but highly nutritious, and it provides welcome shade in the hot sun. The thatch palm, a rare species found only in a few islands in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, boasts a slender smooth trunk and stiff leaves which are a shiny green colour up top and silvery below. Islanders weave its fronds into hats, baskets, and mats.

Tamarind Fruit

An import to the islands, the wild tamarind is an exotic tree native to Africa with bright green vase-shaped foliage. It bears pods which have a hard brown shell. The edible fruit is sweet and sour in taste and is high in calcium. It can be blended into drinks, jams or sweetened desserts or used to flavour curries, stews and other dishes. Include a dinner out on your list of things to do on Providenciales. You will find these fruits in use in many island restaurant kitchens. Coyoba serves the Tamarind Baby Back Ribs, and Chef Nik at Crackpot Kitchen has created the tasty Tropical Tamarind Gourmet Sauce.

“Dilly” Fruit

The sapodilla, or “dilly” as islanders like to call it, thrives in the warm tropical environment of the Turks and Caicos. It typically grows 30 to 50 feet high but can reach upwards of 100 feet. Its bark is rich in chicle, a white gummy resin, and it bears a sweet fruit for eating and cooking. Visitors can buy sapodilla at local markets and shops throughout the islands.

Versatile Guava and Papaya

Two other tropical trees that grow well in the islands are wild guava and papaya, both known for their tasty fruit. Island chefs like to blend them into sauces, drinks, desserts or add them to condiments like salsa or side dishes like risotto.

The skyline always includes the silhouette of the fruit trees of the Turks & Caicos Islands. They bring not only beauty to these beautiful shores but provide culinary and health benefits to those below their canopies.

Villa del Mar has many beautiful trees on its lush property and the staff will gladly point out the different varieties during your visit.