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Guinep

Melicoccus bijugatus

🌍 Northern South America and Caribbean islands📅 June–September (summer fruit)

What is Guinep?

Guinep is Melicoccus bijugatus, the small green Caribbean fruit also called Spanish lime, quenepa and mamoncillo. A thin shell surrounds tangy-sweet pulp and a large seed.

Also called:: Guinep, Spanish lime, Quenepa, Mamoncillo
Season:: June–September (summer fruit). See the Jamaican fruit calendar. Availability varies by location and weather.

Guinep — also known as Spanish lime, quenepa, or mamoncillo — is a beloved Caribbean street fruit enjoyed across the islands. These small green fruits grow in clusters and have a thin, brittle shell encasing a juicy, tangy-sweet salmon-colored pulp surrounding a large seed. Whether you call them guineps, Spanish limes, quenepas, or mamoncillos, this fruit is a true taste of Caribbean summer and one of the most nostalgic tropical snacks you'll find from Jamaica to Puerto Rico.

Nutrition and evidence for Guinep

✓Enjoy guinep as a fruit serving within a varied diet.
✓Nutrient content alone does not establish claims about sleep, mood or blood-sugar control.

🍴 How to Eat Guinep

Crack the thin green shell with your teeth or by squeezing between your fingers. Suck on the juicy pulp surrounding the seed — don't bite the seed. Some people also make guinep juice (or Spanish lime juice / quenepa juice) by soaking the pulp in water with sugar. In the Caribbean, mamoncillo is often eaten with a dash of salt and pepper for a savory twist. The guinep fruit is a popular street snack sold in bunches at markets across Jamaica, Trinidad, and Puerto Rico.

📦 Storage & Preparation

Keep in a cool, dry place for up to one week. Can refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. The shells dry out over time so eat relatively fresh.

📊 Nutrition Facts

Good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. Low in calories with about 58 calories per 100g.

🌍 Guinep Names Around the World

This beloved Caribbean fruit goes by many names. Guinep, Spanish lime, quenepa and mamoncillo all refer to Melicoccus bijugatus, a small green fruit with a thin shell and tangy-sweet pulp. Names vary across islands and communities.