Trinidad & Tobago
noun
Is a yellowish-green drupe 2.5-5 cm in diameter, containing a single, dark brown, nut-like seed 2.5-5 cm diameter, which is very tough to break. The inside is a dry white filling that has a vaguely sweet taste when eaten. Found on a species of palm native to tropical regions of the Americas, from southern
also known as
glu glu, gru gru, macca fat
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41 comments
Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Avion
11 years ago

Is that the same as gru-gru? I grew up calling it that in Tobago. Haven't seen that since primary school. Wow!

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Joan Alvarez
10 years ago

Gru-gru-bef, yeah I have not seen that since primary school too. Maybe it's extinct?

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
June
10 years ago

Gru Gru Bef palms have some long, sturdy thorns or "pickers" that could do some serious damage. Under the outer shell like covering is the sweet yellow sticky substance covering the seed. After scraping off this with your teeth, you would then crack open the seed then extract the "coconut" inside. Good eats.

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Alana
10 years ago

i see it yesterday nothing not sweet like it nah :,))))

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
SAM J.
9 years ago

Also called the Pejibaye Palm, native to Central America.

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
William O
9 years ago

I have not seen that in more that 30 years, would like to find some on my next trip to Trinidad

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godwin
9 years ago

used to live in point ligoure, best thing about school holidays was time spent in the bush looking for banga and gru gru; yes the gru gru had sturdy thorns but sometimes you have to suffer wounds from incoming traffic Last time I did this was 1968, now my eyes are beginning to water.

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Irvin
8 years ago

De best place tuh find dem Gru Gru was in de back road between Techier and Mahaica / Clifton Hill in Point Fortin!!!! Plenty Gru Gru Patch!!

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Joan Alvarez
8 years ago

Yes, I loved gru gru bef too/ I am now 66 living in rhe USA over 40 years and I remember me and friends roaming the country side in Carapichaima searching for the fruit ( or a ANY fruit).. I miss my country so much!

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Sharp
8 years ago

Yes Irvin, Techier and the back of Mahaica Point Fortin had a lot. The New Lands area towards Point Ligoure had lots growing....currently where LNG parking lot is today. Looking back, those were great days.

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
8 years ago

Plenty gru-gru bef on San Juan hill. Several neighbors had at least one tree in their backyards. Delicious!

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Vic
8 years ago

To those of you who only come for a visit, go up (about midway) Lady Chancellor hill and you will find a few trees at the roadside. Hope they are in season when you get here. 🇹🇹

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Dads
7 years ago

Had my share of delicious Gru Gru Bef from a tree at the back of San Juan Government Secondary back in the 70s. Trini expression for hard times. "Hard like Banga".

Dominica
Dominica
Stephen Frampton
7 years ago

We have it in Dominica too but its years since I have seen it and I would like to introduce my daughter to it. We call it glu glu (which I always thought as being a reference to its sticky flesh). A photo search brought me here. As Caribbean people let's realise how much and quickly we are losing our heritage and do our best to preserve and engender it in our future generations. Memories memories!

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Leslie s
7 years ago

Gru gru.gri gri.banga and cocorite

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
SJT
7 years ago

gru gru bœuf

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Dawne
6 years ago

I enjoyed eating that at primary school. Tonka bean was another favourite. if I could go back in time to those great days.

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
PET
6 years ago

Gru gru is not extinct, you can find trees on both islands. I recently got some in Sobo, La Brea. Trees can be seen in Rousillac and Aripero also. I'm early 40's, grew up in Guapo and there was the tallest tree next to our house. Youths today only know imported fruits. I also recently got a tankobean. I still must find gri gri and cocorite.

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Peppa
5 years ago

Could someone please add a definition for the local idiom: "banga season?"

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Ibironke
5 years ago

Please, what are the health benefits of grugru fruit?

St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Kitts & Nevis
Risi Brazier
5 years ago

Well this was my Friday night search, lol, my cuz and I were trying to tell a friend from Dominica about thus fruit. In St Kitts we call it maca and we would buy it in season or hike up to a place named Bayfords to find them. Awww childhood memories and adventures.....I wouldn't trade them for the world.

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
5 years ago

Can anyone tell me what fruits are in season in early July??

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
JA
5 years ago

Pardon my manners. Can anyone tell me what fruits are in season in early July please. Cheers.

Jamaica
Jamaica
Rose
5 years ago

That fruit is called maccafat in Jamaica. There were a number of those palm trees in my old neighbourhood. Enjoyed the fruit in childhood years. The trees may have removed to accommodate housing developments

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
5 years ago

Grugru Bef... Have not see it in sometime , used to pass trees by the dry river on my way to school in Tunapuna by the slaughtery. Lots a years.

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Michelle foster
4 years ago

Banga seed What can the seed be use for

Jamaica
Jamaica
4 years ago

how can i get banga seeds to plant here in Jamaica? I search the internet to buy some of those seeds but cant find any.

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
UWI Guy
4 years ago

These are gru gru palm fruits also known as Coyoli palm. They can easily be found on the hills of St Mount Benedict, Mount Hope and Mount Lambert in Trinidad and Tobago. The yellowish pulp is fibrous, mucilaginous and slightly sweet. A high quality oil can be obtained from the seed kernel and can be used for cooking after refining.

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
UWI Guy
4 years ago

The pulp has been found to be very rich in oleic acid, which is the predominant fatty acid found in olive oil. Oleic acid is heart friendly as it decreases blood levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). The pulp is also rich in minor minerals, especially iron and copper.

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Reddo
4 years ago

Banga season as far as I remember meant that a person was experiencing difficult times financially.

Grenada
Grenada
Denise
3 years ago

My dad is Grenadian and said his ended sisters and mom used to run it in their hair and it made it thick and black. What health properties does it have? There’s not a lot online...

Grenada
Grenada
Rudy
3 years ago

Best thing about gru gru was scraping the seed to make ring as children

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Pamela
3 years ago

That was the best fruit I remembered as a child, it was a hard to get because of pricks in the tree.

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Shirley
3 years ago

Going up the hill after school for gru gru bed and Tonka bean I just returned to Trinidad after 42 years in the us and was thrilled to get a bag from my neighbor

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Candy
3 years ago

Yes we had a tree right up on laventil. So good haven't had one since I left Trinidad.

St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Kitts & Nevis
Cann
2 years ago

The macca fruit...OMG just wish I can even see the tree...

Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago
Astra Wtight
last year

Where I reside in Tobago have many trees.

Haiti
Haiti
Kodjo
last year

The scientific name is acrocomia aculeata

Jamaica
Jamaica
U2Little
last year

I just had some macca fat! I found a nest of trees in rural St Mary, Jamaica. The sharp prickles on the leaves ran through my shoes and stick me in my foot bottom while picking up fruits from the ground. The fruit is still plentiful in Jamaica, but our children hardly know that it can be eaten.

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null
4 months ago

Grugru in 🇬🇩

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MasterLew
4 months ago

We made rings for our fingers with the see by grinding it on our concrete step, while throwing water on it. They were decent looking.