Biriba, Rollinia deliciosa, also known as Rollinia and Brazilian Custard Apple is an unusual, evergreen, purely tropical, fruit bearing tree, native to the Brazilian-Peruvian Amazon area. Rollinia deliciosa is a wide-spreading, fast growing fruit tree achieving a height of 3-12 meters. Trees are surface rooted trees and are prone to wind damage.

Biriba is a member of the family Annonaceae the genus Rollinia. The plant is Intolerant of cool temperatures and temperatures below 3°C will wipe out young trees and consequently it is suited best to tropical or coastal subtropical areas with warm and high humidity climates necessary for effective growth and pollination. However, since biribas frequently grow in regions that are flooded for parts of the year it will put up with very wet soils.

The leaves of Rollinia deliciosa are elliptical-oblong shaped, alternate, 15-25cm long and 8-12cm wide, pointed at the peak. The yellowish green flowers are normally borne solitary in late winter to early springtime, hermaphroditic, set up on large pedicles.

Fruit is large, round to heart-shaped, yellow with a rough surface and soft spines. It tastes delicious. The fruit has a creamy, juicy and delicious flesh with few smooth dark brown seeds. A single tree could produce close to eighty fruits a year weighing from .4 and up to 1.5 kilos. Fruit seem to be only consumed fresh, or scooped out and mixed with ice cream.

Fruit are picked by clipping the stem as soon as the yellow color develops. They will go on to ripen off the tree but the shelf life is just a few days. Cooling the fruit after harvest time will expand the shelf life by up to a week, with evidential loss of appearance as the skin well turn black, although the flesh within stays edible. Fruit are very soft and susceptible to bruising.

Water stress causes early ripening of fruit, so irrigation might be necessary during flowering, fruit set and early ripening period. Biribas grow true to type from seed, although systematically high yielding varieties are accessible. Biribas are seldom found outside of their native regions as the fruit blackens and goes bad rather quick.

Rollinia deliciosa favors fertile rather sandy loam soils in a sunny site. Root rot and collar rot appears easily contracted when roots are uncovered or damaged by soil movement or undue tree shaking.

Tree propagation is by seed. Plant seeds at once at a 3cm depth using well draining soil mixture. Seeds must be chosen from super sweet and flavorsome fruit with crisp white flesh and fewer seeds. Biriba is an attractive fruit tree for home gardens. Trees can bear fruit in 3 years with full production at 8 years.

Seeds of biriba can and are used for their insecticidal properties. However, seeds from biriba or any other member of the Anonaceous family are poisonous and should be thrown-away not consumed.

Biriba, Rollinia deliciosa,

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The key to successful fruit and nut production is the provision of a beneficial environment for the trees that bear them.