Cape Gooseberry

Cape gooseberries are small, round, golden-orange fruits encased in a distinctive papery calyx that looks like a tiny lantern. Despite the name, they’re not related to gooseberries — they’re actually in the same family as tomatoes and tomatillos.

The flavour is unique — sweet and tart with tropical notes somewhere between passionfruit, pineapple, and tomato. They’re eaten fresh as a snack, used as a garnish (the peeled-back husk makes an elegant presentation), or added to salads, desserts, and jams. They pair well with chocolate and are sometimes dipped in it as a petit four.

In Australia, cape gooseberries grow well in temperate and subtropical climates and are sometimes found in home gardens. They’re available at farmers’ markets and some greengrocers, though they remain a specialty fruit rather than an everyday item.