Large, russet-brown skin fruit with salmon-pink flesh and a distinctive almond-sweet flavor. One cup provides extraordinary nutrient density: 22% DV vitamin B6 (highest of any common fruit), 16% DV vitamin C, significant potassium, copper, vitamin E, fiber, and riboflavin. Also contains beta-carotene (high content) and quercetin.
Available at Caribbean, Latin, and tropical fruit markets year-round in FL, NY/NJ, and TX areas. Seasonal elsewhere. Frozen mamey pulp increasingly available at Latin markets nationwide.
The vitamin B6 density is the most distinctive nutritional profile of mamey. B6 is required for over 100 enzymatic reactions including neurotransmitter synthesis (serotonin, dopamine, GABA require B6 as a cofactor), homocysteine metabolism (B6 converts homocysteine to cysteine in the transsulfuration pathway — reducing cardiovascular risk), immune function, and hemoglobin synthesis. For the APEX population with elevated homocysteine from folate and B6 deficiency, mamey adds the B6 component to the folate already being addressed through legumes. The beta-carotene content makes mamey one of the most vitamin A-dense tropical fruits available — particularly important for eye health and immune function in communities with lower dietary beta-carotene intake.
Scoop flesh from skin. Eat fresh, blend into smoothies (mamey batido: mamey + milk or oat milk + cinnamon + honey), add to fruit salads. Does not cook well — best raw.
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