Forums > General > General Forum

TomG

Sep 19, 2003, 1:41 PM

Post #1 of 17 (1319 views)

Shortcut

Capulin

Can't Post | Private Reply

Does anyone know anything about capulin? It is a small round blackish berry-like about 3/16" in diameter which is used to make agua de capulin, a homebrew - vino de capulin, and also jam? One buys them dried. The only Mexicans I have encountered who are familiar with capulin are Veracruzanos, who all light up at the mention of it.

I've had it in all three forms, and like it a lot.

I'd am curious about any particular properties it might have in addition to good taste.

Uncle Donnie

Sep 19, 2003, 1:50 PM

Post #2 of 17 (1310 views)

Shortcut

Re: [TomG] Capulin

Can't Post |

Hi Tom,

Go to Google and type in Capulin. The second entry will offer tons of info.

UD

Shameless self-promotion:
http://www.headformexico.com

jennifer rose

Sep 19, 2003, 2:00 PM

Post #3 of 17 (1305 views)

Shortcut

Re: [TomG] Capulin

Can't Post |

Capulines are cherries. And like cherries, they can be consumed in several fashions -- raw, cooked, as candy, or fermented. During the season, capulines can be found on the street corners in Morelia and Patzcuaro.

As a tree, they can be annoying, attracting too many birds and making a mess. Which is why I cut my capulin tree down.

TomG

Sep 19, 2003, 2:01 PM

Post #4 of 17 (1300 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Uncle Donnie] Capulin

Can't Post | Private Reply

I'm really fishing for medicinal properties, if there are any. I suspect there are some.

esperanza

Sep 19, 2003, 2:16 PM

Post #5 of 17 (1297 views)

Shortcut

Re: [TomG] Capulin

Can't Post | Private Reply

The capulin (wild cherry) grows here, like the guamúchil. And the picking frenzy is about the same for both. They are delicious as agua fresca, etc.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Rolly

Sep 19, 2003, 2:47 PM

Post #6 of 17 (1291 views)

Shortcut

Re: [TomG] Capulin

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hi Tom,

I not familiar with capulins, but I do know that cherrys have some medicinal value in controlling gout, so I guess capulins might be helpful, too.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

(This post was edited by Rolly on Sep 19, 2003, 2:48 PM)

Guapo Gabacho

Sep 19, 2003, 6:26 PM

Post #7 of 17 (1256 views)

Shortcut

Re: [TomG] Capulin

Can't Post | Private Reply

My wife from Catemaco, Veracruz tells me that she knows of no medicinal value and says that this fruit is usually eaten by children because it is free and available. There it is not sold in the market in any form. I am also told that is grown as a cheap fast growing shade tree.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.

RafKarina

Sep 19, 2003, 8:12 PM

Post #8 of 17 (1234 views)

Shortcut

Re: [TomG] Capulin

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hi TomG,

I remember eating capulin jam in New Mexico. It is probably not a cherry since cherry is a cereza, but it probably belongs to the berry family. Gary Null,Ph.D, Germs, Biological Warfare, Vaccinations, talks extensively in his program of KPFK 90.7 Los Angeles, or www.kpfk.com about the beneficial properties of the berry family. He says they have anti-aging properties. He talks a lot of alternative medicine. You may want to order one of his books or catch his porgram from the web. By the way, perhaps Jennifer Rose might try a better method of dealing with her fruit trees. It's taken me a why to understand them here in Los Angeles. Lately, I have opted to share my fruit with the birds. I always have first choice though.

Guapo Gabacho

Sep 19, 2003, 9:08 PM

Post #9 of 17 (1223 views)

Shortcut

Re: [RafKarina] Capulin

Can't Post | Private Reply

If it is a cherry, try to find one with a pit.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.

"El Gringo Jalapeño"

Sep 19, 2003, 11:20 PM

Post #10 of 17 (1210 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Guapo Gabacho] Capulin

Can't Post | Private Reply

Don Salvador Martínez of "Licores La Fama" here in Xalapa makes the most incredible "licor de capulín" which is almost like an exquisite dry sherry. He has a "barrica" which is full of this 10 year old elixir which I try to hoard for myself, but when my "consuegro" arrives from Mexico City he usually ends up being gifted the few bottles that I have since he also loves this unique liquor. Come visit and I will give you a sip(and that is all!!!!!).

¡Hasta pronto, muchachos! Portense mal y cuidense bien.
Roy B. Dudley "El Gringo Jalapeño" See more about Xalapa at www.xalaparoy.com

jerezano

Sep 20, 2003, 7:10 AM

Post #11 of 17 (1184 views)

Shortcut

Re: [TomG] Capulin/Medical Properties

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hola,

Here are the medical properties of capulin:

Medicinal Uses: A sirup made of the fruits is taken to alleviate respiratory troubles. The leaf decoction is given as a febrifuge and to halt diarrhea and dysentery; also applied in poultices to relieve inflammation. A leaf infusion is prescribed in Yucatan as a sedative in colic and neuralgia and as an antispasmodic. The pounded bark is employed in an eyewash.

The leaves contain essential oil, fat, resin, tannin, amygdalin, glucose, a brown pigment and mineral salts. The bark contains starch, brown pigment, amygdalin, gallic acid, fat, calcium, potassium and iron. All of these parts must be utilized cautiously because the bark, leaves or seeds in contact with water can release HCN.

Jerezano

esperanza

Sep 20, 2003, 7:21 AM

Post #12 of 17 (1181 views)

Shortcut

Re: [RafKarina] Capulin

Can't Post | Private Reply

Spanish frequently will surprise you with the numbers of words used for any particular thing. Hence, to say that cherry is always cereza is to limit not only the language, but onesself.

Here's a link to the capulin, a true cherry but not what we'd call a cereza:

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/.../morton/capulin.html

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

(This post was edited by esperanza on Sep 20, 2003, 7:22 AM)

TomG

Sep 20, 2003, 8:26 AM

Post #13 of 17 (1164 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jerezano] Capulin/Medical Properties

Can't Post | Private Reply

What is HCN? It doesn't sound good.

Guapo Gabacho

Sep 20, 2003, 8:31 AM

Post #14 of 17 (1161 views)

Shortcut

Re: [TomG] Capulin/Medical Properties

Can't Post | Private Reply

My wife, the witch, from Catemaco says there must be more than one plant called capulin because what they have there with that name has no pit.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.

TomG

Sep 20, 2003, 8:33 AM

Post #15 of 17 (1160 views)

Shortcut

Re: ["El Gringo Jalapeño"] Capulin

Can't Post | Private Reply

That is why the villagers from around the Xalapa all giggle and smile when someone talks of capulin. Frankly, Roy, I wish they would pour it in smaller glasses, a tumbler is more than I can handle. and topping the glass off again is getting into deep territory for me.

Your offer is more in tune with my capacities.

TomG

Sep 20, 2003, 8:44 AM

Post #16 of 17 (1159 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Guapo Gabacho] Capulin/Medical Properties

Can't Post | Private Reply

These little things definitely have a pit - more pit than flesh.

But if you publish everything your wife hears about any plant I will be one very steady reader. Even with the variations in the names of plants, more will be learned than fall through the cracks of ambiguity.

Nick

Sep 20, 2003, 4:55 PM

Post #17 of 17 (1119 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jerezano] Capulin/Medical Properties

Can't Post | Private Reply

Maybe with my asthma conddition I should look into this Capulin as some relief when we head to Guadalupana in November..... The current medicine I now inhale, supposedly the best here in the US, is not available in the remote area we are in. Even our infrequent trips to downtown Guadalajara have proved futile in our search for my current needs.

While Mi Esposa is not yet qualified as a witch (I'm not to sure about that), she assures me that her family does have one on retainer and will check with her as to the benifits of this Capulin.

I'll let you know....

The measure of a person is determined by the way he accepts responsibility for his actions.