If you can believe it, this fruit is a member of the cashew family. Jocote are tree fruits that grow in warm tropical climates. Also known as Spanish plum, red mombin, or hog plum, they develop tiny red flowers before any leaves appear on the tree. Young jocote fruits are green or yellow-green and ripen to a beautiful purple or red color. The pulp is yellow when ripe and this is when it’s at its sweetest as unripe jocote can be quite sour. At the center of the fruit is a large pit, or stone, which is inedible. The flavor of the jocote fruit is compared to mango pudding, sweet with a bit of an citrusy aftertaste.