Tamarillo

Food · Fruit · Food, Typed Supps

An egg-shaped fruit related to the tomato, rich in vitamin A and fibre.

Stage by stage

Intake (Chewing begins): Chewing breaks down the tart flesh after peeling.
Stomach (Fruit structure broken down): Stomach acid continues breaking down the flesh.
Small intestine (Beta-carotene absorbed with fat): Beta-carotene is absorbed along with dietary fat via the lymphatic route.
Bloodstream & eyes (Converted to vitamin A): Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A as needed, supporting eye and skin health.

Timing

Best eaten with a little fat, since beta-carotene absorption depends on dietary fat being present.

Time to effect

Weeks: Vitamin A body stores build and change over weeks of regular intake, not a single meal.

Allergens

None of the fourteen major allergens. Derived from what this food is, not from a product label.

Eating patterns

Fits: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Halal, Kosher, Keto, Gluten-free. Depends on the product: Low-FODMAP.

Satiety

The satiety index is measured on 240 kcal servings. At 36 kcal per 100 g that is 669 g of this, which is not a serving anyone eats — so the index has nothing to say about it.

Environmental footprint

1.1 kg CO2e and 199 litres of freshwater per kg, matched to "Other fruit" in Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science 360.

Cost band

Cheap — roughly £3 per kg, as a band midpoint rather than a price.

Key nutrients

Nutrition per 100g

Calories: 35.9
Protein: 2g
Carbohydrate: 3.4g
of which sugars: 3.4g
Fat: 0.1g
of which saturated: 0g
Fibre: 4.7g
Sodium: 1mg

Food vs. supplement

A 100g tamarillo provides a meaningful dose of beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A as needed — a safer route than a high-dose preformed vitamin A supplement.

Kitchen tip

Blanch briefly in boiling water so the bitter skin peels away easily, like a tomato.

Common myth

“Tamarillo is basically just a tomato with a different name.” In reality: Despite the shared plant family and tomato-like look, tamarillo carries meaningfully more vitamin A precursor (beta-carotene) and fibre than a standard tomato.