A BEAUTIFUL MOTH HAS LANDED

Today on our way back from walking the dogs, Carlos and I noticed a moth on the front gate.  This moth really stood out with its vibrant colors against the dark purple of the gate’s pillar.  We both loved the bright orange fuzzy head and the variety of patterns and colors on the wings.  The moth was about 1 ½ inches long and had a resting wing span of 3 inches.  You never know when you are going to discover an interesting and unusual creature in the rainforest. We wanted to share this one with everyone.  

MURTAS ARE IN SEASON

It is that time of year that the murtas are in season.  I had never heard of murtas until I moved to Chimirol.  It is a fruit that is only available directly from the tree.  You cannot buy them in markets or stores but must be lucky enough to have a tree in your yard.  We are that fortunate.  There are 2 of them near Café Blue – one near the front gate and one near the side entrance. 

The tree grows erect and is very bushy.  It has lots of dark glossy leaves.  Once a year it produces an abundance of fruit.  The fruit is about the size of a blueberry and is dark purple in color.  The meat of the fruit has the taste and texture of a cherry and has a large seed inside, also like a cherry.  It is great to eat the murtas right off the tree.  This year, like last, we are using this fruit to make ice cream and sorbet.  These desserts are delicious and refreshing. 

If you are in the Southern Zone of Costa Rica, stop by Café Blue and try the murta ice cream and sorbet.  Like most of our seasonal fruits and desserts made from them, they won’t last long.