The Genipa Americana, more commonly know as Jagua, is a fruit commonly found in the Amazon. Although it is a rather new discovery to the western world, native peoples of the South American continent have been using this plant for a multitude of purposes for over 2,000 years. In its native region, it is known by hundreds of different names and has nearly as many uses. When the fruit is unripe it is used to create a blue-black dye that is used on clothing, decorations, and skin. In its ripe stage, the Jagua is consumed as a source of nutrition, it has a bitter dry flavor much like the American gooseberry and requires significant sweetening.
