FROM Desmond Tate?s book, ?Tropical Fruit,? here are more fruitful gifts you can feast on:

Mangosteen. Its rind, dried and sliced, is used as an astringent. The bark and skin are used to control fever and as a cure for diarrhea. With a mixture of unripe bananas and benzoin, its leaves form a traditional balm for wounds, and the liquid from its boiled roots is reputed to aid irregular menstruation.

Sapodilla (chico). Sapodilla is increasingly used as a flavoring for ice cream and desserts. In traditional medicine, its juice is applied as a purgative and a remedy for diarrhea. A decoction of its yellow leaves is taken as a remedy for cough and colds. A liquid extracted from crushed seeds is used as a diuretic and is found to be effective in removing kidney and bladder stones, while paste from its seeds treats venomous stings and bites.

Guava. In India, its leaves are used to treat wounds and as an antidote for toothache. Filipinos make a decoction from its roots and leaves to apply to swollen gums, and the fruit is recommended for acute throat inflammation. Cooked to a thick paste, it?s effective in healing boils, sores, ulcers and open wounds.