La Ferme aux Crocodiles rassemble plusieurs variétés de plantes aromatiques : cardamome, poivrier, cannelier... ainsi que des arbres fruitiers peu communs, originaires de régions tropicales comme l'arbre à pain, le bananier, le jamrosat, le papayer ou le carambolier…Un cacaoyer et un caféier ont également trouvé leur place et s'épanouissent au cœur de la grande serre.
Arbre à pain
The breadfruit tree is native to Southeast Asia and is about 20 metres tall. Its fruit looks like large chestnuts and can weigh up to 2 kg. The fruit can be cooked and eaten like potatoes.
Cacaoyer
The cacao tree produces roughly 20 cocoa beans per fruit. In the pods, the fruit are surrounded by sweet pulp. The beans are roasted and then sweetened to make chocolate. The cacao tree is native to tropical America.
Corossolier
The sugar-apple tree comes from South America. Its edible fruit is said to have 1,000 medicinal properties. It’s used to make juice, yoghurt, jam, tea and more. In the Tropical Reserve, the sugar-apple tree can be seen in spring.
Jamrosat
The rose-apple tree, native to the Indo-Malay archipelago, is about 15 metres tall. Its delicious fruit has a floral flavour.
Papaye
Native to Mexico, papayas can weight up to 2.5 kg. When unripe, they must be cooked before being eaten; when ripe, they can be eaten like fruit.
Papaya shoots are also edible, as are its seeds. The stems are used for making ropes.
Goyavier fraise
The strawberry guava tree, native to South America, produces a red guava which is small, juicy and melts in the mouth.
Cardamome
Cardamom, which is native to Asia, belongs to the same family as ginger. This spice is widely used in Indian cuisine and desserts.
Poivrier
The pepper plant is an Indian vine which is native to Malabar. Black, white and green pepper come from the same plant but are picked at different stages.
