Native to Melanesia and Southeast Asia, this plant was spread through Pacific Islands as a 'canoe plant' by Wayfinders. In the 1700s, European colonizers brought this bright green fruit, known as 'Vi Tahiti' (Tahitian) or 'Pommecythère' (French) from French Polynesia to the Caribbean. I grew up eagerly awaiting its fruiting season, when my parents would add hot peppers, salt and other seasonings turning it into a mouth watering 'chow'.