Gondos (Ardisia compressa Kunth) are an often overlooked endemic berry that grows prolifically in the mountains of Puerto Vallarta and Cabo Corrientes. The yellow flowers arrive in late winter and slowly bear fruit that is ready to pick just about when spring arrives
In Mascota and eastward over the mountains, the Gondo is called Faisan and made into a deep purple liqueur that ostensibly also heals what ails. The bright red-purple color signifies it is rich in anthocyanins, the same red pigment found in -for example- blueberries and huckleberries, that have significant antioxidant and thus, anti-“rust” effects on an aging body.
Gondos are most often made into an agua fresca; they are an acquired taste but relished among locals for their tart, refreshing flavor and medicinal qualities. Indigenous peoples revere gondos for their ability to heal coughs and liver problems. It’s mouth-puckering, its saliva-stimulating qualities suggest it’s rich in tannins, which is also why it makes a good wine.
In the laboratory, Gondo leaf tea has been shown to inhibit cancer of the liver, making it an excellent tea for those recovering from Hepatitis B or alcohol abuse. It has an antioxidant protective effect; an aqueous extract of the leaves has been shown to inhibit cancer of the liver in rats.
Leaf extract from Ardisia compressa protects against 1-nitropyrene-induced cytotoxicity and its antioxidant defense disruption in cultured rat hepatocytes.
Kobayashi, H., & de Mejía, E. (2005). The genus Ardisia: a novel source of health-promoting compounds and phytopharmaceuticals. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 96(3), 347–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.09.037
de Mejía, E. G., Chandra, S., Ramírez-Mares, M., & Wang, W. (2006). Catalytic inhibition of human DNA topoisomerase by phenolic compounds in Ardisia compressa extracts and their effect on human colon cancer cells. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 44(8), 1191–1203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2006.01.015
Morton, J. 1987. Purple mombin, p. 242-245. In Julia F. Morton (ed.). Fruits of Warm Climates. Creative Resource Systems, Inc. Miami, Florida, Estados Unidos de America.
Ramı́rez-Mares, M. V., & González de Mejı́a, E. (2003). Comparative study of the antioxidant effect of ardisin and epigallocatechin gallate in rat hepatocytes exposed to benomyl and 1-nitropyrene. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 41(11), 1527–1535. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0278-6915(03)00169-8
Ramirez-Mares, M. V., Chandra, S., & de Mejia, E. G. (2004). In vitro chemopreventive activity of Camellia sinensis, Ilex paraguariensis and Ardisia compressa tea extracts and selected polyphenols. Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, 554(1–2), 53–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2004.03.002
Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural (2019, July 20). Pequeño y rico capulín. Gobeirno de México https://www.gob.mx/agricultura/es/articulos/pequeno-y-rico-capulin
To collect gondo, it is best to do it early in the morning and only the dark purple ones, leaving the red berries to ripen a few days longer.
Remember, many areas of our dry forest are in danger, so make sure you collect with someone who knows the forest, knows the gondo, and only collect the berries, leaving some for the birds.