The skin is smooth and green or yellow when the fruit is ripe, and the juicy, aromatic, sweet-tart flesh surrounds a large pit. Umbu can be eaten fresh or made into many types of preserves. Traditionally it is cooked down until the skin separates from the fruit. The liquid is then poured off, mixed with cane sugar and cooked for another two hours to make a delicious jelly. Or the pulp can be cooked for a long time with sugar until it becomes a thick, slightly tart paste, similar to the Spanish membrillo. Umbu can also be made into juice, vinagre (made from cooking overripe fruit), marmelada (umbu slowly cooked with sugar) or umbu em calda, a simple compote made by putting whole fruit in jars with sugar syrup. The fresh pulp or, when the fruit is out of season, vinagre, is mixed with milk and sugar to make the traditional umbuzada, an energy-rich drink that can replace the evening meal.