From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash

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Can Babies Eat Naranjilla? Taming the Tart Lulo

A tangy, citrusy Andean fruit, called lulo in Colombia. Strain the seeds and soften its bite with cooking or sweeter fruit for babies from around 6 months.

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When to introduce: Around 6 months
Common allergen?: No (not a top-9 allergen)
Texture: Strained pulp, mashed or mixed
Key nutrients: Vitamin C, fiber

Can babies eat naranjilla? Yes, from around 6 months, once you tame the tartness. Naranjilla, called lulo in Colombia, is a round orange fruit with bright green, intensely citrusy pulp, the beloved base of jugo de lulo across Colombia and Ecuador. On its own it is genuinely sour, more of an ingredient than a snack, and that is exactly how to treat it for a baby. Strain out the small seeds, then either cook the pulp briefly to soften its bite or fold a little into mashed banana or mango. A spoonful goes a long way, and if lulo is part of your family's table, this is a lovely way to bring a flavor from home to the high chair.

Prep School: how to prepare naranjilla for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées

🍴 Baby-led weaning

6 monthsScoop and strain the pulp, then cook it soft or mix with a sweeter fruit like banana and mash into a mild puree.

9 monthsStir strained, softened naranjilla into yogurt or oatmeal.

12 months+Use naranjilla in mild fruit blends and sauces.

🥄 Purées

6 monthsScoop and strain the pulp, then cook it soft or mix with a sweeter fruit like banana and mash into a mild puree.

9 monthsStir strained, softened naranjilla into yogurt or oatmeal.

12 months+Use naranjilla in mild fruit blends and sauces.

Is naranjilla safe? Choking & prep

Naranjilla itself is a gentle fruit; the work is in the prep. Strain the pulp to remove the many small seeds, and balance the strong tartness by cooking the pulp or mixing it with a sweeter fruit like banana or mango, since a very sour food is more likely to be refused than enjoyed. Like citrus and tomato, its acidity can leave harmless, temporary redness around some babies' mouths; that is usually skin irritation, not an allergy.³ If you cannot tell irritation from a new rash or a few hives around the mouth or face, treat it as a mild sign: stop the food, watch your baby closely, and call your pediatrician. Serve small amounts. If you buy whole fresh fruit, wash it well; the skin grows fine hairs that are rubbed off before sale. Not a common allergen.

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Nutrition

Naranjilla is high in vitamin C and adds fiber, with a bright, citrus-like tartness. A small amount folded into a sweeter fruit adds vitamin C and a genuinely new flavor without serving the tartness at full strength.

Goes well with

Mashed banana · Mango · Plain full-fat yogurt · Oatmeal · Pear, cooked soft · Apple, cooked soft

Storage & freezing

Refrigerate ripe naranjilla and use it within a few days. The strained pulp freezes well in small portions, which is handy since a little goes a long way.

More fruits to explore

🍑

NectarineAround 6 months

🍊

OrangeAround 9 months

🍎

Otaheite appleAround 9 months

🍍

Pandanus fruitAround 9 months, pulp scraped from the fibers

🍈

PapayaAround 6 months

🟣

Passion fruitAround 9 months

Common questions

When can babies have naranjilla?

From around 6 months, with the pulp strained and either cooked soft or mixed into a sweeter fruit like banana or mango to balance the tartness.

What is naranjilla?

A round orange Andean fruit with bright green, citrusy pulp, called lulo in Colombia. It is the base of the beloved jugo de lulo in Colombia and Ecuador.

Is naranjilla a common allergen?

No, it is not a top-9 allergen. Introduce it like any new food and watch how your baby responds.

Do I need to strain the seeds?

Yes, strain the pulp for babies; the small seeds are easier left out, and the strained pulp still carries all the flavor. A fine sieve does the job in a minute.

Is naranjilla too sour for babies?

Plain pulp will make most babies grimace. Cooking softens the edge, and mixing it with sweeter fruit makes it genuinely pleasant. A small tart note is fine and adds variety to your baby's growing palate.

Can babies have lulo juice?

Skip drinkable juice for babies and offer the strained pulp in food instead. They get the flavor and the vitamin C without starting a sweet-drink habit.

What if naranjilla leaves redness around my baby's mouth?

Acidic fruits can leave harmless, temporary redness where they touch the skin, the same way citrus and tomato can. It is usually skin irritation, not an allergy.³ If you cannot tell irritation from a new rash or a few hives around the mouth or face, treat it as a mild sign: stop the food, watch your baby closely, and call your pediatrician. Call 911 (or your local emergency number) right away if any of these show up soon after a food, on their own or together: swelling of the lips, face, eyes, or tongue; swelling or tightness in the throat, or trouble swallowing; vomiting; hives that spread beyond the mouth and face; trouble breathing, noisy breathing, or wheezing; a cough that keeps going; a hoarse voice; skin or lips that turn pale or blue; or a baby who goes floppy or limp, or is suddenly sleepy or hard to wake. If anything else about your baby worries you, call 911.

Sources

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Last updated September 2026. Next review December 2026. How we write these: built from current published guidance from the AAP, CDC, FDA/EPA, NIAID, WHO, and other pediatric and public-health authorities, with sources cited on the page. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these, and how we double-check the food advice.

This is general information, not medical advice, and is not individualized for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.

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