Its native range includes Surinam, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil into Uraguay and Paraguay. The Portuguese, once colonial masters of Brazil, helped spread the plant throughout warmer parts of the world, from southern Europe to Africa to parts of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. The first specimen of Surinam cherry to be described botantically was found growing in a garden in Pisa, Italy. It is believed to have arrived there via the Portuguese outpost of Goa, India.
It's been introduced to parts of South America beyond its native range, into the Caribbean, Central America, India, the Pacific islands, into Africa and around the Mediterranean, including Israel. Its introduction didn't always come off quite as hoped. In places, it was brought in as a potential cash crop but never quite produced enough to be commercially viable. In other places, it attracted pests, including the Mediterranean fruit fly or, like Florida and Hawaii, adapted too well and became an invasive.
Within its native range, Surinam cherry is used in a variety of ways beyond the kitchen. The leaves are scattered on the floors of homes; when tread upon, they release oils that repeal flies. The leaves are used medicinally to stop bleeding, relieve stomach aches, break feavers and treat colds.
Other names for Surinam cherry include Brazil cherry, Brazilian cherry, Cayenne cherry, pitanga and Florida cherry. It is a member of Myrtaceae, the family of myrtles.