ABSTRACT. The pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) belongs to Myrtaceae family, and it is native to an area extended from central Brazil through to the north of Argentina. The common name, pitanga, is from the Tupy indigenous language, "pi'tãg", meaning red, in reference to the fruit color. The pitanga has the appearance of a small pumpkin, is a green color when immature and, when ripened, may have orange, red to dark purple color. This species is well known by the Brazilian population, and has long been used in folk medicine for different purposes. The chemical fruit composition is highly variable, with an average of 77% pulp and 23% seed, and is rich in calcium, phosphorus, anthocyanin and flavonoids, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, anthocyanin, and vitamin C. The potential uses of pitanga abound. In addition to the fresh market, fruits can be used for industrialization as frozen pulp, juices, nectars, icecream, and jellies. In addition to the processing possibilities, therapeutic properties of the pitanga leaves are known. However, despite all the knowledge on possible uses of fruits, leaves, and wood of this species, its use is still very limited, leaving the commercial exploitation of its fruits restricted to northeast of Brazil, where they are used for pulp and juice production. With regard to the leaves, the essential oil is used in the manufacture of cosmetics. More recently, in southern Brazil, the pitanga has been used in very small amounts for the manufacture of nectars by some small business, and are generally sold only in the local market, mainly at fairs and exhibitions. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.