The Kingdom of Thailand is famous not only for its stunning resorts and beaches. Also, this country is not deprived of exotic fruits. Due to the hot climate and fairly long rainy season, the yield here is very high. Local residents collect gifts of nature three times a year, without using any additives and other substances that affect the growth of fruits.
Since Phuket is the most visited by domestic tourists, we will talk about the main fruits of this island.
Exotic of Thailand: Lychee, Longan and Longkong
These Phuket fruits were originally brought to Thailand from other countries. For example, lychee hails from China. A small fruit in deep pink. Usually sold with a branch. Under the peel is a sweet white pulp with a bone inside. Syrups, desserts, preserves and juices are prepared from lychee. On a hot day, the fruits perfectly refresh and quench your thirst.
How to choose? Quality fruit has a bright pink, even red peel. When pressed, juice should flow out of the elastic fetus. You can clean it by hand. Having eaten the flesh, do not forget to spit out the stone.
Longan is another guest from China. The name is borrowed from the phrase "Lun yang", which means "Dragon's Eye". They sell it in bundles along with branches bound with elastic bands. A small fruit is covered with a light brown peel, under which a slightly transparent pulp with a bone is hidden. Longan is very sweet with a subtle honey flavor. Eat fresh or served with ice cream. Also, the fruit is sold in dried form.
Today, Longkong is grown in the south of the country, but it was originally brought from Malaysia. The peel is a nice sandy tint. Under it there is a pulp, consisting of 5 slices, under which a stone is hidden - here you have to be very careful. Although it is soft, it tastes very bitter.
How to choose? The lighter the peel, the better Longkong. Fruits should fit snugly to the branch, not have cracks and dents.
Durian and mangosteen
There are legends about the specific smell of durian. Locals say that it smells like hell, and it tastes like paradise. The fruits are quite large, sometimes weighing up to 10 kilograms. Outside, durian is covered with thorns, and inside it is as if divided into several sections, in each of which a light yellow pulp with large bones is hidden. The fruit is high-calorie, so if you are on a diet, then use it in moderation. It is also not recommended to combine durian with alcohol. Such a “duet” can cause problems with blood pressure and heart.
How to choose: do not focus on the color of the peel, it can be either brown or green. It is best to seek help from a seller who will happily pick the right fruit. In Phuket, fruit can also be bought in a cut form. In this case, pay attention to the flesh. Ideally, it should be elastic, but fleshy.
Mangosteen locals call the "queen of fruit." Outwardly, it resembles an eggplant, only round in shape. Under the dark purple and rather thick peel hides a white flesh, similar to garlic. Sometimes bones are found in it. The taste of mangosteen is soft and sweet with a subtle astringency. Tourists prefer it fresh, but locals like to cook dessert from fruits.
How to clean: a thick and fleshy peel will not allow you to cut mangosteen in half. It is enough to cut along the circumference and open. The pulp is most conveniently eaten with a fork.
Rambutan, tamarind, noina and jackfruit - what are these fruits and how to eat them
Rambutan is not only the most noticeable, but also exclusively Thai fruit. Locals are very fond of these fruits, and in August they even celebrate a holiday dedicated to it. Tourists call it a hairy fruit. Not surprising, because the bright red peel is covered with light green bristles. The taste is very similar to grapes, only sweeter.
Tamarind itself is a sour fruit, but only sweet varieties grow in Phuket and throughout Thailand. The fruits are very similar to pods. The hard peel is light brown. Under it is a dark flesh with stones. Locals prefer to make refreshing drinks from it.
Jackfruit is originally from India and is considered the largest in the world, since the weight of one fruit can reach 40 kilograms. Slices of pulp with a strong aroma and sweet taste are hidden under the greenish-yellow peel. The second name "breadfruit" received due to its calorie content (40% of carbohydrates).
Noina is a very sweet and juicy fruit that looks like an apple, only with large seeds. The consistency of the pulp is like a cream. Therefore, the fruit is recommended to eat with a spoon.
Now that you have learned what kind of fruits are jackfruit, noina, tamarind and rambutan, we will tell you how to eat them correctly:
- Rambutan: it is necessary to make an incision around the circumference and open. There is only pulp.
- Tamarind: to get to the pulp, just press on the peel, and it will crack. Then just peel off the top layer and be sure to remove the fibers around the pulp.
- Jackfruit: cut the whole fruit into 2 parts and take out the yellow pulp.
- Noina - split in half.
Pineapple and watermelon
In Phuket, pineapples ripen all year round and taste very different from those sold in Russia. Imported fruits are usually picked green so that they can withstand long transportation and lie on the shelves for as long as possible. There is no benefit from such pineapples, because only after fully ripening does it acquire such useful substances as iodine, calcium, copper, iron, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and vitamins A, PP and group B.
The following video tutorial will tell you how to peel a pineapple.
Teng Mo - this is the name on the island of watermelon, which can be bought not only in its entirety, but also in sliced slices. Prices for it vary greatly. For example, in the rainy season, the berry grows slowly, so the cost is higher. Be sure to try the yellow watermelon, the curiosity and sweetness of which will remain in your memory for a long time.
Santol
The exotic fruits of Phuket also include Kra Hton. Santol is close to mangosteen in its characteristics, but its peel is brown (less often red). Harvested from mid-summer to October. On the island, the fruit is used for medical purposes, in particular for the prevention of infectious diseases. But local residents prefer not only to use Kra Khton, but also to make face masks from it. In their opinion, a cosmetic based on it heals the skin.
Zapodilla and herring
The appearance of the sapodilla resembles a kiwi, only its peel is smooth. The fruit is seasonal, so anyone who plans a trip to the beginning of autumn can try it. It is accepted to eat fresh, but a ripe fruit cannot be stored for more than two days. Therefore, do not buy sapodilla in large quantities.
Salak is an unusual fruit whose outline looks like a pear. The coloring of the peel, consisting of separate small faces, is similar to snake skin, which served as the origin of the second name - snake fruit. The main thing you need to know for tourists who have never encountered it is cleaning. Be extremely careful, because to get to the sweet pulp, you must carefully remove the protective "carapace". For these purposes, it is best to wear gloves, as sharp herring needles will scratch the skin of your hands.
Dragon Fruit and Chom Phu
Pitahaya is one of the memorable fruits of Phuket. The bright color of the dragon fruit immediately catches your eye. By the way, tourists are also surprised by the pulp of the fruit, as its coloring begins with white and reaches a deep purple hue. Pitahaya is very beneficial for the endocrine system and digestion. However, you need to eat fruit in small quantities - large doses act as a laxative.
Chom Phu or Malay apple is the most common fruit on the island. The color of the peel depends on the variety. The most beautiful and delicious are pink. Tourists appreciate chom phu for their sweetness and juiciness. To their taste, they are somewhat reminiscent of a watermelon. By the way, a pink apple in many cases acts as a diuretic, so do not get carried away.
Carambola and guava
The appearance of the guava is very similar to our pear. As a rule, the fruit has a yellow-green color, but the color may vary depending on the variety. How to eat guava, the Thais will teach. Locals prefer to sprinkle the flesh with pepper, salt or sugar in order to bring down a pungent and pronounced smell.
Advantages of the fruit:
- improves the digestive tract;
- normalizes metabolism;
- favors the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system.
How to eat guava? Cut the fruit into 4 parts, cut a place with seeds and enjoy the sweetness of the pulp.
Unusual carambola in a cut form is very similar to a star. By the way, this is one of the most bought fruits of the island. The fruits ripen twice a year - in autumn and summer. As for the color, it ranges from pale yellow to deep green. Experts have proved that the use of carambola not only improves appetite, but also contributes to the functioning of the nervous system.
Phuket Fruit Season
If you plan to visit the island at a certain time, then you should not expect a full set of fruits on the shelves of the stalls. As a rule, only seasonal ones are sold here. By the way, off-season can be found only in supermarkets, but know, in most cases they were brought from other countries.
So, throughout the year in Phuket you can enjoy bananas, a pink apple, coconuts, watermelons, dragon fruit, papaya and guava. In the winter months, get ready to get acquainted with the taste of sapadalia, tamarine, jackfruit and mango. In the spring, lychee, mango, durian, mangosteen and rambutan will appear on the shelves. In summer, oranges, grapefruits and longans will join Phuket's spring fruits. In the fall, sapodilla will ripen again.
Where to buy and current prices
You will not have problems with the purchase, since fruits are sold at every corner. Even the road has small stalls and, as a rule, the cost of fruits in them is much lower than on the island itself. Quite adequate price tags are set in the markets of Phuket. There are a lot of fruits here and if you buy them in large quantities, the sellers will gladly make a discount.
The most expensive fruits, of course, in supermarkets. Especially if the store is located on some popular beach. For example, in Patong it is "Big C".
In general, if you want to buy fruits cheaper, then you need to look for them in roadside stalls or in markets.
Approximate fruit prices in Phuket (per kg):
- ripe mangoes, mangosteen, pomelo and oranges - 145 rubles;
- papaya and pineapple - 60 rubles;
- dragon fruit, guava, bananas, pink apple and coconuts - 80 rubles;
- durian - 165 rubles;
- longan - 185 rubles;
- tamarind - 270 rubles.
In the end, I would like to remind you that not every fruit can be exported from Thailand. Absolutely all airlines imposed a ban on durian because of its specific smell. Many carriers also do not allow the export of coconuts. What is the reason for this is unknown, but you must admit that it does not make sense to take some fruits home. For example, Phuket fruits such as coconuts, bananas, pineapples and mangoes can be found in any supermarket in Russia. True, according to tourists, Thai mango is so delicious that finding a similar one in the homeland is quite problematic.
Also, do not forget about the expiration date, which sometimes can be up to 3 days. Therefore, if you decide to bring exotic fruits from Phuket, buy them immediately before the flight and eat them in the first days after arrival.