Going abroad, almost everyone wants to try the national cuisine, as well as unusual fruits that grow in a distant country. Vietnamese fruits on the Russian markets are quite expensive, and it is almost impossible to find them. Some of them look very unusual, and the names of many are even unfamiliar. So, what can we try and bring with us from an exotic country?
A pineapple
This fruit cannot be classified as inaccessible, since in almost every store you can see it and buy it. In Vietnam, pineapple is a commonly consumed fruit, as it grows almost everywhere. Due to this, the price of the product is minimal. From it, the Vietnamese prepare various dishes and preparations.
Banana
These fruits of Vietnam, the taste characteristics of which are known to almost everyone, are everywhere sold in our country. What is unusual in a banana? Vietnamese use not only ripe fruits. Vietnamese women cook incredibly delicious dishes from unripe fruits, and banana tree flowers are used in salads. Also, in the cooking use the trunks of a young tree and even the roots. In Vietnam, you can find bananas of different varieties, which vary in size and taste.
Rambutan
A strange enough fruit that looks intimidating. It seems that he is all covered with needles. In fact, the bright fruit has soft hair that cannot do any harm. By the way, in translation from Indonesian “rambutan” means “hair”. The fruit grows on a fairly branched tree and ripens during the rainy season, somewhere in May-October. If you remove the peel, then under it you can see a completely transparent flesh with a large brown bone. To say what the taste of rambutan looks like is simply impossible, since it is unique. The only thing that can be noted is that this fruit perfectly quenches thirst.
Mangosteen
Many fruits of Vietnam, whose name sounds unusual and even funny, you will hear for the first time. Most likely, mangosteen belongs to them. At first glance, someone might think that this is a mango, but in reality they have nothing in common. Outwardly, the mangosteen does not look very beautiful, it is like an apple of dark purple color. The size is not more than a tennis ball. The peel of the fruit is very thick. To reach the pulp, you need to make a cut with a knife about 5 mm in the center of the fruit. Inside, the mangosteen is translucent and divided into segments, like mandarin. As for the taste, it is quite light and refreshing, a bit sour.
We continue to study what kind of fruit is in Vietnam.
Papaya
This fruit is familiar to many in books and films, but still it is exotic. Papaya grows year-round, so it’s not expensive in Vietnam. This fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals. It looks like a melon, as it has a sweet fleshy flesh. In Vietnam, you can find papaya with red, yellow and orange pulp. This fruit is used for the preparation of salads and juices.
Star apple
The unusualness of this fruit is already in its name, which in translation means "breast milk". It arose because of the original smell of a star apple, which is very similar to a milk apple. This fruit has a round shape, strong and smooth peel. Locals say that this fruit should be eaten correctly. They advise cutting the fruit in half and then using the spoon to eat the pulp. Another local way to consume a star apple is to make a small hole, and then just squeeze all the juice through it. If you decide to try this fruit, then before you eat it, squeeze the fruit a little so that the pulp is mixed with juice.
Durian
Many fruits and vegetables in Vietnam have a pleasant aroma, which can not be said about durian. Due to its disgusting smell, the fetus is forbidden for transportation on airplanes, metro, taxis, as well as for use in many public places. Some cities have a sign that shows crossed out durian. Many people simply cannot stand this smell, so they don’t even risk trying the fruit. Some people compare it to foul onions. But, despite this, the one who still decided to try durian, can not stop and eats the fruit again and again.
Externally, these exotic fruits of Vietnam are 6 times more than mangoes. Sometimes the weight approaches 10 kg, or even more. When the fruit ripens, it falls from the tree. The durian pulp hides behind a thick peel with sharp spikes. It is divided into segments. Each part is individually coated with oil, so the flesh is quite greasy to the touch. If you do not pay attention to the terrible smell and try durian, then the taste may really like, because the fruit is sweet and looks like yogurt.
Cactus Fruit, or Green Dragon
This fruit has been grown in Vietnam recently. When it becomes ripe, the weight reaches 500 g. There are several varieties that differ in the color of the flesh and taste. The thickness of the fetal peel is about 5 mm. Peeling it is very simple, like an orange. There are many seeds in the pulp that look like sesame seeds. You do not need to delete them, but it is simply impossible to do. Interestingly, if the fruit is cooled, its taste changes dramatically. Another interesting fact - do not overeat, as these Vietnam fruits are natural laxatives. Harvest fruits in late autumn and spring.
And what kind of fruits grow in Vietnam?
Breadfruit
Interestingly, this fruit grows on all parts of the tree, that is, on branches, a trunk, and even on the roots. Each year, one tree produces about 200 fruits. This fruit has a lot of sugar, that is, it is very high in calories. When the fruit ripens, its flesh becomes yellow and sweet. Juiciness depends on the variety. The fruit is huge - it can reach a length of up to 50 cm.
Longan
This fruit is grown in the north of the country. In size, it is slightly larger than the length of the thumb pad. Above the fruit is covered with a thin brown peel that hides the translucent flesh. Inside is a large bone. The aroma of longan is very pleasant. Due to the sweetness and nutritional value, the fruit is used to prepare various dishes, including desserts and soups. Interestingly, the bones can be dried and also used in cooking.
Persimmon
These Vietnam fruits cannot be called unusual, as they are sold everywhere with us. The fruits are grown in different varieties. They differ not only in color and shape, but also in size and taste. The pulp of this fruit contains a lot of sugar and vitamins. By the content of vitamin C, it is not inferior to an orange. In general, all varieties of persimmons can be divided into 2 types: sweet and bitter. They differ in that the second option becomes sweet only when it is fully ripe, while the first is always sweet. Another interesting fact is that persimmons are used to relieve abdominal pain and to reduce pressure.
Lychee
These exotic fruits of Vietnam are covered with dense rough skin of red color. The pulp is similar to a longan, the same translucent and very sweet.
Zapodilla
This fruit was imported to Vietnam a long time ago. Since then, he began to be massively grown in this distant country. If we evaluate its appearance, then this is an ordinary chicken egg, which weighs from 10 to 200 g. The brown peel has small cracks in the stalk. The pulp has the same color and wonderful aroma. Unripe fruits cannot be eaten, since they contain viscous resin. In Vietnam, you can find fruits with orange and yellow-white pulp.
Cherimoyya
The fruit has a scaly coating of green color, under which there is a mass consisting of juicy and sweet segments. They emit an incredibly pleasant aroma. In each segment there is a bone that is inedible.
Cream apple
Another unusual fruit. These Vietnam fruits have 2 varieties. You can try a hard and soft apple, they differ in shape. From ripe fruit it is easy to remove the thick peel of green color, which is covered with light pollen. Inside the fruit has a flesh of white or yellowish color, as well as a small amount of black seeds. The taste of this fruit can be compared to a sweet cream. It takes about 4 years for the tree to start to bear fruit. Then each year a large crop is harvested from it - about 100 pcs. fruits.
Coconut
This fruit can be equated with pineapple in its availability. In addition, tourists who can climb trees well can get it on their own or find it under a palm tree. Young coconuts have a thin layer of pulp and contain a lot of liquid. Most fruits are used only to quench thirst. To open a coconut, it is better to use the help of a seller who professionally will make a hole. In a ripe fruit, on the contrary, there is practically no liquid, but there is a lot of pulp. It is from it that the Vietnamese make coconut milk. These fruits ripen all year round.
Mango
This fruit is the most juicy and sweet of those that Vietnam supplies. Fruits begin to ripen in February, and they can be picked until May. Mango, which grows in this country, is significantly different from what is sold in our stores. Ripe fruit has a bright yellow color. It is inconvenient and undesirable to clean it - it is better to simply cut along the length to the bone and divide into 2 halves.
Carambola
This yellow or greenish fruit has a shape similar to pepper, but in the context it looks like an asterisk. The ripe fruit is sweet and juicy, and confusing it with something else is impossible. You do not need to peel the fruit; it is simply cut into small slices. In our country, cocktails are often decorated with carambola. In Vietnam, it is added to salads, as well as juices and sauces. Harvested ripened fruits from October to December.
Guava
Outwardly, the fruit looks like an ordinary green apple or quince. Under a thin peel there is a fragrant flesh of pale pink or white. The taste of the fruit is light and sweet. Small seeds that are in the pulp are edible. The fetus contains many vitamins and minerals necessary for humans. You can eat guava directly with the skin, like an apple. Use this fruit to make juice, jam and other dishes.
How to bring fruit from Vietnam?
Once in this country and tasting incredibly tasty and unusual fruits, I really want to bring them home and treat relatives and friends. How to do it right, now we'll figure it out.
The important thing is that for exotic products you will pay much less than at home. In fact, it will cost a mere penny. In addition, the sellers of Vietnam are quite accommodating - and you can bargain and save even more. It is very important to show friendliness and respect.
The first thing you need to take care of when exporting fruit from Vietnam is permitting phytosanitary documents that indicate the quarantine safety of products. If this is not done, then at the customs, most likely, all the fruits will be taken. It is best to purchase a special box in which to put the fruit. In this form and with the time and correctly executed documents, you will not have any problems in the delivery of the acquired fruits.
In addition, experienced tourists are advised to carry fruit in a suitcase, rather than in a basket. Each of the purchased fruits must be wrapped in a napkin and laid tightly so that they do not wrinkle and do not deteriorate.