It is hard to find someone who would not like fruit. There is an opinion that you need to eat fruits that ripen in those places where a person grew up. However, it is difficult to give up the temptation to taste tropical fruits, whose names often sound like spells from a fairy tale. This article will tell you about what exotic fruits can be tasted in certain countries and how they look.
Durian
Those who are interested in Vietnam's fruit will probably be familiar with the name Durian. True, this fruit, which also grows in Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Cambodia, is notorious. Its fruits have a heavenly taste and at the same time exude a terrifying, truly hellish ammonium smell. It is so unpleasant that Durians are forbidden to carry cabin baggage on airplanes or to bring with them to the hotel. This is indicated by signs that can be seen in the lobby of any Thai hotel. So the durian, as they say, is an amateur fruit, especially since its appearance is not particularly attractive: it resembles an irregular oval with sharp thorns in shape.
Those who have neither the name of the fruit, nor its description and characteristics have discouraged the desire to immediately try the overseas fruit, should adhere to the following rules:
- Do not try to choose a product yourself. The attempt, as a rule, will be unsuccessful and will bring only disappointment.
- Trust the seller, whom you need to ask to cut durian and pack it in a transparent film.
- Before buying, check the flesh of the fetus by slightly pressing on it with your finger. In durian, edible, it should not be elastic.
- It is not recommended to use the fruits of this fruit with alcohol, since it acts on the human body as a strong stimulant.
Mangosteen (or mangosteen)
The name of the fruit suggests that it is related to a mango well known to all. However, in reality they have nothing in common. Mangosteen has a thick purple peel and is decorated with a “flower” of 6-7 round leaves on the stalk. It has a soft white flesh that resembles a peeled orange with six or softer white slices.
You need to choose mangosteen by color. The tastiest thing is the dark purple fruits. When pressed, they should not be too soft.
You can try mangosteen from mid-April to October. Its trees grow in Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica.
Jackfruit
Jackfruit (another name for the fruit - eve) is a large fruit with a thick spiky skin of yellow-green color. Jackfruit has a soft yellow, sweet flesh with the taste of pear "duchess", which is combined with an unusual smell. Ripe fruit is ready to eat, and unripe fruit is used to prepare various dishes, it is added to ice cream and fruit salads, and also served with coconut milk. Even jackfruit seeds are suitable for food, which must first be boiled.
You can try this fruit from January to August in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and other countries.
Lychee
Another name for the exotic fruit, which is common in Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Indonesia and China, is Chinese plum. In shape, it resembles a heart or a regular circle and grows in clusters. Under its bright red peel is a juicy white flesh that has a sweet taste. From May to July, fruit is eaten fresh and canned.
Noni
Cheese fruit (or pork apple) is found in Malaysia, Polynesia, Australia, as well as in countries of Southeast Asia. Its fruits with a translucent skin when ripe become yellow or whitish. Noni has a bitter taste and a pungent aroma that can cause vomiting. Nevertheless, it is very useful and widely used in traditional medicine.
Mango
Unlike most other fruits of Thailand, the names of which our grandparents did not even hear, this fruit was known to the inhabitants of the USSR. True, few people saw it with their own eyes, but juice in cans in large cities was still possible to buy.
Mango is one of the most popular tropical fruits in the world. It has large fruits of elongated, ovoid or spherical shape with yellow or orange, juicy and sweet flesh. The smell of mango, depending on the variety, may resemble the aroma of melon, apricot, lemon and even a rose. By the way, they use this fruit not only as a dessert. Unripe fruits can be used raw in salads. They are also eaten, sprinkled with salt and black pepper. Before eating, peel the mango with a sharp knife.
You can try the fruit in many countries. It is believed that the most delicious mango in Thailand, where it ripens in the spring. In Vietnam, its fresh fruits appear on the shelves in the winter, while in Indonesia they harvest from September to December. An abundance of mangoes can also be seen in the peasant markets of the Philippines, India, Myanmar, China, Pakistan, Mexico, Brazil and Cuba.
Kiwi
The name of the fruit was due to its resemblance to the bird of the same name, which is the national symbol of New Zealand. However, kiwi comes from China, although today it is also successfully grown in Italy, Chile, New Zealand and Greece.
The presence of this fruit in the list of tropical fruits of our planet is somewhat arbitrary, since in fact it is a big berry. Kiwi tastes like a kind of mix of strawberries, gooseberries, banana, apple, melon, cherries and pineapple. The fruits are eaten fresh. However, you can also make jam from them, make jelly or include in salads. There are also many recipes for kiwi drinks. Many will be surprised, but the peel of this berry is considered edible. Moreover, it has a high concentration of antioxidants and it has antiseptic properties.
Papaya
In any list with names and photos of exotic fruits, this fruit is always present, growing in India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bali, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia.
To taste, it is a cross between a pumpkin and a melon. Papaya fruits are quite large, up to 20 cm long, with a yellow-green peel. Ripe fruit has an unusually delicate pulp, the use of which helps with digestive problems. Unripe fruits are added to the traditional Thai catfish salad there. In addition, they are fried and stewed with meat.
Longan
Among the names of fruits of Thailand (photos of exotic fruits are presented in the article) there are absolutely fabulous. For example, in this country a fruit grows called the “dragon's eye”. True, the words Longan or Lam-yay are often used to designate it. Moreover, he looks very unpretentious and looks like a small potato. Longan has a sweet, juicy and high-calorie fruit. Under the light brown skin is a transparent white or pinkish flesh, which in consistency resembles jelly. At the core is a large bone of black color. The fruit is good for health. However, eating more than one fetus per day is not recommended, as this can cause an increase in body temperature.
In addition to Thailand, longan grows in Vietnam, China and Cambodia. You can try a freshly harvested crop from mid-June to October.
Rambutan
In Thailand, a fruit called Rambutan is one of the most famous. It is characterized by “increased hairiness”, and under the red skin is a white translucent flesh with a sweet taste. To "open" the fruit, you need to "twist" rambutan in the middle. It can be eaten raw or canned with sugar. Keep in mind that raw rambutan seeds are poisonous, but when roasted they can be eaten without any fear. It is best to choose the pinkest fruits for eating.
You can try rambutan from mid-April to October in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, some regions of Colombia, Cuba and Ecuador.
Pomelo
This exotic fruit has more names than others. This and pompelmus, and Chinese grapefruit, and sheddock and so on. For those who love citrus fruits, a list of pomelo names can come in handy when traveling in Malaysia, China, Japan, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Tahiti, Israel and the United States.
The fruit looks like a very large grapefruit with pink, white or yellow pulp, which is much sweeter and more aromatic. Pomelo is widely used in cooking and cosmetology. It is recommended to choose fruits with the strongest aroma, as they have a more concentrated taste.
Citron
Another name for this fruit is the hand of Buddha. However, nothing interesting is hidden behind such a mysterious “title”. Citron has oblong fruits, almost entirely consisting of peel. They taste like lemon and exude the aroma of violets. In its raw form, citron, which grows in China, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and India, is practically not used. Usually jellies, compotes and candied fruits are made from it.
Jaboticaba
Brazilian grape tree grows in most countries of South America. Its fruits resemble currant berries collected in clusters. The peel of jaboticaba is bitter, so it is removed. The food is pulp, from which jelly and marmalade are prepared.
Pitaya
The names of Vietnamese fruits, photos of which surprise the inhabitants of the northern latitudes, are often difficult to remember, so they have more familiar European counterparts. For example, pitaya is often called dragon fruit or dragonfruit. The fruits are very beautiful in appearance. They are bright pink and the size of a large apple. The peel of pitaya is covered with large scales with a green edge. Under it is a dense white, red or purple pulp with a large number of small seeds. Pitaya is consumed raw and in fruit smoothies along with lime.
It grows not only in Vietnam, but also in Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, in some regions of Japan, the United States, Australia and Israel.
Carambola
If you are interested in the most unusual tropical fruits, the photo and the name of this fruit will certainly not leave you indifferent. Carambola, or "tropical star", has a very beautiful shape at the cut. The fruit itself is colored yellow or green, has a light floral aroma and a not very sweet taste. In immature carambola, there is a lot of vitamin C. Fruits are consumed without peeling, both raw and in salads and in cocktails.
Cannons grow year round on the island of Borneo, in Thailand and Indonesia.
Guava
We got acquainted with the name and photo of fruit in our country relatively recently. Guava, which grows in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt and Tunisia, is a round, pear-shaped or oblong fruit with a length of 4 to 15 cm. It has white flesh and yellow hard edible seeds. When ripening, the guava fruit turns yellow. It is recommended to eat with peel in order to improve digestion and stimulate the work of the heart. Unripe fruits are eaten with burning spices and salt.
Zapodilla
Like many other tropical fruits, the photos and names of which you already know, this fruit grows in Vietnam and Thailand. In addition, sapodilla is bred in the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and the USA. In appearance, the fruit resembles a kiwi or plum. Ripe sapodilla has a milky-caramel flavor, but its flesh can be knitted like persimmon. Typically, ripe fruit is used for salads and desserts, and unripe fruits are widely used in Thai traditional medicine and cosmetology.
Sugar apple
Tropical fruits (photos with names and descriptions of some of them, see above) do not always look appetizing. For example, a sugar apple, which is widespread in Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia, and the southern regions of the PRC, is an unpalatable pale green fruit covered with a tuberous marsh-green skin. Under it is a pulp with rather large bones and with a weak coniferous aroma. The ripened fruits of the sugar apple are moderately soft to the touch. In cooking, fruit, harvested from June to September, is used to make Thai ice cream.
Chompu
Some names of fruits (see photo in the article) growing in the tropics are practically unknown to ordinary inhabitants of the northern latitudes. For example, many have never heard of chompa. The fruit is also called pink apple or malabar plum. In shape, it resembles a sweet pepper of pink or light green color. Chompu has a white, dense, pitted, flesh. There is no need to peel the fruits. Although chompu is inferior to many tropical fruits in its slightly sweet taste, when chilled, it perfectly quenches thirst.
Aki
If before that we considered Thai fruits (the names and photos of some of them are already known to you), now let's talk about the fruits that grow in Jamaica, Hawaii, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Australia. These include aki. This fruit has a pear shape and is covered with an orange or red-yellow peel. After aki fully ripens, it bursts. In this case, the outside is creamy pulp, in which there are large glossy seeds.
In unripe form, aki is considered the most dangerous exotic fruit in the world. Its green fruits are poisonous and have a high concentration of toxins.
Aki can be eaten only in boiled form. Moreover, they need to be boiled for a long time in order to destroy the poisons contained in them. Aki tastes like walnuts. In African countries, the peel of its unripe fruits is used in the manufacture of soap, and fish is caught on the flesh.
Ambarella
This fruit, common in Indonesia, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Fiji, Australia, Jamaica, Venezuela, Brazil and Suriname, is known as the Citra apple. It has golden oval fruits, gathered in clusters, with crisp, juicy, yellow flesh and seeds with thorns. To taste, the ambarella is a cross between mango and pineapple. Ripe fruits are consumed both raw and canned. In their immature form they are used as a side dish and added to soups.
Salak
The fruit, also known as “snake fruit,” grows in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia year-round. It has round or oblong fruits of red and brown color, growing in clusters. The skin of herring is covered with small thorns. It is easily removed with a knife. Inside, the fruit is divided into three sweet segments with a rich sweet and sour taste resembling persimmon or pear.
Bail
The fruit is also known as a wood or stone apple, as well as Bengal quince. When ripe, the gray-green bayel fruit becomes brown or yellow. It has a dense peel that resembles a nut peel, which cannot be reached without a hammer. As a rule, the bagel is already sold in purified form. The flesh of the fruit is yellow, divided into segments, and fleecy seeds are present in it. Bail is eaten dried or fresh. Tea and sharbat are made from the pulp of fruits.
You can try the bagel from late autumn to December in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.
Bam Balan
If a list of fruit names with the most unusual taste was compiled, then a bam-balan would take first place in it. The fact is that to taste it can well replace ... borsch with sour cream. The fruit of the bam-balan, which grows only on the island of Borneo, has an oval shape, and to get to the pulp of the fruit, you just need to peel it off.
Pepino
If you approach the issue strictly, then this is not a fruit, but a berry, just very large, which grows all year round in Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus and Indonesia. It has a variety of fruits of different shapes, sizes and colors. Some of them have a bright yellow color. Pepino pulp tastes like pumpkin, melon and cucumber. It is very difficult to choose a fruit for eating raw. It is unlikely that anyone will want to eat both overripe and unripe pepino.
Kiwano
This fruit, also called African or horned cucumber, tastes like banana, melon, kiwi and avocado. When ripening, the membrane of oblong Kiwano fruits is covered with yellow spikes, and its flesh becomes saturated green. The fruit is cut like a watermelon. It is pickled and also added to sweet and spicy dishes.
Tamarind
In the list of names of citrus fruits, as well as any others, you will not find this fruit. The fact is that it belongs to the legume family, but is used as a fruit. It has curved fruits up to 15 cm long. They have a brown peel and sweet and sour flesh.
Tamarind is used as a spice. In particular, they are seasoned with the famous Worcester sauce, as well as used in the preparation of desserts, snacks and various drinks.
You can try tamarind from mid-autumn to February in Thailand, Australia, Sudan, Venezuela, Cameroon, Oman, Colombia and Panama.
Magic fruit
The fruits, which are also known as sweetish purya, are outwardly unremarkable. However, this fruit is a big trickster. If you eat such a fruit, then within an hour, any product that you try will seem sweet. The only exception is sweets that seem tasteless. The trick is the miraculin protein contained in the fruits of the magic fruit , which “deceives” human taste buds.
Marula
Such fruit can be tasted only in Africa, and only if you are lucky to be in Mauritius, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Botswana and some other countries of South Africa during its ripening days. The fact is that immediately after this, the yellow fruits of the marula, resembling a plum, begin to ferment. As a result, they form something like a low-alcohol drink that elephants adore. The ripe fruit of the marula is yellow and resembles a plum in appearance. The pulp is white, with a hard bone. Until the fermentation process begins, the marula has a pleasant aroma and unsweetened taste.
Kumquat
This fruit is also known as Japanese orange, or fortunella. It has small, completely edible fruits. Outwardly, they resemble small oranges with a very thin skin. The taste of kumquat, which grows in the south of China, in Japan, in the countries of Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Greece (Corfu) and the USA, is pleasantly sour, and can be confused with lime by smell. The kumquat crop is harvested from May to June, but it can be found on sale all year round, as it is easy to store, ensuring appropriate temperature conditions.
Mamea
The small, round fruits of this fruit taste like apricot. Inside is orange pulp, which is widely used in the preparation of desserts and confectionery. Mama is also canned, and jelly can be made from her unripe fruits. Fruit can be tasted in Latin America, the Antilles, Florida, Hawaii and the countries of Southeast Asia.
Naranhilla
The fruit, which is also known as the golden fruit of the Andes, looks like a shaggy tomato. To taste, Naranhilla resembles strawberries and pineapple. Its juice along with pulp is added to fruit salads, ice cream and other desserts and cocktails.
Now you know the most popular tropical fruits, including citrus fruits. The list with the names and photos presented above, of course, is not complete. However, we hope that this information will help you not to get into trouble, finding yourself in hot countries, where on the shelves of markets you can find fruits of unprecedented shape and taste.