When traveling abroad, especially in warm countries, a Russian tourist encounters completely unknown fruits that he has never seen before. I, too, often don’t even believe my eyes what wonders of nature can be found on fruit stands. And so, in order not to bulge my eyes out of surprise next time at the sight of another amazing fruit, I decided to make a list for myself of what you can buy and try in foreign countries.

But I had no idea how much I would have to type! It turns out that there are so many exotic fruits on our wonderful planet that, most likely, few people will be able to try them all in their lifetime. So now on my list 85 exotic fruits , and these are not just photos with names, but descriptions and interesting information. I definitely plan to update it periodically, so if you want to learn about all the fruits, check back from time to time!

In addition to the name and common synonyms, for each fruit there is also a description of its appearance, a photograph and, if possible, the taste qualities are characterized in comparison with the tastes known to most people. Because I tried ( as it turned out) is only a small part, then I will talk about the taste of many exotic fruits based on reviews of the lucky ones who actually ate them, and, in many cases, I had to look for information on the bourgeois Internet.

I immediately warn botany experts that in the article the concepts are given at an everyday, understandable level. That is, there is no need to be indignant that in science the concept “ fruit" is absent, but there is only a general term " fetus" Here, by “fruit” I will mean delicacies that grow on trees, bushes or vines, usually sweet or sour-sweet, which can be bitten several times before it is finally eaten. And we will consider “berries” to be small fruits that can be eaten whole in one bite or even eaten by a handful and do not need to be peeled.

By the way, the article does not only cover tropical fruits, because even a representative of temperate latitudes can easily turn out to be exotic.

For ease of navigation through our very voluminous article, use the alphabetical index:

Abakashi(Abacaxi) is mainly grown in Brazil. Most readers, looking at a photo of the fruit, will say that it’s just a pineapple and it’s no longer exotic. But there is no need to rush! Yes, "abakashi" ( word from the Tupi-Guarani Indian language) is one of the varieties of this prickly fruit, but it is called differently for a reason. Strictly speaking, in Portuguese " abacaxi" And " pineapple" - these are synonyms, but with this second, familiar word, they mean a fruit familiar to us. At the same time, in markets in Brazil and Portugal, people prefer to buy “abakashi”, which many consider to be a separate fruit altogether.

Abakashi is rounder, yellower, sweeter, juicier than a regular pineapple ( translated from the words of the Portuguese and Brazilians) and its price is higher. I repeat, this information was taken from the “natives”, that is, from people who know the differences not in theory, but in practice, but for some reason in some articles you will find the opposite statement that abakashi is larger than a pineapple and has an elongated shape...

Like other types of pineapples, abakashi is rich in sucrose, vitamin C, minerals ( potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, iodine), it contains B vitamins and provitamin A.

With your permission, I won’t add a simple, familiar pineapple to the article; we’ll make do with the more exotic abakashi.

Avara(Avarra, Tucum, Awara, Wara, Awarra, Tucum, Tucumã-do-Pará). This palm tree is actively cultivated in the north of the South American continent in countries such as Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, and Guiana. A tree of medium height (up to 15 meters) is notable for being covered with thorns ( both trunk and leaves) and the fruits grow in bunches.

The oval-shaped fruits are similar in size to a regular chicken egg and range in color from reddish brown to orange ( this one is more typical). The pulp is quite juicy, aromatic, its taste is most often compared to apricot, although in fact there is little pulp in them, since most of it is occupied by the pit.

Of course, the fruit contains both carbohydrates and proteins, but a particularly valuable component is fats, or rather oils with a high content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids ( for example, Avara is rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9). Avar also contains a lot of vitamin A ( about three times more than carrots) and B2.

Actually, as an independent product in its raw form, avar is almost never consumed. Residents of the region where it is actively grown prefer to eat the fruits steamed as a side dish or make a kind of paste out of it, which is used as a base for other dishes. In addition, oil is extracted from Avara ( more from the seeds than from the pulp), which, due to its composition, has found application not only as ordinary palm oil, but also as a cosmetic product.

Avocado(Avocado, Perseus americana, Alligator pear). For many, it is no longer an exotic plant at all, but a very frequent guest of salads; it was included in this list simply because it was the first one that came to mind with the letter “A”. Avocados are originally from Mexico, and nowadays they are grown in almost all countries with a suitable tropical and subtropical climate. There are more than 400 varieties that have their own characteristics; I think that even true avocado connoisseurs will not be able to try them all.

The length of the avocado is up to 20 centimeters, the peel is inedible, the flesh is dense, yellow-green or greenish, with one large seed.

A ripe avocado is slightly oily with a slight nutty flavor. Avocado is a favorite of nutritionists around the world due to its many beneficial properties. It is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, B vitamins, vitamin E, potassium, which is very useful for the prevention of many cardiovascular diseases and has a positive effect on skin health, and also helps fight insomnia.

Aguage(Aguaje, Aguaje, Ita, Buriti, Canangucho) grows in the humid tropics of South America, where it is so incredibly popular that there are concerns for the plant population. Its popularity is due to the supposedly special properties of the fruit, thanks to which girls who consume it regularly maintain a slim figure without any effort; in addition, it is believed that aguage is a strong aphrodisiac.

The oval fruits are covered with reddish-brown scales, and underneath there is yellow flesh and one large seed. The taste of aguaja is characterized as pleasant, reminiscent of... carrots. In addition to eating fresh, it is used to make juices, jams, ice cream, and interesting wine is obtained from fermented fruits.

Contains a lot of vitamins A, C, as well as phytohormones that imitate female hormones.

Azimina(Nebraska banana, Mexican banana, Asimina, banana tree, Pawpaw, Paw-paw) comes from North America, more precisely from the southern states of the USA. But this amazing, seemingly heat-loving plant is able to withstand extreme cold down to −30 Celsius! And thanks to such persistence, one of the ten species is “ Pawpaw three-lobed"- grown by amateur gardeners in our country.

The fruits are collected in inflorescences of up to 8 pieces; they have an oblong oval shape and reach up to 15 cm in length and up to 7 cm in diameter. The thin skin of the fruit changes color from greenish as it ripens ( in unripe ones) to yellowish and even dark brown. The pulp is juicy, light, sweet and very aromatic, often compared to custard. Up to 10 large flat bones are hidden inside. The disadvantage of pawpaw is the poor preservation of the collected fruits, so most often they are eaten freshly picked or various jams are prepared.

Pawpaw is rich in amino acids and microelements, sucrose, vitamins A and C. The fruits do an excellent job of normalizing the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and strengthening the immune system.

Akebia quintuple (Climbing cucumber). A very exotic plant can be found in Japan, China and Korea.

The length of the oblong fruits is about 8 centimeters, they are fleshy and colored purple-violet. Outwardly, it may seem completely unattractive - an oblong fruit of a violet-lilac color with pulp falling out. But appearance is deceiving - the pulp tastes like raspberries with a very pleasant aroma.

Aki(Ackee, Bligia is delicious). This tree is native to West Africa and is now also found in Central and South America and the Caribbean islands.

Reddish pear-shaped fruits up to 10 centimeters in length. The pulp of the ripe fruit is creamy in color and tastes like walnuts with cheese.

Ambarella(Cythera apple, Otaheite-apple, Tahitian quince, Polynesian plum, Yellow plum, Spondias dulcis, Mombin sweet – not to be confused with Mombin purple). The homeland of this tree is numerous islands of the Pacific Ocean in Polynesia and Melanesia, from where the plant spread west to the tropical regions of America, as well as east to Australia, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, India and a little to Africa; later, ambarella began to be grown on the islands of the Caribbean and was brought to the tropical countries of the Atlantic coast of America.

Ambarella fruits are oval ( the shape resembles a plum, hence the pair of “aliases” of this fruit - Polynesian plum or yellow plum), not very large, from six to nine centimeters in length, grow in clusters. The skin is smooth, thin and tough; in unripe fruits it is green, in ripe ones it thickens and becomes golden-yellow, the flesh is the same color.

The pulp is fibrous, juicy, crispy, sour, and to some people the aroma and taste slightly resembles an unripe pineapple. Particular care should be taken with seeds! They are simply studded with bent spines, up to 1 centimeter long, so that sometimes they penetrate into the pulp of the fruit, and there are from 1 to 5 such “surprises” in each fruit.

Ambarella makes excellent jams, jellies, marmalade and juice, but it is best eaten raw. You can use it still green, then there will be more sourness. In addition to fruits, leaves are eaten - raw ( like a street snack) or boiled/stewed with meat/fish, as well as in soups.

Ambarella is rich in proteins and fats, supports the immune system in tone, is very beneficial for the digestive system and even promotes faster healing of wounds.

Araz(Arazza, Arazá, Araçá-boi, Amazonian Pear or Amazonian Pear; in Latin - Eugenia stipitata). At first, this heat-loving tree grew in the forests of the Amazon River basin, later the plant began to be actively cultivated in Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, as well as in Central America and the Caribbean. This fruit does not tolerate transportation very well, so you will not find it outside the regions where it grows.

Fruits in diameter can be from 4 to 12 centimeters ( such large ones reach a weight of 750 grams). Their peel is yellow, thin and, depending on the variety, can be smooth or slightly velvety. The juicy, aromatic yellow pulp is very sour, so arazu is rarely eaten just like that, raw, but is actively used for compotes and jellies. Inside the fruit there are several large elongated “seeds”.

Thanks to the huge amount of vitamin C, as well as the high content of microelements (potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus) and the macronutrient zinc, araza is excellent as a general strengthening product.

Watermelon-cucumber, cucumber-watermelon – (Melotria rough, Melothria scabra, Mouse watermelon, Mouse melon, Mexican sour gherkins, Sandita, Cucamelon). A very strange subject on our list... Decide for yourself what to classify him as - a fruit or a vegetable. The external color is very reminiscent of a watermelon, and the inside has an easily recognizable cucumber texture, while the size of the fruits growing on the vine is more reminiscent of grapes: only up to 2 - 4 centimeters in length. The homeland of this strange plant is part of America from Mexico to Panama; it is not a hybrid, but an independent plant, known in pre-Columbian times. Abroad, it is better known as “Cucamelon”, which, as in Russian, is formed by adding two words: cucumber and watermelon, that is, “cucumber + watermelon”.

The skin of the fruit is thin, but quite hard, and the pulp is very juicy. The taste is described as more like a cucumber with a slight citrus sourness; those who managed to try “cucumber-watermelon” liked the taste. They can be eaten just like that, but more often they are added to salads, French fries, various salty dishes, and watermelon cucumbers are also pickled. In addition, the vine has edible tubers!

The composition is rich in lycopene ( antioxidant that improves heart function), beta-carotene ( Helps maintain healthy eyes and youthful skin), minerals and vitamins K, E, C and fiber.

Atemoya. This is a hybrid of two plants of the Annonaceae family - cherimoya and noina, and many people confuse them. Like its “parents,” Atemoya appeared in the tropics of South America.

The fruits are, conventionally, heart-shaped (up to 10 cm in length and up to 9 cm in width). The pulp of the fruit melts in the mouth like cream or ice cream, and the taste is a combination of mango and pineapple. Due to the tenderness of the flesh, it is best to eat atemoya with a spoon. There is often a statement that atemoya is the most delicious of exotic fruits. We must remember that its seeds are poisonous!

Bail(Bael, Wood apple, Egle marmalade, Stone apple, Bengal quince, Stone apple, Limonia acidissima, Feronia elephantum, Feronia limonia, Hesperethusa crenulata, Elephant apple, Monkey fruit, Curd fruit). Widely cultivated in Southeast and South Asia.

The ripe fruit is brown in color and up to 20 centimeters in diameter. Ripe pulp is brown, mushy, divided into segments by seeds. The peel of the fruit is very hard, without a hard and heavy object at hand it will not be possible to get to the pulp (that’s why one of the names is “stone apple”). The taste is usually sweetish and astringent, but can also be sour.

Vani(lat. “Mangifera caesia”, White mango, Wani, Belunu, Binjai, Yaa-lam, White mango, Bayuno, Mangga wani, sometimes the name Jack appears, that is, Jack, but should not be confused with Jackfruit!) is actively cultivated in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei ( these three states share the island of Borneo, which is considered the birthplace of Vanya), Singapore, Papua New Guinea and the Philippine Islands.

The name is certainly misleading, because this fruit has only a distant relationship with all the familiar mangoes, since they both belong to the same family “Anakrdiaceae” (Sumacaceae), but ordinary mango belongs to the genus “mango” of the same name, and Vani belongs to genus "Anacardium" and is a species of cashew! So “White Mango” is just a trick, it’s better to use one of the local names, the most common being the Indonesian version “Wani” ( emphasis on "and") and Malay "Binjay".

It is important that the fruits are ripe for consumption, since the juice of unripe fruits can cause irritation on the skin and serious consequences if ingested. Unripe fruits are green in color and hard to the touch. When ripe, white mango fruits are quite large, they are oval in shape and reach a length of 15 centimeters and a diameter of 8 cm. The peel is very thin, dark with even darker spots, it is difficult to clean. The pulp is white, juicy, very tender and fibrous in consistency, and inside there is one large seed. Ripe fruits are very aromatic, and everyone who has tried it is delighted with the sweet taste of the pulp. The most interesting comparison is with the taste of ice cream ( it's not the same for everybody…).

In addition to eating it raw, Vani is also consumed dipped in chili and soy sauce... The local population also uses it as a base for the spicy sambal sauce.

From the sweet taste of this fruit it is clear that it is rich in various sugars, but in addition, it contains many vitamins (A, B, D, E and especially a lot of C), essential amino acids, and, of course, micro- and macroelements.

Guava(Psidium, Guayava, Guayaba). Originally from South America ( approximately from the territory of modern Peru), nowadays, in addition to the tropics of America, it is cultivated in Asia, Israel and Africa.

The completely edible fruit can be round, oblong, or pear-shaped. Diameter up to 15 centimeters. The taste of guava does not coincide with the expectation of something exotic - it is completely inexpressive, slightly sweet, but the aroma is pleasant and strong. In the countries where guava grows, they often like to eat it slightly unripe, as it seems to help cool the body on a hot day. You can also often see how such unripe guava is eaten, dipped in a mixture of salt and pepper, they say it is very tonic.

In addition to the usual one, there are also such varieties: red-fruited (“ strawberry guava") and yellow (" lemon guava"). The red-fruited pulp is juicy, translucent, and has a pronounced strawberry flavor. The fruits are yellow and have the same color inside and have a lemon aroma. The name guava is often found, which is one of the most common varieties of guava in cultivation.

Guanabana(Guanabana, Annana muricata, Soursop, Annona prickly, Graviola, Soursop). A relative of noina, cherimoya, and custard apple, it is therefore easy to confuse them at first, and just like them, Guanabana is originally from Latin America, but is now grown in many countries with a suitable climate.

A ripe, round, irregular heart-shaped fruit can reach 12 kilograms. The seeds are large and there are many of them. The fruit looks prickly, but in reality it will not be able to prick you, since the spines are more fleshy than hard. Ripe pulp is fibrous and creamy white with a taste like no other. The aroma may be slightly reminiscent of pineapple.

Dacriodes(Safou, Sappho, African pear). This evergreen tree can mainly be found in the north of Nigeria and the south of Angola; in the Asian region it is so far cultivated only in Malaysia.

Oblong fruits of blue and purple shades ( similar to eggplant). The pale green pulp is very fatty - up to 48% fat, and contains a large number of various substances useful and necessary for the body. Those who have tried this fruit say that it has a pleasant, delicate taste.

The fruits, which range in color from deep blue to purple, are also known as African pears and are oblong in shape with pale green flesh inside. These fatty fruits were claimed to have the potential to end famine in Africa, as the fruit is made up of 48 percent essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins and triglycerides. It is estimated that from one hectare planted with Safu trees, 7–8 tons of oil can be obtained, and all parts of the plant can be used.

Jaboticaba (Jabuticaba, Brazilian grape tree). From the name it is clear that this plant comes from South America, but sometimes it can be found in Southeast Asia, if not on the shelves, then at least in botanical gardens ( I definitely saw it in Singapore). The tree grows slowly, so difficulties arise with its cultivation.

The way the fruits grow is also interesting: they grow directly on the trunk, and not on the branches of the tree. The fruits are small (up to 4 cm in diameter), dark purple in color. Under a thin dense skin ( inedible) there is a soft, jelly-like and very tasty pulp, somewhat similar to grapes, with several seeds.

Jackfruit(Eve, Khanoon, Jackfruit, Nangka, Indian breadfruit). A relative of the Polynesian breadfruit and Malaysian cempedak.

These are the largest fruits growing on trees. The official record for jackfruit is a fruit with a girth of 1 meter 120 centimeters and weighing approximately 34 kg.

The peel of the jackfruit smells unpleasant, but underneath there are several pieces of very tasty sweet yellow pulp. The taste is difficult to describe - some combination of banana, melon, marshmallow.

Durian(Durian). Even if you have never seen this fruit, you have certainly heard it more than once. He became famous throughout the world thanks to his amazingly disgusting smell.

But in the world, especially in Southeast Asia, there are a lot of durian connoisseurs, they even called it the “King of Fruits.” Everyone who has tried durian pulp claims that it is extremely tasty. I take your word for it, but I personally can’t overcome myself and eat even a small piece.

Yellow watermelon. A hybrid of wild watermelon, the flesh of which is naturally yellow, and the familiar watermelon with red flesh. This was necessary because it is impossible to eat a wild watermelon, but as a result of crossing it, a watermelon that tasted quite pleasant, similar to the usual one, but with yellow flesh, was obtained. Although the yellow watermelon is much inferior in sweetness to the red one and the taste is not as pronounced.

Figs(Fig, Fig tree, Fig, Wine berry, Smyrna berry, Ficus carica). I think you have come across it more than once on the fruit stands of your city and if you haven’t tried it yet, be sure to do so. The color of fig skin can vary from yellow-green to purple. The red pulp with small seeds is juicy and sweet. The undoubted advantage of figs is that nutritionists classify them as foods that can help you lose excess weight!

Kaimito(Abiu) - do not confuse with the other Kaimito ( Chrysophyllum or Star Apple). Originally from the upper reaches of the Amazon River, it is cultivated in Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Trinidad.

The fruits are round or oval with a smooth, bright yellow skin. The white translucent creamy pulp is very sweet. The aroma is vaguely reminiscent of caramel with cream. Before eating fresh Kaimito, it is recommended to wet your lips, otherwise they may stick together due to the latex in the pulp.

Kaimito fruits contain a lot of phosphorus, calcium, iron, amino acids, vitamins A, C, PP and various useful organic substances.

Kanistel(Kanistel, Tiesa, Egg Fruit, Yellow Sapote). The region of origin is the south of Mexico and Central America, in addition it is also grown in the Antilles and the Bahamas, and can often be found in Southeast Asia.

The fruits can be up to 7.5 cm in width and up to 12.5 in length, their shape is very diverse, there are spherical, oval, ovoid, and twisted. The peel color of ripe fruits is yellowish-orange. The pulp is mealy, yellow with 1–4 large seeds. It's funny that the aroma of the pulp is similar to fried pies, but the taste is very sweet due to the high sugar content.

Kanistel is rich in delicate fiber, nicotinic acid, carotene, amino acids, calcium, phosphorus.

Carambola(Starfruit, Kamrak, Ma Phuak, Carambola, Star-fruit). “Tropical Star” or “Tropical Star” this fruit is called simply because in cross-section it looks like a star. The fruit is edible entirely, and if the taste of its juicy pulp does not seem bright enough to you, the aroma is unlikely to leave you indifferent.

Kasturi(Kasturi, Kalimantan Mango, Mangga Cuban, Pelipisa, Mangifera casturi). Endemic plant of the island of Borneo ( Kalimantan).

Without going into biological details, we can say that this is a wild mango. However, the orange, fibrous pulp of kasturi has a more pronounced flavor and a milder aroma than regular mangoes, although not as sweet as mangoes.

Kiwano(Kiwano Melon, Horned Melon, African Cucumber, Antillean Cucumber, Horned Cucumber, Anguria). Originally from Africa, and most widely grown in Central America, New Zealand, Israel.

This is a vine with oblong fruits of yellow, orange or red color. The flesh is green and really looks like a cucumber. The flavor is described as a mixture of cucumber, banana and melon. The dense peel is not peeled off; the fruit is simply cut into slices and eaten like a melon or watermelon.

Kiwano is rich in vitamins (A, groups B and C), macroelements (sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium), and also contains many microelements (iron, copper, zinc and manganese).

Cocona(Nightshade) grows in South America in mountainous regions.

Oval or spherical fruits (up to 4 cm in length and up to 6 cm in width) resemble tomatoes and have three variants of fruit color; yellow, orange and red. The pulp is jelly-like yellow in color with many small seeds. Some say it tastes like lemon and tomato, while others say it tastes like cherries.

Cocoon fruits are rich in B vitamins, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and citric acid.

Coconut I don’t even know if it’s worth mentioning here, because even though it’s an exotic plant for Russian residents, even children know what it is. In the growing regions ( everywhere in the tropics) coconuts are consumed in their entirety, from eating the pulp and juice, to making crafts from the shell and using the peel as fuel. There, in the south, coconuts are sold green on the outside, and inside they have soft translucent flesh and delicious coconut water ( or "milk"). In our stores they are already at a different stage of ripening - with a fibrous peel on the outside and a thick layer of pulp inside with a small amount of liquid.

Sea Coconut (Coco de mer, Double nut, Seychelles nut) grows exclusively on the Seychelles islands, and only on two.

In shape, it is very different from a regular coconut and is most similar to... a woman’s buttocks. The fruits are very large, on average about 18 kilograms, specimens over 25 kg are often found. And even 40 kg! Each coconut collected is numbered and a certificate is issued upon purchase. In terms of taste, it is clearly inferior to ordinary coconuts, but you should definitely try it if possible.

candy tree (Hovénia dúlcis, sweet govenia, is known abroad as Japanese raisin tree or oriental raisin tree, that is, Japanese raisin tree or Oriental raisin tree). Historically it grew in Japan, Eastern China, Korea and up to 2000 meters in the Himalayas. Due to its beautiful spreading crown, it was introduced into some countries as an ornamental plant, and as a result, for example in Brazil, it is considered one of the most common “invaders” of subtropical forests.

The fruits of the candy tree are small, like large peas, and it is not for them that the plant is valued, but for what the fruits are supported on. The fleshy stalk, although it looks very strange, is actually very aromatic and sweet, it is edible raw. But more often the stalks of the candy tree are dried, then they become similar to raisins - both in taste and in appearance ( This is where the Western name "Japanese raisin tree" comes from.). An extract from seeds, twigs and young leaves is used as a honey substitute and is used to make local wine and for sweets.

Among the useful substances, it is worth noting the high content of potassium, antioxidants, vitamins, protein and saccharides ( sucrose, fructose, glucose). In China, candy tree extract has been used for several hundred years to combat hangover symptoms. And so, scientists from the University of California at Los Angeles isolated an active substance from this extract, which they called dihydromyricetin (DHM). It allows you to sober up very quickly and even reduces the craving for alcohol! There are already drugs. The main component of which is dihydromyricetin, in fact, this is the path to creating a “sobriety pill” that not only relieves the symptoms of intoxication, but also helps to overcome alcohol addiction. What a wonderful Candy Tree!

Cream apple (Annona reticulata, Buddha's head, Ox's heart, Cream apple) There can be some confusion here, as the name "cream apple" is often applied to the related plant, cherimoya. Originally from the regions of Central America and the Antilles group of islands, it can now often be found in Southeast Asia.

The fruits (from 8 to 16 cm) are similar in shape to a heart ( hence one of the names), the outside may be yellow or brown with a reddish tint. Inside there is sweet white, almost creamy pulp that melts in the mouth and inedible seeds. There is no consensus on what the smell is like, but it is certainly pleasant.

Kumquat(Kumquat, Fortunella, Kinkan, Japanese oranges). The homeland of the kumquat is China, but nowadays it is grown everywhere where the climate is suitable for other citrus fruits.

This representative of citrus fruits has long been common on supermarket shelves, however, many still have not decided to try it, but in vain. Small oblong fruits (up to four centimeters in length and up to two and a half in width) look like small oranges, but their taste is still different. The main feature of kumkawat is that it is eaten directly with the peel, it is very thin; Only the seeds are inedible.

Lychee(Litchi, Chinese plum, Litchi). Originally from Southern China, it is now actively grown in many countries with a subtropical climate. One of the most popular fruits in Southeast Asia.

The fruits are round (up to 4 cm in diameter) with a reddish tuberous skin, sweet, juicy jelly-like pulp and one seed. Many people confuse it with Longan; they are indeed similar in shape, pulp consistency, and taste, but in lychee it is more pronounced.

Contains a lot of carbohydrates, pectin substances, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, and a very high content of vitamin PP.

Longan(Lam-yai, Longyan, Dragon's Eye, but also sometimes called a completely different fruit “pitahaya”) is a close relative of the above-described lychee, also native to China, and currently cultivated throughout Southeast Asia.

Round small fruits with a brownish peel inside have juicy, sweet, translucent pulp and one inedible seed. The pulp is very aromatic and, in addition to sweetness, has a unique, recognizable shade.

Longkong(Langsat, Lonkon, Duku, Lonngkong, Langsat) originally from Malaysia, and is now grown in most countries of Southeast Asia, India, Hawaii.

The round fruits (up to 5 cm in diameter) are covered with a brownish peel and in appearance they can be confused with Longan, however, inside Longkong has not whole, but segmented pulp, reminiscent of garlic in shape. But the taste, of course, is not at all garlicky, but pleasant sweet and sour. The variety called Langsat may have a slightly bitter taste.

Lucuma(Pouteria lucuma) is native to South America and is currently grown there as well as in Mexico and Hawaii.

The oval fruits (up to 10 cm in length) are covered with a thin skin of brownish-green color with a reddish tint, and the yellow flesh is sweet and has up to 5 seeds. Lucuma belongs to the Sapotaceae family, among which there are many very tasty and unusual fruits, which you will also learn about in our article ( for example, until recently I myself did not know that one of my favorite fruits, “Sapodilla,” turns out to be also sapote).

Lulo(Naranjilla or Naranjilla, Quito nightshade, lat. Solanum quitoense) comes from the foothills of the Andes, that is, from South America, and is currently cultivated there, as well as in the countries of Central America and the Antilles.

The yellow-orange round fruits (up to 6 cm in diameter) most closely resemble tomatoes, but are covered with white hairs. The taste of the pulp is sweet and sour, very interesting; they say it is similar to a mixture of pineapple, strawberry and passion fruit. They are eaten both raw and in the form of juices and desserts. A very healthy fruit - it tones, cleanses the blood, and even helps restore hair and nails.

Magic fruit (Wonderful berries, Puteria sweetish, Miracle fruit) this representative of the extensive Sapotaceae family grows in West Africa.

Small red oblong fruits (up to 3 cm in length) themselves do not have an unusual taste, but nevertheless, they are very unusual. The protein contained in the magic fruit turns off the taste buds that perceive bitter and sour tastes, and after eating it, absolutely everything you eat within an hour will seem sweet to you.

The magic fruit, of course, is not considered as an independent dish, but it is great for gastronomic experiments, so that you can surprise a person with the unusual taste of the most ordinary dishes.

Mammea americana (American apricot, Antillean apricot, Mammea americana) originated from tropical America and is now cultivated throughout the world in areas with suitable climates.

Round fruits (diameter up to 20 cm) with orange pulp and one seed are similar in taste to apricot, hence the second name.

Mame(Mamey-sapote, Mamey, Mamey-sapote, Marmalade fruit, Pouteria, Pouteria sapota). Originally from the southern regions of Mexico, it is also grown in the tropical zone of the Americas and Southeast Asia.

The fruits can be spherical or oblong, often very large (up to 20 cm in length and weighing up to 3 kg), covered with a thick reddish-brown peel. The color of the pulp can be pink, reddish, orange or gray, and its consistency is similar to marmalade ( which is reflected in the title), and the taste reminds some of caramel, while others find creamy shades. The fruit usually contains one large seed.

Jujube fruits are rich in vitamins A, C, carbohydrates, vegetable proteins, as well as iron, calcium and potassium.

Mango(Mango) is one of my favorite fruits, and many people around the world consider mango the most delicious fruit. On the one hand, of course, it’s difficult to call it exotic, because you can buy it in any large supermarket in Russia, but anyone who has tried mango in the places where it grows will say that store-bought fruit is absolutely not the same as fresh. Mango is originally from India, and is now grown literally all over the world, wherever there are suitable conditions. And in each country, mango will have its own flavor notes!

The classic color of a ripe mango is yellow, but among the 35 mass-grown varieties there are other colors, such as purple, green or black. Therefore, when buying a green mango, you need to clarify whether it is this variety and the fruit is already ripe.

In addition to its amazing aroma and rich, easily recognizable taste, mango has very useful properties, for example, it has a very good effect on the organs of vision and perfectly strengthens the immune system.

Mangosteen(Mangosteen, Mangosteen, Mangosteen, Garcinia, Mankut) the homeland of this plant is Southeast Asia, from where it spread further across the planet, all the way to Africa and Latin America.

The round fruits (up to 7.5 cm in diameter) are covered with a thick dark purple peel, and the pulp is segmented ( like garlic) into slices with seeds. The taste is sweetish, with a slight sourness, which many people like ( but I still couldn’t “get into it”...). Unfortunately, you often come across diseased fruits that you can’t distinguish from healthy ones in appearance until you peel them; the flesh of such fruits will not be white, but creamy and unpleasant in taste ( We've seen these quite often).

passion fruit(Passion fruit, Passion fruit, Edible passionflower, Edible passionflower, Purple granadilla) is native to South America, and is currently grown in many countries with tropical climates.

Round fruits (up to 8 cm in diameter) may have different colors– yellow, purple, pink, red. In general the taste is more sour than sweet, especially yellow ones ( Personally, they remind me very much of sea buckthorn), therefore, in its pure form, the fruit is not for everyone, as a rule, they consume passion fruit juice mixed with others. The seeds are small and edible, but they may cause drowsiness.

And passion fruit received its other name “Fruit of Passion” because of its supposedly inherent aphrodisiac properties, although there has been no serious research on this topic.

Marula(Marula, Sclerocarya birrea) - except in Africa, in the south and west of the continent, you will not find this tree. It is almost impossible to buy fruits outside the dark continent, since ripe fruits very quickly begin to ferment inside, so that you can easily get mildly intoxicated from eating overripe fruits.

The oblong fruits are covered with a thin yellow skin, and underneath there is white, juicy, tart flesh and one seed. Despite the astringent taste, marula is a completely edible fruit, but more often it is used to make various desserts and the signature African liqueur “Amarula”. And from the peel they brew a drink that resembles tea, but with an unusual taste.

The fruits appear twice a year, in March-April and in September-October. Thanks to its rich composition with a large amount of vitamins ( especially high in vitamin C) and minerals, marula is very good for a general strengthening effect on the body, it perfectly removes heavy metal salts and metabolic products. Marula is also suitable for the prevention and treatment of diseases of such body systems as cardiovascular, nervous and genitourinary.

Mathis(South American Sapote, Matisa, South American Sapote) - there is very little information about this fruit, since it is not widespread beyond the region of its origin, that is, beyond the tropical zone of South America.

The fruits are round, ovoid or oval, large (up to 15 cm in length and up to 8 cm in width) with a thick, velvety skin of greenish-brown color. The pulp is orange-yellow, soft, juicy, sweet with a pleasant aroma and from 2 to 5 large seeds.

Mafai(Burmese grape, Mafai, Baccaurea ramiflora, Baccaurea sapida) grows in most South Asian countries, but most commonly in Malaysia and India.

It has nothing in common with grapes except the second name, well, wine is also made from mafai. Round fruits (from 2.5 to 4 cm in diameter) with a peel of different colors, depending on the variety, from yellowish-cream, red and purple. The white pulp, slightly gelatinous in consistency, tastes sweet and sour, is very refreshing, each fruit contains one inedible seed. By the way, the taste of fruits with different peel colors may differ slightly, so if, for example, you tried yellow mafai and were not impressed, then perhaps you will like the red one more.

Mafai does not tolerate long-term transportation very well; ripe fruits are not stored for longer than 5 days. Burmese grapes are full of useful elements, especially a lot of vitamin C and iron, so they are very useful for anemia and as a general tonic.

Mombin purple (Mexican plum, Spondius purpurea, Spondias purpurea, jocote, Hog Plum, Makok, Amra, Siriguela, Ciriguela, Ciruela). Mombin is native to tropical America from Mexico to Brazil and the Caribbean, and was later naturalized in Nigeria, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

One of the names of mombin purple is “ Ciruela", sometimes used in Latin America, is literally translated from Spanish as "plum", and, in fact, is also used to refer to the common plum. And the Spaniards themselves use a different name for mombin - “ jocote" So look, don’t be surprised by possible confusion with this cleverly hidden fruit! In general, in addition to those I have listed, it has a bunch of local names, listing which would actually take another paragraph...

The fruits are oval, oblong, up to 5 cm long, with thin skin, which can be red, yellow, purple or orange ( the last option looks very much like a kumquat...). The yellow pulp has a fibrous structure; it is aromatic, juicy, and tastes sweet and sour. Inside there is one large bone with grooves.

Contains many B vitamins, vitamin C, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper.

Monstera(Monstera deliciosa, Monstera attractive, Monstera delightful, Monstera, lat. Monstera deliciosa) comes from Central America, and is also cultivated in India and Australia for its delicious fruits.

By the way, many Russian housewives grow Monstera at home as an ornamental plant, but fruits from flowers are obtained only in suitable climatic conditions. The fruits themselves are similar to corn, they are long, up to 30 cm, and wide, up to 8.5 cm, under a thick peel they hide juicy, aromatic pulp, which tastes like a combination of banana and pineapple.

Loquat japonica (Lokva, Eriobothria japonica, Shesek, Nispero, Nispero) - originally from Japan and China, this plant at one time spread quite widely in the Caucasus, and in earlier times, medlar fruits were quite common, but over time, for some reason, they were forgotten.

Orange-yellow round fruits up to 5 cm in diameter with juicy pulp and one large seed. Some people taste like pear and cherry, others like apple and apricot, but always sweet and sour. I tried Medlar for the first time in Hong Kong, and before that I didn’t even know about its existence; It’s really a very pleasant fruit; it seemed to me that its taste was absolutely independent and easily recognizable. Many beneficial properties, especially for people suffering from hypertension, arrhythmia, dropsy, and heart failure.

Noina(perhaps the most common name in Asia is Sugar apple, Annona scaly, Sugar-apple, Sweetsop, Noi-na). It really resembles an apple in shape and size, but has an original appearance with peculiar “scales”. This lumpy green fruit is widely cultivated in countries with tropical climates - from South America to Polynesia. ( Many people often confuse it with the Guanabana fruit; they are indeed similar, as they are “close relatives,” but they are not the same thing! Guanabana is also often called “sugar apple”, but again, by mistake.)

Under the lumpy skin there is a sweet pulp that tastes very pleasant and hard, inedible seeds (up to 60 pieces). A ripe fruit should be soft when pressed, its pulp will be really tasty, tender and can be safely eaten with a spoon. If you come across an unripe specimen ( hard to the touch), then it’s better to just let it sit for a couple of days and ripen.

And the benefit of noina lies in its rich content of vitamin C, various amino acids and calcium.

Noni(Noni, Morinda citrifolia, Morinda citrus folia, Greater moringa, Indian mulberry, Healthy tree, Cheese fruit, Nonu, Nono). The homeland of this plant is South Asia, and due to its ease of care and soil quality, it is currently actively grown in most countries with a suitable tropical climate.

The oval fruits are to some extent reminiscent of potatoes in their shape, only green and with pimples, and inside there are many small seeds.

Absolutely, you will not forget this fruit if you try it, but you are unlikely to be delighted with the pungent smell of moldy cheese and bitter taste. That is, noni is definitely not popular among tourists... But the population of the countries where it is grown actively consumes it, often as a main everyday product, which is rich in vitamins and minerals, but has a very low calorie content.

Prickly pear(Indian fig, Indian fig, Indian fig, sabr, prickly pear, tsabr). Cactus! The real one, but not the kind of decorative one that might grow in your home, but a large tree-like plant. The main place of growth ( remember westerns) – America ( both continents). Don’t be embarrassed that some versions of the name contain the adjective “Indian”; if you remember your school history course, you understand that it is only indirectly related to India ( Columbus sailed to open the route to India, hence the confusion).

They eat, of course, not thorns, but fruits ( although they are also prickly...) small sizes (up to 10 cm), which can be of different shades ( green, red or yellow). Their flesh is sweetish-sour ( they say it looks like a persimmon), it is eaten with a spoon, but to get to it, you must first soak the fruit for 20 minutes in cold water, then remove small spines and cut the peel.

Of course, this is one of the most exotic fruits that not every tourist will be able to try.

Pineberry(Pineberry, Pineapple strawberry). It is a hybrid of the South American Chilean strawberry and the North American Virginia strawberry.

Pineberry berries are small, from 15 to 23 mm, have a light color, from white to orange, and have a taste and aroma like pineapple, which is why it got its name.

It is almost impossible to find for sale in Russia, since pineberry is extremely barren, is highly susceptible to rot in rainy weather and does not tolerate transportation well. Pineberries are grown in relatively large quantities in greenhouses in Europe.

Pandanus(Pandan, Screw Palm, Wild Pineapple). Some of the readers are probably very familiar with this plant, since some of its species are ornamental house plants.

The round fruits are shaped like a pineapple and have an orange-red color when ripe. The fruits of only some types of pandanus are conditionally edible. That is, you can chew the juicy pulp and enjoy the taste, similar to pineapple, but then you have to spit it out ( although I have never come across information about any complications if eaten...). Pandanus is mainly used to make juice and essential oil to flavor various dishes or even soap.

Papaya(Papaya, Melon tree, Breadfruit tree). It is originally from Central and South America, and nowadays it is cultivated in almost all tropical countries. It should not be confused with other “Breadfruit Trees” ( Jackfruit and Breadfruit Artocarpus altilis), there is nothing in common between these plants, it’s just that if papaya is baked over a fire, it will begin to smell like bread.

The fruits grow directly on the tree trunk, they are large, have an elongated shape and can reach a length of 45 cm and a diameter of 30 cm. The color of unripe fruits is green, and the color of ripe fruits is yellow-orange. The taste of ripe papaya is not super exotic and memorable, but still very pleasant, in some way it really resembles melon.

Unripe fruits are also used for food in a wide variety of dishes. Medicines are also made from papaya to treat osteochondrosis and improve digestion. A very useful plant, but the abundance of milky juice in all its parts makes you be careful, as this juice can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Pepino(Melon pear, Sweet cucumber, Solanum muricatum) this shrub is native to South America, where it is mainly grown, and is also cultivated in New Zealand.

Quite large round fruits weighing up to 700 g. They can vary significantly in shape and color, mainly shades of yellow predominate, sometimes with purple or violet streaks. The pulp is very juicy, yellowish in color, the sweet and sour taste resembles melon, and the aroma is a cross between melon, pumpkin and cucumber. Small seeds in the axils of the pulp are edible. Pepino is used as a dessert, added to salads, sauces, and can be preserved or made into jam. Unripe fruits are used as regular vegetables.

Pepino is very rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, C, PP, as well as iron, potassium pectin. Ripe ones can be stored in the refrigerator for several months, and unripe ones can also be stored for a long time and at the same time ripen.

Pitanga(Eugenia brasiliensis, Grumichama, Brazilian cherry, Southern cherry, Suriname cherry) with the help of one of the names it is clear that the homeland of this plant is South America, in addition, it is cultivated in the Philippines and in African French Guinea.

From the second name it is also clear that pitanga tastes most like cherries, sometimes with a slight bitterness; its red flesh is very juicy with one seed. The round fruits can be various shades of red and even black. But their main feature, which immediately catches the eye, is that they are ribbed.

You can eat it like regular cherries - from eating raw, to juices, mousses, jams, etc. Pitanga contains a lot of vitamins A and C, phosphorus, calcium, anthocyanins, antioxidants and carotene.

Pitahaya(Pitaya, Long Yan, Dragon fruit, sometimes Dragon Eye). Only when I started preparing this article did I learn that pitahaya is a cactus. It is originally from America, but is now grown everywhere in regions with a suitable climate, especially in Southeast Asia.

Large oblong fruits are easy to recognize, as they look very distinctive. The color of the peel can be red, pinkish or yellow, and the color of the pulp is white or red.

The pulp is juicy, with many small edible seeds, the taste is a little sweet, but nothing outstanding, it can hardly be called exotic and memorable. Despite the inexpressiveness of taste. For some reason, the fruit is quite popular and is grown on huge plantations. all year round.

Pitahaya contains a high content of phosphorus, iron, calcium, vitamins B, C, E. This fruit will be useful for diabetes or stomach pain.

Platonia is wonderful (Platonia insignis, Bacuri, Bacury, Pacuri, Pakuri, Pakouri, Packoeri, Pakoeri, Maniballi, Bacurizeiro). This tall (up to 25 meters) tree comes from South America and trying it somewhere other than in the countries of this region (Brazil, Guyana, Colombia, Paraguay) is very difficult.

The spherical or oval fruits can be up to 12 cm in diameter. The thick yellow-brown peel hides aromatic white pulp and several large seeds. The sweet and sour pulp is eaten both fresh and in the form of desserts, marmalade, and jelly. Platonia fruits contain a lot of iron, phosphorus and vitamin C.

Pluot(Plumcotte, Aprium) - a hybrid of plum and apricot, with predominant characteristics of plum, obtained in California.

The shape is similar to both a plum and an apricot, but the skin is still smooth and elastic like a plum; the color depends on the variety, it can be from green to burgundy. The juicy pulp is a bit like an apricot, but much sweeter, and the color is closer to purple.

Pluot is used in the same way as its “parents” - whether you just eat it, or make jam or compote, or dessert, even wine is made from it.

Rich in potassium, vitamin C, glucose, excellent during colds, as it has antipyretic properties and the ability to strengthen the immune system.

Pomelo(Pomela, Pamela, Pomelo, Pummelo, Pumelo, Som-o, Pompelmus, Shaddock, Citrus maxima, Citrus grandis, Chinese grapefruit, Jabong, Jeruk, Limo, Lusho, Dzhembura, Sai-seh, Banten, Zebon, Robeb tenga). The birthplace of this citrus fruit is Southeast Asia, it is currently grown in many countries, it is quite a common product in our supermarkets, but many still have not tried it, so for them it is definitely still exotic.

The fruits are spherical, large, sometimes even very large, up to 10 kilograms; It may indicate green or yellow. Under the thick peel, the pulp, like most citrus fruits, is divided into segments; it is not as juicy as that of “relatives” such as orange or grapefruit, but tasty, sweet-sour, refreshing.

If you see this fruit in the nearest store, but have not yet bought it, then in vain, know that pomelo is a very healthy citrus, a dietary fruit, it contains microelements, vitamins B1, B2, B5, C, and beta-carotene. Pomelo is perfect for strengthening the immune system and preventing colds.

Cancer(Salacca wallichiana) is the closest relative of Snake Fruit (Salacca zalacca), which is discussed below. They are very often confused, but the fruits of Rakam ( emphasis on the second “a”), unlike Rakum ( Snake fruit, description and photo below in the text) are more elongated, colored red and have a more pronounced taste. But the rest is the same - scales and spines on the peel, and one growing region in Southeast Asia.

Rambutan(Rambutan, Ngo, "hairy fruit"). The funny appearance of rambutan is immediately remembered. The red round fruits (up to 5 cm in diameter) are truly “hairy”; they are even named so from the Indonesian word “Rambut”, that is, “hair”. In addition to red, rambutan can be yellow or reddish-orange.

These fruit trees are cultivated throughout Southeast Asia ( Rambutan is especially popular in Thailand), as well as in Africa, Australia, and the Caribbean.

The peel is soft, very easily removed by hand, and underneath there is very juicy translucent pulp, aromatic and sweet, often with a slight pleasant sourness. The gelatinous pulp may be red or white in color.

It is better to eat the seed raw, as it can be poisonous and does not have much of a taste, but the roasted seeds can be safely eaten. Jams and jellies are also made from rambutan; it can often be bought in our stores in canned form.

Rambutan fruits contain protein, carbohydrates, phosphorus, iron, calcium, nicotinic acid, vitamins C, B1 and B2.

Rose apple (Syzygium iambosus, Malabar plum, Chompu, Chmphū̀, Rose apple, Chom-poo). It is actively grown in the region of its origin - in the countries of Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand.

The shape of the chompu is not at all similar to an apple, but rather looks like a pear or a bell. The color of the fruit may be red ( more often), pale pink or light green. The peel is thin, inside there is juicy pulp and several small seeds, so the chompa can be eaten whole ( Don't forget to wash all fruits thoroughly!).

The taste of the crispy pulp cannot be called expressive and memorable, which is why the fruit is not very popular among tourists. The aroma and taste of chompu vaguely resemble a rose (but I, for example, didn’t catch it at all), but, in my opinion, the Rose Apple is more like an apple. So don’t expect an extravaganza of flavors from the chompu, but with its help you can perfectly quench your thirst.

Rum berry (lat. Myrciaria floribunda, Rumberry, Guavaberry) - often found in nature in Central and South America, on the Caribbean islands, also grown in the USA (Florida and Hawaii) and the Philippines.

The berries are yellow-orange to dark red and almost black, very small, half the size of a cherry ( from 8 to 16 millimeters). The pulp is aromatic, sweet or sweet and sour, translucent, but there is very little of it, since the round seed takes up a lot of space inside.

The berries can be eaten just like that, but more often they are used to make jams and drinks, usually alcoholic, for example “ Guavaberry liqueu r" is a rum-based drink that is a popular Christmas drink among Caribbean islanders.

Contains a lot of iron, vitamin C, amino acids, pectin substances, organic acids, flavonoids.

Buddha's hand(Buddha's Fingers, Finger Citron). This strange fruit with its very unusual shape immediately attracts attention. But you don’t need to buy it to try; you’re unlikely to be happy that it consists almost entirely of a dense peel, like a lemon, and a small amount of inedible pulp.

Despite this, Buddha's Hand is on all fruit counters in Southeast Asia, as it is used in cooking, to flavor baked goods, and to make jam, drinks, and candied fruits.

Salak(Salak, Salacca, Rakum, Snake fruit, Salacca zalacca). A very popular fruit in Southeast Asia.

The teardrop-shaped fruits (up to 4 cm in diameter) are covered with a brown scaly skin, which really resembles snake skin to many. The peel is relatively easy to remove, but it is covered with sharp small spines that easily dig into the skin of your hands, so you need to peel it carefully, preferably with a knife.

Under the prickly skin there is beige flesh, which is segmented into several fragments, and several inedible seeds.
You will remember this fruit not only for its unusual appearance, but also for its bright sweet and sour taste, in shades of which some feel persimmon, others pear, others pineapple or banana with a nutty flavor, that is, you must try it, You can't explain it in words.

Salak contains calcium, vitamin C, beta carotene, so its regular consumption has a positive effect on the condition of hair and nails, improves vision, and also has a good effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and brain activity.

Santol(Katon, Sandoricum koetjape, Santol, Kompem rich, Kraton, Krathon, Graton, Tong, Donka, Wild mangosteen, False mangosteen). It is actively grown in the countries of Southeast Asia.

The spherical fruits (up to 7.5 cm in diameter) are covered with a thick velvety peel, which can be yellowish or reddish-brown. The white flesh is segmented into several lobes, each with one seed. The sweet or sour taste of santol is reminiscent of the more common mangosteen, giving it one of its names. There is no need to eat bones, as they lead to intestinal disorders.

Santol contains many vitamins, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, thanks to this composition, it has general strengthening properties, is useful for weakened immunity, diseases of the cardiovascular system, and strengthens bones and teeth.

Sapodilla(Capotato tree, Tree potato, Butter tree, Ahra, Sapodilla, Prang khaa, La-mut, Naseberry, Chiku) originally from Mexico, is now grown almost everywhere in the tropical countries of America and Asia.

Mostly oval, sometimes round fruits (up to 10 cm in length) are covered with a thin skin of brown shades from light to dark; ripe fruits should be dark and soft. The pulp is very tender, juicy, brown in color, sometimes with a pink tint. It tastes like caramel, one of my favorite fruits. Inside the fruit there are about a dozen seeds, each with a hook, so you need to be careful not to accidentally swallow them, otherwise they can get caught in the throat with this hook ( but the seeds are very easily separated from the pulp and I have not had any problems with them).

It is a pity that such a delicious fruit can be stored for no more than 3 days, because of this it can only be tasted in the growing regions or the countries closest to them ( Russia, as you understand, is not one of them).

Sapodilla contains potassium, a lot of vitamin C, calcium, iron, healthy carbohydrates, and, of course, fiber.

Sapote white (White Sapote, Matasano, Casimiroa edulis, Mexican apple, Mexican apple). To the representatives of the Sapotaceae family described above ( sapodilla, lucuma) is not related, since it is part of another family - Rutaceae. The plant comes from the central regions of Mexico and is cultivated in Central and South America, on some Caribbean islands and the neighboring Bahamas, in India, New Zealand, and the Mediterranean.

Round fruits (up to 12 cm in diameter) with thin, smooth yellowish or green skin and creamy white pulp. It tastes like vanilla cream or pudding. There is no need to eat the seeds (up to 6 pieces), as they are considered to be poisonous and have narcotic properties.

Sapote green (Green Sapote, Red faisan, Achradelpha viridis and Calocarpum viride). Originally from Central America, the territory of Honduras, Costa Rica and Guatemala. Also grown in Australia and Polynesia.

The oval-shaped fruits (up to 12.5 cm in length and up to 7.5 cm in diameter) are covered with a smooth thin peel of olive or yellow-green color, maybe with red-brown speckles. The pulp fits tightly to the peel, it is red-brown in color, very tender, sweet and juicy. Each fruit has 1 or 2 dark brown seeds.

Sapote black (Black Sapote, Diospyros digyna, Chocolate Pudding Fruit, Chocolate Persimmon, Black Persimmon, Chocolate Persimmon, Black Apple, Barbacoa). Neither to the Sapotovs ( sapodilla, lucuma), nor to the Rutovs ( White sapote) has no relation, despite the name, since it belongs to a completely different family - Ebony, and the closest relative of the black sapote known to us is the persimmon. The region of origin is Central America and southern Mexico, and is also grown on islands such as Mauritius, Hawaii, the Philippines, the Antilles and Brazil.

The spherical fruits (up to 12.5 cm in diameter) when ripe become dirty green on the outside, and their flesh is black ( hence the name). The pulp is jelly-like, glossy, even unpleasant in appearance, but very tasty, tender, sweet and reminiscent of chocolate pudding. It is eaten simply fresh, and is actively used as an ingredient for confectionery and cocktails. The pulp contains up to 10 flat seeds, which are easily separated from it.

TamarindSweet (Sweet Tamarind, Indian Date, Assam, Sampalok, Chintapandu). This tree of the legume family is native to East Africa and is now cultivated throughout tropical countries.

The fruits are long, up to 20 cm, as befits legumes, they look like beans ( or peas), they are light brown on the outside, and the flesh ( more precisely, the pericarp or pericarp) dark brown. The fruits are very sweet and tart, but you need to eat them carefully, because unlike the legumes we are used to, tamarind has hard, large seeds hidden in its pulp.

It is also used fresh, but is much more widely used in cooking in the form of spices and sauces.

Sweet tamarind contains a lot of vitamin A, C, B vitamins, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and is rich in carbohydrates, organic acids and protein.

Tamarillo(Tamarillo, Tomato tree, Cyphomandra betacea). The countries of the west coast of South America are considered the homeland; grown in almost every country in South America, as well as in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Haiti and New Zealand.

The oval-shaped fruits (up to 10 cm in length, up to 5 cm in diameter) really resemble tomatoes, covered with a smooth, dense peel that tastes bitter. The color can be yellow, orange-red, sometimes purple. The pulp is golden-reddish, with many small seeds, it tastes sweet-sour-salty, similar to a tomato with a flavor of passion fruit or currant. Usually it is eaten with a spoon, simply cutting the fruit in half.

Contains little fat and carbohydrates; rich in potassium, A, B6, C, thiamine, riboflavin.

Umari(Umari, Guacure, Yure, Teechi) native to the Brazilian Amazon; grown in Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.

The fruits are oval (from 5 to 10 cm in length and from 4 to 8 cm in diameter), covered with a thin, smooth peel of yellow, red, black or green. You can eat it with the peel, and the layer of pulp is only 2–5 mm, it is yellow in color, oily, sweet, with a strong characteristic pleasant taste and aroma. There is one hard, large seed inside the fruit; they are fried and eaten. Umari is consumed simply like a regular fruit, and also due to its fatty, oily texture, literally like butter spread on cassava bread.

Umari contains fats, carbohydrates, proteins, zinc, calcium and vitamin A.

Feijoa(Feijoa, Pineapple Guava, Akka Sellova, Akka Feijoa, Feijoa Sellova). Originally from South America, it is now grown everywhere in regions with a suitable subtropical climate (including Russia).

Small oval-shaped fruits (up to 5 cm long and up to 4 cm in diameter) are covered with either a smooth yellow-green peel or a lumpy dark green peel; it tastes sour, so it is better to eat without it. The color of the ripe berry is white or cream, it is juicy, jelly-like and divided into several sections and contains several edible seeds. The sweet and sour taste is reminiscent of a mixture of strawberries, pineapple and kiwi.

Feijoa contains a lot of sugars, organic acids, iodine, and vitamin C.

Physalis(Physalis, sometimes called Emerald berry or Earth cranberry, Peruvian gooseberry, Bladderberry, Dog cherry, Marunka, Strawberry tomato) - you've probably seen it many times, it is very often used to decorate confectionery products, although it is also found on sale. It looks like a small tomato, and its main feature is an openwork, airy “box”, which is obtained from dried physalis flowers.

Orange small fruits are juicy, sweet with slight sourness, depending on the specific variety ( and there are a lot of them) there may be various shades of strawberry in the taste and aroma, for example, strawberry in Strawberry Physalis.

It contains a fairly high content of vitamins A, C, group B, tannin, polyphenols, glucose; fiber, antioxidants, fruit and organic acids, tannins.

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis, Breadfruit, Pana). The same name is sometimes used for Jackfruit and Papaya, so don't get confused! New Guinea is considered to be its homeland, from where this plant spread across the islands of Oceania and to the countries of Southeast Asia. The very productive breadfruit tree is a staple food in some countries.

The fruits are very large, round-oval (up to 30 cm in diameter and weight up to 4 kg) covered with a rough peel, which is green when unripe, but in the ripe fruit it is yellow-brown. The wild variety of breadfruit contains many seeds in the fruit, but the cultivated variety has no seeds.

Unripe pulp is white, fibrous, starchy, and ripe pulp becomes soft and changes color to cream or yellow. The ripe fruit is sweetish, but overall the taste is not particularly attractive, rather reminiscent of potatoes and bananas. Unripe fruits are consumed as vegetables, and when they are cooked, you can feel the bready taste.

Breadfruit is very nutritious and contains ( dried) 4% protein, 14% sugars, 75-80% carbohydrates ( it's mostly starch) and contain virtually no fat.

Chrysophyllum (Star apple, Star apple, Cainito, Star apple, Milkfruit, Kaimito) NOT TO BE CONFUSED with Kaimito ( or Abiu). Originally from Central America, today it is cultivated in the tropics of South America, India, Southeast Asia, West Africa and Tanzania.

The spherical or oval fruits (up to 10 cm in diameter) are covered with a smooth, inedible green or purple-brown skin, depending on the variety. The pulp can be white to purple in color, it is juicy, jelly-like, sweet and very sticky with milky juice. The fruit contains up to 8 shiny dark brown inedible seeds. If the fruit is cut crosswise, the cut pattern will look like a star. The ripe fruit is wrinkled and soft and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three weeks, making it a great gift for friends and family from your tropical vacation.

Contains a lot of phosphorus, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin C, amino acids and protein; has low glucose content.

Chempedak(Artocarpus champeden, Chempedak or Cempedak). Originally from Malaysia, where it is mainly grown, it is also cultivated in neighboring Brunei, Thailand, and Indonesia. A relative of Marang, Breadfruit and Jackfruit.

The fruits are elongated, large (up to 45 cm in length and up to 15 cm in width), covered with a yellow-brown rough peel, and smell pleasant. The peel can be easily removed by hand, but it is worth remembering that due to the latex it secretes, it is very sticky. The pulp is divided into segments, it is dark yellow in color, juicy, sweet and tender, with round seeds ( they are also eaten). The taste of Chempedak is similar to its relative - Jackfruit.

Chempedak contains B vitamins, vitamin C, carotene, calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, that is, a very useful fruit, in particular for strengthening the immune system, bones and teeth, and is also very good as a general strengthening product.

Cherimoya(Annona cherimola, Cream apple, Ice cream tree, Graviola, Tzumux, Anona poshte, Atis, Sasalapa and a whole bunch of other possible names...). Native to the foothills of the South American Andes, it is widely grown in regions with suitable subtropical climates throughout the planet.

Cherimoya has many close relatives, so sometimes it is easy to get confused, for example, Custard apple is also called Annona reticulata, and there is also Annona spiny ( Guanabana or Soursop), Annona squamosus ( Noina or Sugar Apple).

The fruit is heart-shaped (up to 20 cm in length and up to 10 cm in width), covered with a green peel with characteristic irregularities. The pulp is white, fibrous-cream in consistency, with a pleasant aroma and complex taste from a mixture of passion fruit, banana, pineapple, strawberries and cream. The seeds are very hard and small, so cherimoya must be eaten carefully.

Cherimoya has a lot of useful things: proteins and carbohydrates, B vitamins, ascorbic acid, calcium, iron, phosphorus, organic acids.

Jujube(Real jujube, Unabi, Chinese date, Pectoral berry, Chapyzhnik, Jujuba, Jujube). Cultivated in Southeast and Central Asia, Japan, Australia, the European Mediterranean, and the Caucasus.

The fruits are ovoid or round, although in fact they vary greatly in shape. The smooth, thin, shiny peel is also distinguished by a variety of colors, which can be green, yellowish, dark red, brown and combinations thereof. The pulp is dense, white, sweet juicy ( looks like an apple), eaten with the peel; There is one bone inside.

Jujube is rich in vitamins C, B, A, beta carotene, amino acids, microelements, proteins, sugars and many other useful substances, the names of which are difficult to pronounce.

Yangmei(Mountain Peach, Yangmei, Chinese Strawberry or Chinese Arbutus, Red Wax). Originally from China, where it has been mainly grown for more than two thousand years, but is also found in neighboring countries.

The fruits are “rough” balls (up to 2.5 cm in diameter) and can be colored in various shades from reddish to purple or violet. The pulp is tender and juicy, red in color with one large seed. Yangmei's taste is sweet and tart, even tart, with hints of cherry, blackberry and strawberry.

Yangmei is rich in antioxidants, B vitamins, and ascorbic acid.

How many exotic fruits have you tried? And which of those listed in the article did you learn about for the first time?

Tatiana Solomatina

TOP 10 exotic fruits: where are they found and what do they taste like?

Hello, friends! Are you planning to go to a southern country on vacation? Then you just need to find out what exotic fruits there are. Today we will talk about tasty and healthy.

Read a short review: the appearance and taste of the fruit, ripening season, storage features. See photos and videos.

This round tropical fruit is red in color and can reach up to 5 cm in diameter. There is one seed in the middle of the berry. In its shape, texture and seed, the fruit is similar to lime-yay, but only with a more pronounced aroma and taste. The fruit is very tasty, sweet and juicy, although sometimes slightly sour. Under the skin, which is easily removed, is the plum pulp, which is white in color.

Fresh lychees can only be found during the harvest season, which begins at the end of May and lasts until the end of July. Between seasons of fruit ripening, you can find it canned in jars or plastic containers. Lychees are usually preserved in their own juice or coconut milk.

Ripe exotic fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for about two weeks. If you peel them and immediately freeze them, they will last in the freezer for up to 3 months and will retain all their properties. beneficial features.

Where to try: Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Australia, China.

It is worth noting that lychee fruits contain pectin, proteins, potassium, magnesium and vitamin C. Those who consume these exotic fruits in sufficient quantities, due to their very high content of nicotinic acid (vitamin PP), usually do not suffer from atherosclerosis. Therefore, in the region where lychee grows, the level of this disease is quite low.

Rambutan - "hairy fruit"

The fruits of this exotic fruit are round, red, about 5 cm in diameter, covered with a peel with soft shoots resembling spines. Under the skin there is white-transparent flesh, sweet in taste and sometimes sour. The bone is quite difficult to separate from the pulp, but it is also edible.

The tropical fruits of rambutan contain vitamin C, as well as a lot of carbohydrates, protein, phosphorus, calcium, iron and nicotinic acid, which is very good for health. The shelf life of such fruits is short - up to 7 days in the refrigerator.

The ripening and harvesting period for these fruits is quite long, from May to October.

Where to try: Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Colombia, Ecuador, Cuba.

Jam is made from rambutan fruits, jelly is made, and the pulp is also preserved.

Mangosteen can also be called garcinia or mankut

These exotic fruits are dark purple in color and are the size of a small apple. The peel of the fruit is very thick and inedible, and the edible white pulp looks like cloves of garlic. Tasty, sweet pulp with a slight sourness has a unique taste unlike anything else. There are no seeds inside, although some fruits may contain small soft seeds, but they can be eaten.

Mangosteen fruits are sometimes defective and have dark creamy, sticky, and unpleasant-tasting flesh. But in appearance, such fruits cannot be distinguished from normal ones until the peel is removed.

The harvest is harvested from April to September.

Where to try: Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica.

The tropical mangosteen fruit contains beneficial natural biologically active substances that help relieve inflammatory reactions such as redness, swelling, high fever, and painful weakness.

Dragon's Eye – pitaya, pitahaya

These tropical cactus fruits are called so in the Russian version; in the world this product is better known as Dragon Fruit.

The fruits themselves are oblong and large, about the size of a palm, the color of the fruit is red or pink. The pulp inside the pitaya, studded with small black seeds, is white, sometimes with a reddish tint. The taste is very juicy, tender, slightly sweet, with a taste unlike anything else. The pulp can be eaten with a spoon, scooping it from the fruit cut in half.

Pitaya fruits are harvested all year round.

Where to try: Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Japan, USA, Australia, Israel.

These exotic cactus fruits are considered useful in the treatment of endocrine diseases, diabetes mellitus, for stomach pain.

Durian - the king of fruits

The exotic durian fruits are very large, weighing up to 8 kg. The rind of the round, dark green fruit resembles conical spines, like a large hedgehog.

This tropical fruit is famous for its smell. Many have heard of it, some are familiar with its smell, and very few have tried it. The smell is reminiscent of garlic, onions and old socks. Because of this smell, the fruit is prohibited from being brought into public places: hotels, transport, beauty salons. For example, in Thailand, they hang signs in front of the entrance with the image of a crossed-out fruit.

Although the flesh of the fruit itself is sweet and tender, which does not combine with the unpleasant odor. But not many people decide to try this fruit. And in vain, because the taste is very pleasant, and durian fruits are considered in Asia a valuable product with beneficial properties. Durian is a powerful aphrodisiac.

The fruit harvesting period begins in April and ends in August.

Where to try: Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Philippines.

It is worth noting that durian cannot be combined with drinking alcohol, because blood pressure can rise sharply and this will lead to unpleasant consequences.

Sal, other names: herring, snake fruit, rakum

The fruits are small in size, oblong or round in shape, have a red (rakum) or brown (herring) color, and are covered with small spines on top.

This fruit has an unusual, bright sweet and sour taste. Some say it resembles a pear, others say it resembles a persimmon. It's worth trying it yourself - at least once.

When peeling and peeling an exotic fruit, you need to be very careful, as the spines are quite dense and can dig into the skin. It's better to use a knife.

Lard ripens from April to June.

Where to try: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Carambola - “star of the tropics”

If you cut a tropical fruit in half, the cut will be shaped like a star. The color is yellow with a hint of green, the size of the fruit is small, there are small seeds inside.

A distinctive feature of the exotic fruit is its edible peel (you can eat it whole) and, of course, its unusual shape. It has a pleasant smell, but the taste does not stand out in any way - slightly sweet or even sweet and sour. The fruit itself is juicy and can quench your thirst.

Ripens all year round.

Where to try: Borneo, Thailand, Indonesia.

Carambola fruits are not advisable for those who have severe kidney problems.

Longan or Lam Yai

The exotic fruits of longan are small, reminiscent of small potatoes, they are covered with a thin inedible peel, and inside there is one inedible seed.

The taste of longan pulp is quite unique, juicy and sweet, even aromatic.

Longan fruits are harvested from July to September.

Where to try: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China.

These tropical fruits are very healthy because they are rich in vitamin C, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and contain many bioacids. To prevent the fruit from spoiling quickly, you should choose a fruit that is ripe, with a thick skin, without cracks.

Longkong - another name for London

Longkong fruits are also similar to longan and small potatoes, only larger in size and pale yellow in color. The inside of the pulp resembles garlic in appearance.

The exotic longkong tastes sweet and sour. Its fruits contain phosphorus, calcium, carbohydrates and vitamin C. If you dry and burn the skin of longkong, the pleasant aromatic smell will also be useful, as it serves as a good repellent.

This tropical fruit cannot be stored for a long time (in the refrigerator - 4-5 days), despite the fact that the peel of a ripe fruit should be dense and without cracks.

Fruit harvesting occurs from April to June.

Where to try: Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia.

You can find a variety of longkong - langsat, they do not differ in appearance, but the second one has a bitter aftertaste.

Jackfruit or kanoon - Indian breadfruit

The jackfruit is perhaps the largest exotic fruit among those that grow on trees. Its weight can reach 35 kg. The edible pulp inside the fruit appears in the form of several large yellow slices.

The taste of jackfruit pulp is sickly sweet, reminiscent of melon and marshmallow. The fruits of this fruit are very nutritious, they contain a lot of starch, and contain about 40% carbohydrates - this is more than in bread.

Tropical fruits ripen for a long time: from January to August.

Where to try: Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore.

It is inconvenient to store such a large fruit entirely (it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months); it is better to buy slices of pulp already cut up and packaged in plastic. It is worth knowing that some people have an allergic reaction after eating jackfruit: spasms in the throat, it becomes difficult to swallow. This usually goes away after a while, but you need to be careful.

Delicious, right? All these tropical fruits are exotic only for us; residents of southern countries are familiar with them. For dessert I suggest you look interesting video, which details many of the fruits from my selection.

You'll notice many of the tropical fruits above grow in Thailand. I was able to try almost everything. I just couldn’t appreciate the taste of the stinky durian. It turned out to be beyond my strength. Have you tried it? Write in the comments, it’s interesting to know your feelings. Better yet, send stories, reviews and reviews about your vacation. I will definitely publish them in the “Readers’ Travels” section, read the details.

Subscribe to blog updates, there is still a lot of useful information ahead. Now I’ll say goodbye for a while, see you again!

Tatiana Solomatina

The term “fruit” appeared in 1705 and since then has meant edible or inedible fruits of trees and shrubs (previously, all plant fruits were called vegetables). The product is one of the main components of the human diet, since, depending on the variety, it contains many vitamins and microelements. According to rough estimates, there are just over 2000 fruits on the planet.

Apricot

A small tree or large shrub with a wide-rounded crown. Its reddish-brown or brown-olive, shiny, bare shoots, often in places (but not entirely) covered with a grayish film, buds 2-3 side by side, are very elegant. Very decorative during flowering, decorated with numerous large white or pale pink flowers, with dark red reflexed sepals. The apricot is no less beautiful at the time of fruiting, decorated with velvety-pubescent, often blushing, sweet, rounded fruits with a longitudinal groove up to 3 cm in diameter. The tree loves light and tolerates drought well, lives up to 50 years or more.

Avocado

Interest in avocados has been steadily growing in recent years, but still few people know that there are varieties whose fruits are more similar to bottle gourd, there are black, pimply, oval and huge spherical avocados. Moreover, some of these varieties are chemical composition differ from each other three times. However, with the help of properly selected varieties, people in different parts of the world take care of their skin condition, hair health, treat atherosclerosis, alleviate the symptoms of arthritis and normalize the functioning of the nervous system.

Cherry plum

Strongly thorny branched multi-stemmed trees, sometimes shrubs, with thin brownish-green shoots, 3-10 meters high. Cherry plum flowers are white or pink, solitary. Blooms in early May. The fruits of the cherry plum ripen in August-September. An excellent honey plant and rootstock for plums.

A pineapple

Everyone knows that sweet ripe pineapple is added to salads, yoghurts and pies. Fewer people know that pineapples can be fermented and made into cabbage soup. Even fewer have heard that pineapple leaves are used to produce a light and durable leather substitute, new types of fabric, and nanofiber, which has become an alternative to plastic. And very few people know that scientists today, using the enzyme bromelain contained in pineapple, are finding new ways to treat respiratory diseases, angina pectoris, ischemia, and are also actively exploring the potential of the enzyme in the fight against cancer cells.

Annona (guanabana)

The tree in natural conditions reaches 6m in height, in a room it is much lower. Unlike some other annonas, this is an evergreen tree. The leaves are oval or oblong, glossy, leathery, dark green, up to 15 cm long. They have a slightly spicy odor, especially noticeable when rubbed. The flowers are fragrant, large (up to 4.5 cm in diameter), consist of three yellow-green fleshy outer petals and three pale yellow inner ones, and can appear in different places - on the trunk, branches and small twigs. Flowers never fully open. Guanabana fruits are oval or heart-shaped, often irregular in shape, up to 30 cm in length, 15 cm in diameter and weighing up to 3 kg, dark green in color, becoming yellow-green when ripe.

Orange

There are many legends about the beneficial properties of orange, some of which, however, are not confirmed by anything. For example, some believe that orange breaks all records for vitamin C content, although in fact it does not stand out among other citrus fruits in this parameter. Others believe that orange fruits (or freshly squeezed juice) can effectively burn fat and help you shed extra pounds in your diet. This is also not entirely true.

Banana

Bananas have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-allergenic properties. With the help of banana components (dopamine, serotonin, adrenaline and norepinephrine) they treat atherosclerosis, hypertension, increase the activity of the liver enzyme, relieve convulsions, and small doses of banana increase the quality and quantity of sperm. The main thing is not to abuse the banana diet, so as not to get the opposite effect, and also not to provoke problems with excess weight and varicose veins.

Bergamot

Bergamot is a hybrid species of artificially bred plant of the Citrus genus. The plant was obtained by crossing orange and citron. Bergamot peel contains valuable essential oils used in the cosmetics and perfume industries, as well as in medicine.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit (English) grape And fruit- grapes and fruit) is a citrus yellow-orange fruit that grows in subtropical climatic latitudes. Grapefruit grows on an evergreen tree of the same name, reaching a height of 13-15 m. The ripe fruit is no more than 15 cm in diameter. external signs grapefruit is most similar to an orange, but its pulp is more sour and the inner white veins are bitter. Many scientists believe that grapefruit appeared in India as a result of natural hybridization of pomelo and orange.

Pear

This is a fruit plant with a multi-thousand-year history of cultivation, which almost all this time has been fighting for the right to be no worse than its close relative - the apple. And the pear is really no worse. Potassium, antioxidants, coarse dietary fiber, lower amounts of fruit acids, fiber-related “light” sugars and other beneficial substances make this fruit both tasty and healthy, and in some cases, medicinal. For example, the ability of pears to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and prevent strokes has been experimentally proven.

Guava

A small evergreen tree up to 3-4 m high, it belongs to the myrtle family and tolerates drought well. Blooms once or twice a year. It produces one main harvest - up to 100 kg per tree and 2-4 additional, much smaller harvests. Guava ripens ninety to one hundred and fifty days after flowering. The shape and size of the fruit are extremely variable. Guava looks like a lumpy green or yellow apple. Guava fruits are round and pear-shaped, with bright yellow, reddish or green thin skin. The weight of fruits of cultivated varieties is from 70 to 160 g, fruit length is from 4 to 6.5 cm, diameter is 4.8-7.2 cm. Due to the content of hexahydroxydiphenic acid ester and arabinose, unripe fruits have a very sour taste, which disappears in ripe fruits.

Jackfruit

A plant of the mulberry family, a close relative of the breadfruit tree. Jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh. Jackfruit fruits are the largest edible fruits growing on trees: 20-90 cm long and up to 20 cm in diameter, they weigh up to 34 kg. Their thick skin is covered with numerous cone-shaped projections. Young fruits are green, when ripe they become green-yellow or brown-yellow and when tapped they make a hollow sound (unripe fruits are hollow). Inside, the fruit is divided into large lobes containing yellow, aromatic, sweet pulp consisting of juicy soft fibers. Each lobe contains one rather large oblong white seed, 2-3 cm long. The cut jackfruit fruit has a pleasant specific smell, slightly reminiscent of banana and pineapple.

Dragon Fruit (Pitahaya)

An extraordinary fruit. It is currently grown in southern Mexico, some countries in Central and South America, Vietnam, and also in Israel (in the Negev Desert). Depending on the species, the size of pitahaya fruits, the color of the pulp (white, pink, purple), the color of the skin (from yellow to orange, from red to purple) and the texture of the surface of the fruit (with small outgrowths, with thin colored scales) vary. The pulp of the dragon fruit is always filled with small black seeds, which are usually peeled out.

Durian

Durian has such a disgusting smell that you are unlikely to be allowed in with it. public place. However, if you overcome your disgust or simply close your nose and taste the juicy pulp, you will immediately understand where the concept of the king of fruits came from.

Carambola

An evergreen, slow-growing tree 5 m high with drooping branches and a dense, highly branched, rounded crown or shrub. The leaves are soft, dark green, smooth on top and covered with whitish pubescence below. The leaves are sensitive to light and cluster together at night. The flowers are small pink or purple-red. Carambola fruits are fleshy, crispy and juicy, slightly spicy, with massive ribbed growths, ranging in size from a chicken egg to a large orange. Ripe carambola fruits are amber yellow or golden yellow in color. They are unusual in shape - they look like a ribbed airship.

Kiwi

The herbaceous vine Actinidia sinensis and its fruits are berries with green flesh and brown skin covered with small hairs. The history of the kiwi is quite unusual. The homeland of the vine called mihutao, which became the ancestor of kiwi, is China.

Clementines

Clementine or Citrus clementina is a variety of tangero. This is a hybrid of orange and tangerine. It was created back in 1902 by Father Klemen, who was not only a priest, but also a wonderful breeder. The shape of the fruit is the same as that of a tangerine, but they are much sweeter.

Kumquat

whale. golden orange
A yellow-orange tropical fruit of the citrus family of evergreens. This fruit also has other names - kincan and fortunella. Externally, the kumquat looks like a very small oval orange. It reaches a maximum of 5 cm in length and 4 cm in width. The fruit is consumed completely with the peel. The taste of the fruit is very close to the sour tangerine, but the peel has a sweet-tart taste. The kumquat is native to the southern part of China.

Lime

Lime is a fruit of a plant of the citrus family native to India, genetically similar to lemon.
Lime small tree or a bush with a height of 1.5 to 5.0 m. The crown is dense, the branches are covered with short spines. Inflorescences are axillary, with 1-7 flowers, remontant flowering. Lime fruits are small - 3.5-6 cm in diameter, ovoid, lime pulp is greenish, juicy, very sour. The peel is green, yellowish-green or yellow, and very thin when fully ripe.

Lemon

Although lemon is popularly considered to be the record holder for the amount of vitamin C, in fact, in terms of ascorbic acid content, it does not stand out among other citrus fruits and even lags behind some of its “brothers.” But this does not make it a useless product. Traditional medicine includes lemon in recipes for “a thousand diseases”: from seborrhea and arthritis, to constipation and tuberculosis. And scientific research is aimed at using lemon potential in therapy to restore liver function, reduce “bad” cholesterol and blood pressure.

Lychee

lat. Litchi chinensis– Chinese plum
A small sweet and sour fruit covered with a crusty skin. The fruit grows on evergreen tropical trees, the height of which reaches 10-30 meters. The homeland is China. The fruit has an oval or round shape with a diameter of 2.5-4 cm. The ripe fruit has a dense red skin with a large number of sharp tubercles. Only the pulp of the fruit is used for food, which has a jelly-like structure, and in color and taste resembles peeled white grapes. Inside the pulp there is an oval brown seed. The main lychee harvest occurs in May-June.

Longan (Lam Yai)

The fruit of an evergreen longan tree, common in China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia.
The juicy pulp of longan has a sweet, very aromatic, nephelium-like taste with a peculiar tint. The color of the tough, inedible outer shell of the fruit varies from mottled yellowish to reddish. Like the Chinese lychee, the longan fruit contains a hard, dark red or black seed.

Mango

The evergreen mango tree has a height of 10 - 45 m, the crown of the tree reaches a radius of 10 m.
New leaves grow yellowish-pink in color, but quickly turn dark green. The flowers are white to pink and, once opened, have a scent similar to that of lilies. Ripe mango fruit hangs on long stems and weighs up to 2 kg. Mango peel is thin, smooth, green, yellow or red depending on the degree of ripeness (a combination of all three colors is often found). Mango pulp can be soft or fibrous, and depending on the ripeness of the fruit, it surrounds a large, hard, flat seed.

Mangosteen

Tall evergreen tree up to 25 m high with a pyramidal crown and black-brown bark. The leaves are oval-oblong, dark green above and yellow-green below, 9 - 25 cm long and 4.5 - 10 cm wide. Young leaves are pink. Flowers with fleshy green petals with red spots. The mangosteen fruit is round, with a diameter of 3.4 - 7.5 cm, covered on top with a thick (up to 1 cm) burgundy-purple inedible peel containing adhesive coloring latex, under which there are 4-8 segments of white edible pulp with seeds tightly adjacent to it . Mangosteen bears fruit late - the first fruits on trees are 9-20 years old.

Mandarin

There are many myths about tangerine. Many people have probably heard that you can’t eat more than 4 fruits a day? This is an exaggeration - there is no common table for everyone indicating the dangerous amount of this citrus. They also say that the green leaves on a tangerine are a sign of its special freshness, that the oranger the peel, the sweeter the fruit, that the naringin contained in the zest directly burns fats, and that citrus fruits in general and tangerines in particular are perhaps the best source of vitamin C. That’s all. This is also not entirely true. But tangerine has properties that have been in demand since ancient times folk medicine, which make it a promising product in the fight against some serious diseases.

passion fruit

An ancient tropical crop of the genus Passiflora, producing oval fruits of yellow or dark purple color (when ripe) growing on vines. Passion fruit is grown for its juice, which is often added to other fruit juices for flavor. Passion fruit is a yellow-orange or dark purple oval-shaped fruit measuring about 6-12 cm. Fruits with smooth, shiny skin are preferred, but are sweeter with rough, cracked skin.

Medlar

tour. muşmula
This is a whole genus of plants, including almost 30 species. However, there are two main cultivated types of loquat: German and Japanese. The German medlar has been known to mankind for more than 1000 BC. In the territories of Ancient Babylon and Mesopotamia, it was freely traded, and it was transported on ships to the west to Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. It was from here that medlar came to European lands. Today, German medlar grows in the Balkans, Asia Minor, the Crimean Mountains, Transcaucasia, Armenia, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Greece and northern Iran. The tree is quite finicky and grows well only in dry, sunny places and slightly acidic soil.

Nectarine

A fruit that is a smooth-skinned peach. Despite popular myth, nectarines are obtained through selection or simple mutation of peaches and are not a hybrid of peach and plum.
This classic example of a bud mutation occurred when peach trees self-pollinated. Peach trees sometimes produce nectarines, and nectarine trees sometimes produce peaches. Nectarines were first mentioned in 1616 in England.

Papaya

A low, slender tree with a thin, branchless trunk 5-10 meters high, topped with an umbrella of palmately dissected leaves on long petioles. Papaya leaves are large, 50-70 centimeters in diameter. The flowers develop in the axils of the petioles, turning into large fruits, 10-30 cm in diameter and 15-45 cm in length. Ripe papaya fruits are soft and range in color from amber to yellow.

Peach

Tree of the Rosaceae family, has a subgenus almond. It differs from almonds only in its fruits. The leaves are lanceolate with a serrated edge and almost sessile, appearing before the leaves develop, pink flowers. The fruit is a peach, spherical, with a groove on one side, usually velvety. The peach pit is wrinkled, furrowed and pitted.

Pomelo

English pomelo
Citrus fruits of the evergreen tree of the same name. The peel of the fruit is quite thick, and the segments are large, separated by hard white partitions that taste bitter. The color of ripe broom can vary from light green to yellow-pink. Usually only one side acquires a pink color, which was turned towards the sun during ripening. The fruit is a record holder among citrus fruits. Its diameter can be 30 cm, and its weight can reach 10 kg. The taste of pomelo is very close to grapefruit, but the pulp is not as juicy and when peeling, the internal membranes are more easily separated from the edible part.

Pomeranian

It is also called Chinotto or Bigaradia - it is a woody evergreen plant belonging to the Rutaceae family, a species of the Citrus genus. It is considered a hybrid of pomelo and tangerine. Fresh bitter orange is considered inedible, and is valued mainly for its zest. The peel is quite easy to separate from the fruit; you just need to cut it into 4 parts. Orange zest is used to make desserts. It is also often added to ice cream. For this dessert you need to take orange zest and juice, cream and sugar. All this needs to be whipped with a mixer and sent for freezing.

An integral part of any trip is foreign cuisine, special dishes and unusual tastings. And if you choose this type of tourism as gastronomic, then atypical treats are literally a must. In particular we are talking about fruits. But not everyone, going somewhere to warm regions, knows exotic tropical fruits and their names well. We will try to introduce you to the most interesting desserts of the foreign world.

Guava is the sister of the Ukrainian pear

Very similar to our pear and slightly sour in taste, guava is a fruit that grows in the tropical zone, Mexico, South America, India and parts of Southeast Asia. Externally, it looks like a 10-14 cm oval of yellow-green color. The fruits ripen on small deciduous bushes.

Eating stale guava is just as dangerous as eating other fruits. At the very least, you risk indigestion. In addition, unripe guava is quite sour and unpleasant, with an astringent taste. When these exotic fruits reach the “right condition”, they will become tasty and quite healthy.

Guava is recommended for use in case of intoxication, as well as for weight loss and all sorts of minor inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract. And freshly squeezed guava juice and its seeds have a positive effect on the functioning of the stomach. You can eat the fruit with the peel, but we recommend that diabetics be careful with this, as it increases the level of glucose in the body.

Dragon's eye - a fruit with an abundance of vitamins

This exotic name was given to an unusual-looking fruit slightly reminiscent of a melon. In everyday life, the dragon's eye is called longan, which grows in Thailand on tall 10-meter trees. Lush crowns of trees hide round yellow fruits in their thicket. If you peel them, you will see white flesh inside. It is extremely useful due to its high content of microelements. In particular, we are talking about organic acids, protein, calcium, copper, zinc, phosphorus, iron and much more.

Thanks to its original sweetish taste, the fruit is extremely popular among locals and tourists. It is either peeled and eaten raw or cooked as part of rice dishes. Serve with stewed grains and coconut milk. Local craftsmen also prepare sauces and even ice cream from longan. No negative properties of the fruit were noticed, but we still do not recommend overeating dragon’s eye.

Carambola is a star in your plate

Carambola is a fruit that is extremely popular and famous not only in Asian countries, but also in Ukraine. Due to its unusual appearance, carambola is used as a decorative element for haute cuisine dishes. The size of the fruit is a large goose egg, the color is yellow, and when cut, the carambola resembles a star.

You can eat both the pulp and the peel. This fruit is useful both raw and roasted. It can taste either slightly sour or sweet. Tourists cannot agree on what carambola tastes like or what it looks like. To some it resembles a plum, to others to grapes, to others to an apple. But everyone unanimously says that the fruit is extremely tasty. The fruit contains sodium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, vitamins B and C. Carambola is either served raw or deep-fried, and can also be boiled in sweet syrup.

Eggplant or mangosteen?

This fruit has several names - mangkut, garcinia, mangosteen and, of course, mangosteen. It grows in South Asia, in Vietnam, Thailand, and India. This berry looks like a round purple-burgundy eggplant. It weighs up to 200 grams, and when cut, it looks like white pulp. The inside of the fruit is soft, melting and marshmallow-like. Very sweet in taste, mangosteen is a fruit that serves as the basis for various jams, desserts, nectars, syrups and juices. Also, the popularity of the fruit is based on the versatility of flavors - culinary specialists note echoes of peach, pineapple and lychee in Garcinia.

The peel is also popular and is used in folk medicine. But we strongly do not recommend eating the fruit during pregnancy and breastfeeding. And also in case of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and liver.

Sugar apple noina

Another name for the fruit is sugar apple, which is really very sweet. However, the taste is more reminiscent of late apricot, which does not make this treat less popular and tasty. Noina grows in the tropical zone and is used from roots to fruits. Decoctions and tinctures of leaves, roots and bark help with fever and even dysentery.

When choosing noina at the market, be careful; it is important to buy ripe fruit, otherwise you risk getting poisoned. Noina should be greenish, weighty in feel and soft to the touch. Well, of course, the fruit should smell very good and tasty. When consuming the fruit, do not eat the seeds - they are useful only in the field of cosmetology and exclusively in the form of oil.

This prickly cone may not be noticeable on the branch, but it is very popular among Asian gourmets. Another name for this tropical delicacy is soursop. It has a sweet and sour taste and contains many useful elements. Researchers are widely claiming that sirsak can treat cancer. In Chinese medicine, dried fruit powders are added to medicines and tablets.

European scientists in the course of research have found that the fetus actually stops the spread of the disease and reduces the activity of cancer cells. Sirsak cannot fully replace chemotherapy, but it can help prevent the disease. But, despite the pleasant taste and beneficial properties, do not overdo it with tasting. Excess fruit can lead to intoxication and even hallucinations.

Chocolate chiku

The chiku fruit has a second name - sepodilla. It looks like beige or brownish balls, inside there is orange pulp and large black oblong seeds. Chica is eaten raw, separated from the bitter peel and hard seeds. The fruit has a caramel flavor, and some varieties have coffee and chocolate flavors.

The consistency of the chiku is soft and should be quite large. Before use, it is recommended to cool the sepodilla and cut it in half or into slices. The pulp can be eaten either with a spoon or simply bitten off from the peel, like a watermelon or melon.

Pitahaya - dragon fruit

Unusual, beautiful, bright, called the dragon's heart, the fruit is widely known to the public. But few people know what it tastes like. Pitahaya looks different depending on the variety. The white one has a pink peel and white pulp, the red one has a pink peel and red pulp, the yellow one has a yellow peel and white pulp, respectively. All of them are popular and unusual in taste, and also extremely healthy. Particularly due to its high fiber and antioxidant content. Pitahaya is also recommended for diabetics, as the fruit lowers your blood sugar levels.

Desserts and juices are prepared from the fruit, and the pulp is added to salads and light dishes. You can eat it raw by cutting it in half and eating the pulp with a spoon. The peel is beautiful, but not edible. Often “bowls” made from fruit peel are used as decoration.

The only side effects observed are an allergic reaction, as well as indigestion when overeating.

Exotic lychee fruit

It is a Chinese plum that grows in clusters and has a pinkish-reddish color. The fruits are covered with a peel with convex pimples, inside there is soft light pulp and a small stone. Lychee tastes like grapes and has the consistency of hardened jelly.

You can eat these fruits, they are tasty and memorable. When choosing a plum, be sure to feel the berries themselves; they should not be too soft or darkened. If the lychee is dark burgundy in color, it means that it has been sold for a long time and is no longer particularly fresh. As an option, you can try dried lychee. Syrups are made from it, rolled into jelly and even added to ice cream.

The abundance of potassium, magnesium and vitamins C helps strengthen the cardiovascular system. Chinese doctors also recommend eating lychee for those who suffer from high cholesterol.

Cucumber melon kiwano

Horned melon occupies one of the leading positions in the list of the most beautiful tropical fruits. Yellow-green, prickly peel, as well as green pulp, similar in consistency to citrus fruits. This fruit definitely deserves a place both on your plate and on your Instagram feed.

Another variant of the name kiwano is horned or Antillean cucumber. It grows in New Zealand, central Africa and California. To taste, the melon has a cucumber-banana-melon taste, with a slight aftertaste of kiwi. Agree, this is definitely an unforgettable combination!

Do not overdo it with tasting and at the same time remember that, within reasonable limits, melon enriches the body with vitamins B and C. Cut it in half and eat the pulp directly along with the seeds.

Ripe black sapota

Unusual in appearance, but original in taste, the fruit is extremely popular in Central America and Mexico. The size of the ripe fruit reaches ten centimeters in diameter. Inside there is sticky, slightly viscous pulp, as well as several large seeds. The main feature of sapota is its chocolate taste. Really chocolatey!

The peel of the fruit is green, while the inside of the flesh is black-brown. This fruit is rich in vitamin C and calcium, and it is also very suitable for those on a diet, since it contains almost zero fat.

Spiny Snake Fruit

Another black and strange fruit that protects itself from unwanted hands. The fact is that the fruit is tasty and soft on the inside, but on the outside it is covered with snake skin - a prickly brown-black peel. This is exactly what it is, an unusual herring or snake fruit.

Be careful when peeling the fruit. It is possible to cut yourself on small scales. But the pulp itself contains calcium, phosphorus, iron and beta-carotene.
But do not eat too much herring, despite the pleasant pineapple taste, if you overeat it can cause an allergic reaction and poisoning.

Jaboticaba tree fruit

This fruit grows directly on the tree, even on the bark. Its main habitat is Brazil. It is here that the fruit is used as an ingredient for desserts, as well as raw materials for liqueurs and wine. Jaboticaba also helps with asthma, dysentery and disorders.

The peculiarity of these black fruits is that they spoil quite quickly. The fruit must be eaten within two to three days after it is picked. That is why in stores and restaurants in Brazil you can mainly find jams, preserves and syrups made from jaboticaba.

Chocolate vine

This is truly a waste-free fruit that is used to its fullest. The chocolate vine, or its more scientific name, akebia, is literally eaten all over. The pear-shaped fruit is cut in half or a small incision is made. The white, slightly pearlescent pulp is scooped out with a spoon and served together with the seeds as a dessert. And the purple peel is stuffed with meat or seafood, and then baked and served. Even the dried leaves of the fruit are served as tea or seasoning.

The chocolate vine tastes like raspberries, but the smell of chocolate remains here. Flowers also smell like chocolate. fruit tree. Therefore, it is worth taking a walk near the akebia tree during the flowering period to enjoy the aromas.

finger lime

This fruit reminds many people of rolls with red caviar. But in fact, this is lime caviar, which tastes absolutely identical to regular lime. It is the appearance that attracts tourists.
The oval dark fruits inside contain reddish and pinkish caviar balls filled with juice. It is the caviar itself that is used in the preparation of desserts and fish and meat dishes. The fruit is notable for the fact that it contains many useful, tonic and regenerating enzymes.

But be careful, as allergies may occur if you overeat. Also, finger lime is not recommended for consumption by those who suffer from ulcers, pancreatitis, gastritis, colitis and other intestinal diseases.

Melotria rough

The peculiarity of melotria is that it looks like small watermelons. But the taste is more reminiscent of a sour cucumber with a lemon aftertaste. It grows on climbing bushes and is a good prevention of cancer.

The skin of the fruit is hard, and the flesh really resembles a cucumber. It is important not to let the melotria become overripe; fresh and timely picked fruits are very tasty and healthy. You can also pickle or pickle melotria like a regular cucumber. It is marinated that is most often served in Asian restaurants.

It is recommended to consume this fruit a little every day, as it is useful for weight loss and is perfect for diabetics. But be careful those who suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system and intestinal tract.

Musical biriba

The fruit looks like a yellow, slightly blackening ball. The peel has scales, but inside the flesh is white, the seeds are small and black. Biriba tastes like lemon meringue, and it is collected in the early stages, without waiting for full ripening. It is already ripening in boxes and on shelves.

Most biriba is grown and sold in South America. The main indicator of ripeness is the yellow peel that begins to turn black. If it is overripe, the pulp will be inedible and bitter.

The ripe fruit is eaten raw, and sometimes juices, syrups and even wine are made from it. And musical instruments are made from dried fruits!

Wonderful berries

These berries look like barboris, they are red and quite large. They are called wonderful due to their unusual effect on taste buds. After tasting the berries, any product you eat will seem sweet to you. All this happens due to the content of glucol protein. It reduces the sensitivity of receptors responsible for all tastes except sweet. The sweetness effect lasts up to two hours.

Don't overeat, of course. But no bizarre, miraculously beneficial or medicinal properties have been discovered. At the same time, miracle berries are well suited for those who are currently on a diet; it will reduce the consumption of sugar in your diet.

Tamarillo or tomato?

Despite the fact that tamarillo is a fruit, it is similar in appearance and taste to a tomato. It has a red-orange peel and red-burgundy flesh. The bush itself on which tamarillo grows also looks like a tomato bush that has surpassed its dimensions.

Depending on the type, the fruit has a different taste and is consumed in different variations. Red is more widespread than all others and has orange sweet flesh, used as decoration and additives to main dishes. Yellow is sweeter and smaller in size, orange is less sweet and the most juicy of all representatives.

The skin of the fruit is not eaten; it is too hard and bland. The pulp has a juicy consistency with a sweet taste, contains vitamins A, B and C. It is also low in sugar, so the fruit is suitable for diabetics. Peeling the tamarillo will not be easy; it is recommended to place it in boiling water for a few seconds or simply cut it and eat it with a spoon.

Tropical fruits come in an incredible variety of flavors, shapes and appearance. It's always very interesting to discover new and surprising dishes. But we recommend not only choosing the rarest fruits, but also making sure that you are tasting in the right and trusted place.

List of green fruits that you can find anywhere. Some fruits are well known, while some are known only in vacation spots, at resorts. Others are not known to ordinary people at all. But these fruits have one thing in common - they are all green.

Of course, some fruits may have a different color, for example, yellow, orange, red, etc., but this depends on the variety and type of fruit and the time of ripening.

It is a fruit that resembles a vegetable rather than a fruit. Avocado pulp is very rich in vitamins. You can find out more about him.

Annona squamosus, sugar apple

The fruits are 5-10 centimeters in diameter. The peel is covered with scales. The pulp has a sweet taste. The seed grains are poisonous.

This fruit has very soft flesh. It's edible. Various products are made from the fruit. The seeds are poisonous. Distributed in the tropics.

A pineapple

Watermelon

This fruit is known to everyone. You can find out more about him.

Banana

This fruit is known to everyone. You can find out more about him.

The pulp of white sapota is juicy, with a sour taste. The fruits are similar to an apple. They are eaten raw. Grows in the subtropics.

Grape

Delicious berries that are well known in post-Soviet countries.

Voavangi berries are small in size, 5x4.5 centimeters. Ripe voavanga has a sweet and sour taste. Voavanga is grown in warm countries, mainly in tropical Africa.

Guava fruits are eaten raw. Various products are also prepared from them. Guava berries range in size from 4 to 12 centimeters. Today, guava is grown in the subtropics and subtropics. There are a lot different varieties, which differ in many respects.

This fruit has huge fruits. Can reach a weight of up to 25 kilograms. The taste of jackfruit is peculiar with a fresh-sweet taste. It gives off a sweet smell.

Durian is an unforgettable fruit or “King among fruits”. You can read a detailed article about durian.

Cainito, star apple

Cainito berries reach sizes of up to 10 centimeters. Cainito grows in warm countries. Mainly grows in Central and South America. They eat its pulp with a spoon. The crust is inedible.

The carambola fruit in cross section resembles a star, which is what makes it memorable. Eating carambola should be done with caution, because there are contraindications for certain types of diseases.

Coconut palm

Everyone knows what a coconut is. When fresh, coconut is green in color. Coconut is used to make a wide variety of food products. They drink the juice from an unripe coconut by making a hole in the coconut. Not only the palm drupe is used, but all parts as well. For example, wine, vodka, vinegar, syrup and sugar are made from palm sap. Coconut grows in the tropics all over the world.

Corilla, cyclanthera

This is a climbing tree up to 5 meters long. Berries can be up to 23x7 centimeters in size. The pulp is juicy with a pleasant taste, similar to cucumber. Grows in the tropics on mountains and subtropics.

Lime

Lucuma tree up to 15 meters high. Turkish delight berries are similar to tomatoes, with a diameter of 10 centimeters. The pulp is not very juicy, but tastes sweet. The collected ripe fruits are kept for several days and then only eaten. Grows in South and Central America.

Mango is one of the most delicious fruits. Each variety has its own unique taste. You can read more about it.

passion fruit

Passion fruit is mostly brown in color, but there are also greenish varieties. It grows all over the world in the tropics and subtropics. You can read more details.

Momordica, bitter cucumber

This is Momordica climbing plant. The fruits, similar to cucumbers, are collected in their unripe green form. When the fruit is ripe, it turns bright yellow or orange. It is more of a vegetable than a fruit. The fruits are bitter, they are first processed and only then prepared for food. The sap of the plant is poisonous in its raw form. This fruit grows in Russia, follow the link and find out where. Grows throughout the world in warm climates.

This is a small tree up to 6 meters. Fruits up to 15 centimeters in size. Unripe fruits are eaten raw; they do not taste very good. Grows in the tropical zone.

Papeda is a tree up to 12 meters high. Papeda fruits are 7 centimeters in diameter. The pulp of the fruit has a sour or bitter taste. Externally similar to lime. Grown in South and Southeast Asia.

Pomelo tree up to 15 meters high. The fruits can be up to 50 centimeters in diameter. The fruits do not taste bitter, even pleasant. Grows in the tropics and subtropics.

This tree is up to 20 meters high. The fruits are 15 centimeters in diameter and are very tasty. This fruit is considered one of the best tropical fruits. Grows in Central and South America.

The plant reaches a height of 3-8 meters. The fruit reaches sizes up to 25x5 centimeters. The pulp tastes like peas. Grows in Central America.

Closely related to chayote. The fruits are not big. It tastes like cucumber. Cooked like vegetables.

Pumpkin tree, calabash tree

The tree reaches a height of 10 meters. The fruits are round and up to 40 centimeters in size. The pulp of young fruits is pickled in vinegar. The seeds are fried and eaten. Fresh fruits cannot be eaten; they are poisonous. Grows in Central America. Previously, dishes were made from shells, but now plastic has replaced it.

Philippine rose apple

The tree reaches a height of 40 meters. The fruits are 6 centimeters in diameter. The fruits are eaten raw and cooked. Grows in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

The fruit of this plant is similar to durian. The fruits are tasty and are considered a staple food in the tropics. Grows in the tropics.

Chayote, Mexican cucumber

Chayote is a climbing plant up to 20 meters. The berries reach a length of 7 to 20 centimeters. The pulp is similar to a cucumber. It is used throughout the world as a vegetable in tropical and subtropical areas.

Cherimoya, Annona Cherimola

Distributed throughout the mountainous regions of the tropics, in subtropical and Mediterranean climates. This fruit has an exquisite taste. It is eaten by cutting it into two parts and eating the inner pulp with a spoon. The seeds are poisonous. Various dishes and products are made from cherimoya.

Black sapota or black persimmon

Tree up to 25 meters high. The berry is similar to a tomato, measuring 10x13 centimeters. It has a mild sweetish-nutty taste. Grows in tropical countries.