When you are doing your weekly or monthly food order, do you find yourself ordering the standard types of fruit that are available at the majority of supermarkets?
Yes, many people have to have their weekly fix of strawberries, blueberries and of course the standard banana or apple. It stands to reason why; they are all tasty and, of course, they provide a much needed dose of vitamin C. The last thing you want is scurvy! There is a whole rainbow of fruits from across the globe that you may never have even heard of and, if you are a fan of travel, you may have to try when you visit their countries of origin.
There are also some truly exotic fruits that few, if any, people in the west will taste. This could be due to the odd presentation of the fruits, their difficulty to access and, of course, their perishable nature. So, read on to find out about 15 of the world’s most exotic fruits.
Durian
There is likely a very good reason why you cannot find durian fruit at your local supermarket. Imagine you are standing in the fruit and vegetable aisle, and got a waft of sulfur or rotten egg. You would likely think that something in the nearby meat section had gone off.
However, the smell of durian fruit according to Healthline, has been described as a combination of sewage, fruit, honey, roasted and rotting onions and sulfur, as well as a fair amount of rotten egg. Now that is fairly gross for fruit.
This has led to durian fruit being banned in many places across Southeast Asia, as well as in hotels and public transportation worldwide. The odor can linger for an extended period, making it less than ideal to eat in enclosed spaces.
Durian is, however, known as the king of fruits and has a custard-like rich taste which is apparently delicious, providing that you can get over the aroma!
Mangosteen
In a similar vein, mangosteen is seen as the queen of fruit, and comes from Malaysia and the Sunda Islands of Indonesia. An interesting fact about this somewhat unknown fruit is that Queen Victoria herself stated that she would offer a knighthood to anybody who could bring her a fresh mangosteen.
This simply never happened! The flesh of the fruit is considered exceptionally sweet and is compared to tropical fruits of pineapple and peach. However, beyond Southeast Asia, this is a very expensive fruit, which does not travel well.
Rambutan
A fruit from Malaysia and Thailand, rambutan is a cousin of the lychee fruit, which you can usually find in even the most basic of supermarkets. In Asia it is enjoyed raw but can also be served with baked goods and even stewed.
According to The Roaming Fork, the flesh of the fruit (once you peel the hairy and spiky exterior off) tastes similar to a grape, but is much juicier. You can buy rambutan from specialist supermarkets in the US and UK and it is readily available online to purchase raw. It is also a very visually pretty fruit, with the outer shell being a spiky, bright red or pink color.
Feijoa
This fruit often surprises people with its combination of flavors; it seems to combine the fresh, sweet taste of pineapple, with the more subtle taste of mint. Some people have even stated that it tastes like strawberry!
It is native to South America and can usually be found in tropical fruit stores around the globe. Visually, it looks like a grape and a lime have been mixed, as it simply looks like a muted, green orb.
Jackfruit
OK, so many people have heard of jackfruit, especially in recent times in the west when it has been used by vegans as a meat substitute. It is high in protein and has a very tough texture, making it the perfect imitation for meats like pepperoni.
Visually, unprepared jackfruit resembles a cross of a pineapple and a pear and is a member of the fig family. It is a native fruit of India, and it is eaten in that region as a sweet treat raw. The fruit is noted to taste like honey, and is also very moist. An interesting side note is that jackfruit is the largest fruit that grows on trees, with a jackfruit weighing anywhere from 3.5-10kgs!
Pitayas Neon
Have you ever seen a fruit that is almost humming or glowing? The pitaya’s neon or dragon fruit has vibrant pink hues, which showcase it as a truly tropical fruit. It originates from the America’s and it is fast becoming a global sensation, due to its show stopping color and sweet taste.
It is low in calories and is also chock a block with antioxidants. It can be eaten raw or baked and has been noted to have a flavor palette which is a cross between a kiwi and a pear. So, very subtle but very delicious
Cherimoya
Going from striking pink to a relatively pale green, the cherimoya or custard apple is commonly eaten fresh or raw but can also be put into smoothies, ice cream in yogurt, due to its somewhat creamy and light taste.
Many people who have eaten this rather unassuming looking fruit have described it as having a mixture of pineapple, strawberry and even banana but one thing is for sure; it’s light and refreshing and has a creamy custard texture. Oddly, with its green scaly exterior, you could argue it looks more like a ‘dragon’ than the dragon fruit pitayas neon!
Star Fruit
This is honestly one of the cutest fruits you will ever see! The star fruit, which is found in Southeast Asia, is chock-a-block with vitamin C and is used as a garnish for cocktails or in salads across the United States. It can, of course, be eaten raw and it does have a slightly sweet and sour flavor, which has been compared to a somewhat odd combination of green grape, orange and even ripe pear. Its bright yellow coloring and five pointed shape make it one of the more unusual shaped fruits but it is very tasty and low in calories.
Miracle Fruit
Miracle fruit has been in the media in the last few years, as the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA sought to ban this fruit from being consumed in the under 60s as a sweetener. It is native to West Africa and has been used to make sour palm wine. It does have a sweet and sour taste, with some people stating that it resembles eating very sweet candy, hence why it may have been a suitable sugar replacement.
Longan
Starting with the most obvious point, longan does look like an eyeball. It also resembles a lychee fruit. It has another name, which is dragon’s eye and it is native to Southeast Asia. As is the way with a lot of fruits on this list, it tastes a lot better than it looks and has been noted to have a sweet, floral taste with a hint of musk. Therefore, it is a great snack or dessert fruit if you can get your hands on it.
Sapodilla
OK, many fruits are sweet, but how many are also known as nature’s sugar cube?
That is the nickname of sapodilla, which originates from central America and has a brown, fuzzy exterior. Don’t let that fool you, though. Under the skin is a sugary, sweet and malty flavor, which is loaded with vitamins and minerals. It is even known as nature’s dessert and is sweeter than the average processed sweet. So, if you have a sweet tooth, you need to try it out if you can!
Horned Melon
This fruit has been featured on an advert for Google recently, meaning that more people than ever are seeking it out.
Even though it looks odd, the horned melon has an even odder interior, with bright green, jelly-like flesh and a cucumber flavor palette.
Tamarillo
If you like tomatoes (yes, they are a fruit!) then you have to try out the tamarillo. This fruit is the tomato’s sweeter, tangier cousin and is native to the Andes. The taste has been noted as a mix of tomatoes, passionfruit with a slightly bitter zest. It’s great to add to salads, if you can buy it!
Cansitel
This fruit looks like a persimmon and also has the rather odd nickname of the egg plant. You may even find it listed as yellow sapote. It is native to southern Mexico and has been described as tasting like roasted sweet potato or pumpkin. So, it isn’t really going to be your first pick for fruit if you have a sweet tooth.
White Sapote
White sapote is one of the oddest fruits you will ever encounter. Yes, it does have a creamy, custard like flavor, which has been noted to taste like a cross between a banana or a peach, and it is also rich in vitamins C and D. What makes this fruit stand out is that it has mild sedative properties. It is even known as the sleepy fruit in its native Eastern Mexico. So, if you can get your hands on it, don’t eat it during the day, or you may find yourself taking a nap!
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