Last Updated on January 15, 2024
Welcome to the treasure trove ofΒ exotic fruits, nature’s sublime treats often overlooked in our regular diet. Exotic fruits generally refer to fruits not commonly found in a particular region or native to distant or tropical areas.
These fruits typically have unique flavors, textures, and appearances compared to more common fruits in grocery stores.
This article will guide you on a world tour spotlighting some of nature’s most extraordinary creations. Let’s see how many you can recognize.
Top 26 Exotic Fruits from Around the World
1. Rambutan
Rambutan, known for its unique appearance and delicious taste, might become your new favorite fruit.
Enclosed in a thick shell covered with soft spines, the inner flesh is a translucent white orb that offers a tangy and sweet flavor.
Originating from Southeast Asia, it can be enjoyed fresh or incorporated into both sweet and savory dishes to add an exciting twist to regular meals.
2. Mangosteen
Mangosteen is a fruit that many people may not be familiar with, but it’s actually a favorite of Queen Victoria.
Native to Asia, it has a unique flavor and texture that sets it apart from other fruits. Its deep purple rind gives way to the watery white segments inside, which are sweet and tangy in taste.
3. Dragon Fruit (Pitahaya Fruit)
Dragon fruit is a popular fruit that has become quite trendy in recent years. Its vibrant pink or yellow skin and unique appearance make it hard to miss at the grocery store.
It is also known as pitaya and is native to Central America and Ecuador but is now grown in many tropical regions worldwide. This fruit has a mildly sweet flavor with a hint of tanginess.
4. Jackfruit
Jackfruit is a spiky fruit that has a unique taste and texture that sets it apart from more common fruits. It is native to tropical regions and can grow large, sometimes reaching 80 pounds!
One interesting fact about them is that they can be used as a meat substitute such as BBQ jackfruit burgers for vegetarian or vegan dishes due to their fibrous texture.
5. Durian
Durian, known as the “king of fruits,” is a highly controversial fruit with a distinctive smell and taste.
With its spiky exterior and creamy flesh, it has a loyal following of fans who love its unique flavor. Although some describe it as sweet and custard-like, others find its aroma overwhelming.
6. Star Fruit
Star fruit, also known as carambola, is a unique and delicious fruit worth trying. It gets its name from the distinctive shape it takes when sliced – it may look like a star!
This fruit has a vibrant yellow color and a sweet-tart flavor that is often compared to a combination of apples and oranges.
7. Passion Fruit
Passion fruit is native to South America but is widely cultivated in various regions worldwide, including South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
They are small, round, or oval-shaped fruits that have hard, wrinkled outer skin.
It is often described as a combination of sweet and tart, with tropical and floral undertones. The pulp has a slightly acidic taste, which gives it a tangy flavor, perfect for making passionfruit overnight oats.
8. Banana
Bananas are a fruit that is native to tropic regions of Asia. They have a distinctive yellow color when ripe, which is visually appealing.
Their elongated shape and slightly curved design set them apart from many other fruits.
They also have a sweet and creamy flavor and a soft and smooth texture that is easy to chew and digest.
9. Pear
Pears are a type of fruit that has a unique shape, typically rounded at the bottom and tapering towards the top with a stem. The fruit has a thin, edible skin and juicy, sweet flesh.
10. Lychee
Lychee is a fruit native to Asia, specifically China. It is a small, round fruit with bumpy, rough reddish-pink skin and clear white or pinkish flesh.
When peeled, the fruit reveals its glossy white flesh, making it visually appealing.
11. Pineapple
Pineapple is a fruit that originates from South America, particularly from the region of Paraguay and southern Brazil.
It is known for its sweet and tangy taste, along with its prickly, textured skin, and distinctive crown of spiky leaves. Its unique flavor and vibrant yellow color make it stand out among other fruits.
12. Guava
Guava is a fruit native to Central and South America but is now cultivated in various parts of the world. It comes in different varieties, including white, pink, and red.
This fruit has a unique flavor, combining sweet and tart. They are typically round or oval, with greenish-yellow skin and creamy white or pink flesh filled with tiny edible seeds.
13. Longan
Longans are a fruit native to Asia. The longan fruit is small and round, similar to a grape, with translucent flesh and a shiny brown seed in the center.
It is known for its sweet and floral taste, often compared to a taste like a combination of grapes and pear.
14. Kaffir Lime
Kaffir lime is a small, round, green unique citrus that is widely cultivated and used around the world for its tart and acidic flavor.
Their tangy and acidic taste is unique and can add a refreshing burst of flavor to South Eastern Asian dishes.
15. Mango
Mango is a fruit originating from South Asia and is considered a national fruit in the Philippines. It is a juicy and sweet fruit with a unique flavor and aroma, perfect for mango salsa.
In many countries, it symbolizes summertime and is eagerly anticipated during their limited harvest period.
16. Papaya
Papaya is a fruit native to the Americas and is now widely cultivated in various parts of the world. It is a large fruit with smooth, thin skin that can be green or yellow when ripe.
The flesh inside is juicy, with a sweet and slightly musky flavor. It can be consumed in raw form or used in various culinary preparations.
17. Sapodilla
Sapodilla is a fruit native to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The fruit is small to medium-sized, typically round or oval in shape, and has a rough brownish skin.
The flesh of the fruit is creamy, similar to a baked sweet potato, and has a sweet, caramel-like flavor.
18. Kumquat
Kumquat is a small, oval-shaped citrus fruit that is native to China but is now cultivated in various parts of the world, including Japan, the United States, and Asia.
They are typically eaten whole, including the skin, which is thin and sweet, while the flesh inside is tart and watery.
The combination of sweet skin and sour flesh creates a distinctive taste experience.
19. Pomelo
Pomelo is a large citrus fruit native to Asia. It is similar in appearance to a grapefruit but much larger.
The fruit has a thick rind with a greenish-yellow or yellow color; the flesh inside can be pink, white, or yellow.
They are known for their large size, which is much bigger compared to other fruits. It has a sweet and tangy flavor, often described as a milder and sweeter version of grapefruit.
20. Tamarind
Tamarind is a fruit that has a long, brown pod-like shape, and inside it, there are several edible seeds surrounded by a sticky pulp.
The pulp is the edible part of the fruit and has a unique sweet and sour taste. It is widely used in various cuisines around the world.
21. Feijoas
Feijoas, or pineapple guavas, is a fruit native to South America, specifically Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. They are small, green fruits that have a unique flavor and texture.
What makes them exotic is their distinctive taste. They have a sweet and tangy flavor, often described as a combination of pineapple and strawberry.
22. Kiwano or Horned Melon
Kiwano, also known as horned melon or African horned cucumber, is a fruit native to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Its distinctive appearance is characterized by its bright orange-yellow skin covered in spikes or horns; hence the name “horned”.
Its taste is often described as a combination of cucumber and lime with a refreshingly sweet and tangy flavor.
23. Persimmon
Persimmons are a type of fruit that originated in East Asia, primarily in China and Japan. They come in various colors, shapes, and sizes.
The most common types are the Hachiya and the Fuyu. They have a sweet and slightly tangy taste, often described as a mix of flavors like apricot, mango, and honey.
24. Cherimoyas (Custard Apple)
Cherimoyas are fruits native to the Andean region of South America. The texture is soft and custard-like, earning them the nickname “custard apple.”
They are also known as sugar apples. They have green, scaly skin and white, creamy flesh with black seeds.
25. Kiwi
Kiwi fruit is an exotic fruit originally native to China, but it is now grown in various parts of the world, including New Zealand.
It is a small, oval-shaped fruit with brown, fuzzy skin and vibrant green flesh.
The contrast of the fuzzy brown skin and bright green flesh makes this fruit visually distinctive. This egg-shaped fruit stands out compared to more common fruits.
26. Soursop
Soursop fruits are also known as Graviola or Guyabano. They have a green, spiky exterior with soft, white, custard-like flesh inside.
They are native to the Caribbean and America but are now cultivated in various tropical regions worldwide.
It has a distinctive flavor that is often described as a combination of strawberry and pineapple with hints of citrus.
Benefits of Exotic Fruits or Tropical Fruits
π Unique flavors and textures
These fruits offer a delightful array of unique flavors and textures that you won’t find in your everyday fruit basket.
These tropical treats can range from sweet and tangy to creamy and watery, providing a refreshing change for your taste buds.
π High nutritional value
These fruits are not only delicious but also packed with high nutritional value.
They are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that promote overall health. For example, many of these fruits boost immunity and fight inflammation.
π Medicinal properties
These fruits are not only delicious, but many of them also possess medicinal properties that can benefit our health.
Some of these fruits are rich in antioxidants, which help fight against harmful free radicals and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.
How to Incorporate Exotic Fruits into Your Diet
π§ Smoothies and juices
Smoothies and juices are a delicious and convenient way to incorporate these fruits into your diet.
You can create a refreshing and nutritious drink with unique flavors by blending together various tropical fruits like mangosteens and guava. So grab your blender or juicer and experiment with combinations to enjoy the sweetest concoctions.
π§ Fruit salads
Fruit salads are a fantastic way to enjoy these fruits’ natural sweetness and vibrant flavors.
Simply chop up various tropical fruits like mangosteen and star fruit and toss them together in a bowl. The combination of textures and flavors creates a refreshing and nutritious treat.
π§ Desserts and baked goods
These fruits can add a unique and flavorful twist to desserts and baked goods.
Whether you’re making fruit tarts, sorbets, fruit-infused loaves of bread, muffins, cakes, cupcakes, or recipes incorporating these fruits into your delicacy recipes will impress your taste buds and leave you craving more.
π§ Exotic fruit bowls
Exotic fruit bowls are a delicious and refreshing way to enjoy the unique flavors of tropical fruits.
These colorful bowls can be filled with fruits like mangosteen and other sweet fruits. These fruits’ vibrant colors and amazing textures make them perfect for creating visually appealing and tasty bowls.
Where Best to Find Exotic Fruits
π Specialty grocery store or supermarket
Specialty grocery stores are an excellent place to find these fruits. These stores often carry a wide variety of unique and hard-to-find produce, including rare tropical fruits from around the world.
π Farmers markets
If you can’t find them in grocery stores, farmer’s markets are a great place to find a variety of fruits.
Many local farmers offer unique and uncommon ugly fruits you may not find at your regular grocery store. These markets often have a wide selection of fresh and seasonal produce.
π Online retailers
You can easily find a wide variety of fruits worldwide through online retailers.
These retailers offer convenience and accessibility, allowing you to explore and purchase rare tropical fruits that may not be available in your local grocery stores.
With just a few clicks, you can have these fruits delivered right to your doorstep.
To Sum Up
To sum up, exploring the world of exotic fruits is a delicious and exciting journey.
From the vibrant colors to the unique flavors and textures, these fruits provide an excellent addition to any diet.
Whether you’re sipping on a dragon fruit smoothie or indulging in a mangosteen dessert, incorporating these exotic gems into your meals will add variety. So, go ahead and discover the wonders of exotic fruits!
FAQS
These fruits refer to fruits that are not commonly found in one’s local area or country and often originate from tropical regions.Β
Some examples include dragon fruit, jackfruit, durian, lychee, mangosteen, passion fruit, and rambutan, and many more.Β
When selecting ripe fruits, gently squeeze them to check for firmness but with a slight give when pressed.
For visually appealing choices, look for vibrant colors and avoid any signs of bruising or mold on the skin.
Additionally, it is helpful to research specific ripening characteristics for each type of fruitΒ