Exotic fruits and their names. Thailand fruits. exotic fruit lychee

Article-review of exotic tropical fruits of Asia with photos, names, descriptions and prices in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. We wrote it based on our travel notes. Use on health!

Tropical fruits of the Southeast are a real treasure and a storehouse of health. It's just a sin not to try them all! In addition, exotic fruits sold in Russia (for example, pineapple, mango, bananas or carambola) only remotely resemble real ripe fruits. Read the article about - it is especially relevant for those who are going to this country for the first time.

List of tropical fruits with photos, names and descriptions

Rambutan (Rambutan, Ngo - Thai, Chôm chôm - Vietnamese)

Funny hairy red balls on the counter are rambutans. Their "hairiness" is of varying degrees: the hairs can be greenish and strong, withered and black, or moderately withered. Practice shows that the latter are the best.

The pulp of rambutans is dense and white translucent, it does not get rid of the stone too well. To get to the pulp, you need to make an incision across and part the halves. The taste is subtle and sweet, similar to green grapes. Unripe rambutans may be slightly sour. Sometimes there are already peeled rambutans in the markets, but they spoil much faster - there is a risk of running into spoiled ones. They are also sold in canned form with sugar syrup.

Season: from May to October.

Rambutans are one of the most inexpensive tropical fruits in Asia. Prices per kg:

• in Vietnam - from 40 thousand dong;
• in Thailand - from 30 to 150 baht (and about 15 baht for a peeled substrate);
• In Indonesia - 10 thousand rupees in Sumatra and from 18 thousand rupees in Bali.

(Photo © jeevs / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Lychee (Litchi, lin-chi - Thai, vải - Vietnamese)

Lychee, otherwise - litchi, or Chinese plum - are remarkable and tasty. Neat red-pink fruits from afar resemble the skin of a reptile - their peel is dotted with small tubercles. To the touch pleasant, elastic, rough. The thin shell is easily separated from the pulp, revealing a translucent white mass with a stone in the center. Lychees are very juicy, with a sweet and sour taste. They are actively used in cooking.

Harvested from April to June. The price per kilogram in Thailand is about 60 baht.

(Photo © su-lin / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Longan (Lam-yaj - Thai, Nhan - Vietnamese)

If you see bunches of small potatoes on the counter, know that this is a longan, or a dragon's eye. The fruits are juicy and sugary-sweet - it is almost impossible to break away from them: longan snaps like seeds, easily and quickly. In Vietnam, you can often see longan shells on the ground. The flesh is transparent white, sometimes with a slight yellowish tint. When cut, the longan resembles a dragon's eye, as there is a round bone inside, hence its name.

Season: May - November.

Prices per kilogram:

• in Vietnam - from 30 thousand dong;
• in Thailand - from 60 baht.

(Photo © Muy Yum / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Longkong (Langsat)

Longkong (langsat) is one of the most delicious exotic fruits in Asia, in our opinion. In appearance - a bunch of small potatoes of beige-yellow color with speckles, but larger than longan. The longkong is cleaned well - you just need to peel off the peel (although your hands will be a little sticky after that). The pulp is in the form of translucent slices, similar in shape to garlic. Its taste is simply amazing - sweet and refreshing, with a barely noticeable sourness, a bit like a pomelo. Beware of biting the bones - they are bitter.

Season: from May to November.

Prices per kg:

• in Thailand - from 100 baht;
• in Indonesia - from 20 thousand rupees.

(Photo © Yeoh Thean Kheng / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)

Mango (Mango, Ma-Muang - Thai, Xoài - Vietnamese)

The variety of mango species is amazing - from dark green to red. The flavor palette is also impressive. In Vietnam, mangoes are somewhat fibrous, while in Thailand their flesh is more uniform and flavorful. The bone is usually flat and wide.

It is better to choose slightly soft mangoes, hard ones may turn out to be unripe (although there are exceptions), and too soft ones - overripe, they will quickly deteriorate. In Thailand, yellow mangoes (and durians) are eaten with gluten-free rice and coconut milk, a traditional sticky rice dish.

Season: in Thailand in spring, in Vietnam - also in spring and winter.

Prices are different and depend on the variety (per kg):

• in Vietnam - from 25 to 68 thousand dongs;
• in Thailand - from 20 to 150 baht;
• in Indonesia - 10-15 thousand rupees per season and 25-50 - out of season;
• in Malaysia - from 4 ringgits.

(Photo © Philip Roeland / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Noina, or sugar apple (Sugar Apple, Noi-na - Thai, Mẵng cầu - Vietnamese)

Noina is very similar to cherimoya - they are relatives. Noina looks like a light green bumpy apple with segments-scales covered with a light whitish bloom. Sugar apple was called for a reason: the ripe fruit is really like sugar, with a creamy flavor. The flesh is white and so soft that noina is cut in half and eaten with a spoon, removing inedible bones. Cherimoya is similar to noina in many ways, but its peel is without scales.

Try to choose as ripe fruits as possible, as unripe noina will be unpleasant - hard and with a coniferous flavor. A ripe sugar apple is soft, the flesh can even shine through between the segments. Don't push it too hard - it can fall apart right in your hands.

Harvest: June - September.

The cost of a kilogram of these tropical fruits:

• in Vietnam - from 49 thousand dong (in a supermarket), in the market we bought for 30 thousand.

(Photo © Hanoian / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Guanabana, or soursop (Soursop, Guanabana, Mãng cầu xiêm - Vietnamese)

Another relative of the noina is guanabana. Its flesh is similar to a sugar apple, but not as sweet and with a bright creamy taste. By consistency, it is a bit like dense sour cream or yogurt, for which guanabana was nicknamed soursop. Eat it with a spoon or cut into pieces. The fruits of guanabana are much larger than noina and cherimoya, you can’t confuse them - they sometimes reach 10 or more kilograms. The peel is dark green, with small processes in the form of soft spines.

Guanabana is a rare guest on the shelves of markets and shops. Choose a slightly soft soursop - it can easily ripen in the refrigerator for a couple of days (but no more, so don't overdo it). An unripe fruit is hard and almost tasteless, and an overripe one will sour, fermentation processes will begin.

Fruits all year round. Usually the price per kilogram in Vietnam is from 43 thousand dong.

(Photo © tara marie / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)

Pomelo (Pomelo, Som-o - Thai)

Probably everyone knows what a pomelo looks like and what it tastes like, so we won’t describe it. However, we thought it was sweeter in Asia. When buying, you should choose by sniffing: the stronger the citrus aroma, the better the pomelo will be. Also pay attention to softness.

Season: July - September.

Price per kg:

• in Thailand - from 30 baht;
• in Vietnam - from 40 thousand dong.

Salak (Snake fruit, Sala and Ra-kum - Thai, Salak - Indonesian.)

A notable tropical fruit with a rind resembling snakeskin. It comes with and without thorns. The flesh is beige-yellow or white, sweet-sour in taste, with a wine flavor. Sometimes there is a taste of valerian. Spiny herring should be cleaned with care: cut at the edge with a knife and peel off like a tangerine. Cleans up pretty easily.

Season: June to August.

Prices per kg:

• in Thailand - from 60 baht;
• in Indonesia - from 20 thousand rupees.

(Photo © hl_1001a3 / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)

Pineapple (Pineapple, Sa-pa-rot - Thai, Khóm (Dứa) - Vietnamese)

Pineapple is an exotic fruit familiar to us since childhood. Only here in Asia it is much tastier than in Russia. Large and small pineapples for sale different varieties. We recommend taking Thai small, palm-sized, with an orange peel - they are the sweetest. It is convenient to buy already peeled or chopped pineapples.

Season: January, April - June.

Prices per kg:

• in Vietnam - from 20 thousand dongs;
• in Thailand - about 15-20 baht (per piece or kilogram - depending on the variety).

Chrysophyllum (Star apple, Caimito, Star apple, Vú sữa - Vietnamese)

We were not particularly impressed with the star apple: its taste seemed pleasant, but not outstanding, besides, the fruits secrete milky juice, which is then hardly washed off hands and lips. Mature chrysophyllums come in green, brown, and various shades of purple. You need to choose soft star apples, as unripe ones are inedible. It is better to eat them with a spoon, cut across and pre-cooled.

Harvested from February to March. The price in Vietnam per kg is from 37 thousand VND.

(Photo © tkxuong / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)

Mangosteen (Mangosteen, Mong-khut - Thai, Mang cút - Vietnamese)

Mangosteen (mangosteen), like almost all tropical fruits of Asia, looks attractive and arouses the curiosity of tourists. Small dark purple round balls with neat leaves on top, dense to the touch and quite heavy.

The peel of the mangosteen is thick, reminiscent of pomegranate in smell and astringent properties. Behind the thick rind are several slices of fragrant and extremely tender white pulp, similar in shape to garlic. The taste is unforgettable and indescribable! Light, sweet, refreshing. But we did not like the mangosteen wine.

It is important to choose the right fruits: when buying, lightly press the mangosteen - it should be a little soft, sag when pressed. If not, it's most likely corrupted.

When cleaning the mangosteen, be careful not to stain your clothes. In many hotels it is forbidden to eat it. It is better to clean with your hands - just tear off the leaves and press on the center. You can also use a knife - make an incision and open the fruit. If the mangosteen is fresh, it will peel easily.

Season: April - October.

Price per kg:

• in Thailand - from 80 baht;
• in Indonesia - 20-35 thousand rupees.

(Photo © olivcris / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)

Papaya (Papaya, Ma-la-koo - Thai, Đu đủ - Vietnamese)

Papaya is sweet and nutritious, with a flavor reminiscent of carrots and pumpkins. The flesh of the ripe fruit is very soft, fragrant, juicy, orange-red in color, and the skin is bright yellow to orange. Take moderately soft fruits. Green papaya is not sweet - it is added to salads and eaten with pepper and salt.

Season: all year round.

Prices per kg:

• in Vietnam - from 10 thousand dong;
• in Thailand - from 40 baht;
• in Malaysia - from 4 ringgits;
• in Indonesia - 7-15 thousand rupees.

(Photo © Crysstala / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Sapodilla (sapodilla, La-mut and Chiku - Thai, Lòng mứt or hồng xiêm - Vietnamese)

Sapodilla is called a tree potato - outwardly it really looks like an oblong potato. But inside - a sugary-sweet pulp of orange-brown color, reminiscent of persimmon varieties "Korolek", only softer. Buy soft brown fruits, as unripe sapodilla has an astringent effect.

Season: all year round.

Prices per kg:

• in Vietnam - from 21 thousand dong;
• in Thailand - from 40 baht.

(Photo © GlobalHort Image Library/ Imagetheque / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)

Pitahaya (dragon heart, dragon fruit, Geow-mangon - Thai, Thanh long - Vietnamese)

Pitahaya is one of the most recognizable exotic fruits, the photo of which has probably been seen by everyone. The bright pink pitaya belongs to the cactus family and looks unusual: inside is white or beet-colored flesh with small black seeds. She has a barely perceptible sweetish taste - in my opinion, pitahaya is almost bland. Eat with a spoon, cut in half.

Season: May - October.

Price per kg:

• in Vietnam - from 20-23 thousand dongs;
• in Thailand - from 45 baht;
• in Indonesia - 15 thousand rupees.

(Photo © John Loo / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY 2.0)

Coconut (Coconut, Ma-phrao - Thai, Dừa - Vietnamese)

In Southeast Asia, coconuts are large and light green or yellow-orange in color, not brown and hairy, as we have on the shelves. These are young coconuts, and they are drunk. Sellers will carefully cut off the top of the nut with a machete, give you a tube and a spoon - you can scrape off the pleasant jelly-like pulp remaining on the walls of the coconut. We recommend buying chilled coconuts.

Season: all year.

Price per piece (depending on size):

• in Vietnam - from 8-15 thousand dongs;
• in Thailand - 15-20 baht;
• in Malaysia - from 4-5 ringgits;
• in Indonesia - 10-15 thousand rupees.

(Photo © -Gep- / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY-ND 2.0)

Tamarind (Sweet Tamarind, Ma-kham-wan - Thai, Me thái ngọt - Vietnamese)

The sugary-sweet tamarind resembles a date in taste and texture. It looks like a brown pod, under a fragile shell - dark flesh, enveloping hard bones.

Season: December to March.

Prices per kg:

• in Vietnam - from 62 thousand dong;
• in Thailand - from 100 baht.

(Photo © Mal.Smith / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Banana (Banana, Kluai - Thai, Chuối - Vietnamese)

There are many types of bananas in Asia. Mostly small, palm-length. The taste is sweet and very different from those sold in Russia. Be sure to try different varieties. For example, in Malaysia there are wonderful triangular bananas. They are red on the outside, but they taste like dried ones.

Season: all year round.

Prices per kg:

• in Vietnam - from 15 thousand dong;
• in Thailand - from 30 baht;
• in Malaysia - from 4 ringgits;
• in Indonesia - 20-25 thousand rupees.

Passionfruit (Passionfruit, Chanh dây - Vietnamese)

This tropical fruit has a different, more sonorous name - Passionfruit, which translates as passion fruit. The taste of passion fruit is not for everyone: too sharp, sweet and sour (but I like it very much). Similar to concentrated multifruit juice.

The peel is dense, comes in many colors, but mostly purple, burgundy, brown and green-brown. Fruits can be smooth or shriveled - just such a passion fruit will be ripe. The pulp is jelly-like, with edible seeds. They eat it with a spoon, cutting it across.

But in Indonesia, passion fruit is completely different and is called marquise! Inside - a sweet jelly-like pulp with crispy bones. It can be drunk or eaten with a spoon. Outside - a dense yellow-orange peel. How to choose fruits? Take the brightest ones. If, when pressed, the peel sags and even slightly crunches, then the fruit is ripe.

Season: september - december and marquise in winter.

Prices per kg:

• in Vietnam - from 20 thousand dong;
• in Thailand - from 190 baht;
• in Indonesia - 45 thousand rupees (out of season).

(Photo © geishaboy500 / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)

Carambola (Carambola, Star fruit, Ma-fuang - Thai, Khẽ - Vietnamese)

The beautiful yellow-orange fruit is carambola. It tastes sweet and sour, reminiscent of strawberries. Carambola is juicy and refreshing, great to eat in the heat. It is so named because when cross-sectioned, slices are obtained in the form of stars.

Season: October to December.

Prices per kg:

• in Thailand - from 120 baht (and 50 baht for the substrate);
• in Malaysia - from 4 ringgits;
• in Indonesia - from 20 thousand rupees.

(Photo © berenicegg / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)

Chompu (pink apple, waterapple, Chom-phu - Thai, Mân thái đỏ - Vietnamese)

Chompoo are unusually juicy - it seems as if they are made of water. Excellent thirst quencher. The taste is barely noticeable sweetish, very pleasant. The fragrance resembles the smell of a rose, hence the name. Chompus come in red, green, and white.

Season: all year round.

Prices per kg:

• in Thailand - from 200 baht (and 20-70 baht for the substrate);
• in Malaysia - from 4 ringgits.

(Photo © beautifulcataya / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Jackfruit (Jackfruit, Kha-nun - Thai, Mít - Vietnamese)

Perhaps one of the most memorable and delicious exotic fruits in Asia is the jackfruit. Its fruits are round and very large, so it is sold peeled. The split jackfruit smells sweet, the aroma resembles chewing gum and spreads far. The lobules are bright yellow and smooth. The fruit is very nutritious.

Season: January - May.

Prices for a jackfruit pad:

• in Vietnam - about 25 thousand dong;
• in Thailand - from 20 baht.

(Photo © mimolag / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)

Guava (Guajava, Farang - Thai, Ổi - Vietnamese)

We don't like guava. It looks like a pear or a green apple, but tastes something in between. In general, the pulp is pleasant, sweetish, white and pink flowers. Choose a softer guava, it is impossible to eat unripe - it is hard, with a coniferous flavor.

Season: all year round.

Prices per kg:

• in Vietnam - from 19 thousand dong;
• in Malaysia - from 4 ringgits.

(Photo © cKol / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0)

Wani (Wani, white mango)

Found only in Indonesia. It looks like a mango, but it's not the same at all. Inside is juicy aromatic pulp with an impressive bone. The pulp is fibrous and poorly separated from it, so it is inconvenient to cut. Cut the slices carefully without touching the bone. And even better - buy juice from vani so as not to toil.

Choose the largest fruits, slightly soft, with a dark skin. The fruit should smell strongly.

Season: late February - March, but we also bought in April - May.

The price per kg in Bali (Ubud) out of season is 35 thousand rupees.

Durian (Durian, Too-ree-an - Thai, Sầu riêng - Vietnamese)

The same king of fruits that everyone has heard about. Reviews about durian are contradictory: someone says that they will never eat it, while others are crazy about it. Our first acquaintance with durian turned out to be unsuccessful: a distinct taste of either onion or garlic was mixed with sweetness - not the pleasure that we expected after reading laudatory reviews about the heavenly taste of this exotic fruit. After eating, the garlic flavor lasts for a long time in the mouth. By the way, the smell is not quite nasty, and sometimes even pleasant - apparently, it depends on the variety.

We tasted durian the second time, having bought a traditional Thai dish sticky rice with durian and coconut milk. What to say? Don't lie, the taste is truly heavenly! The pulp is very tender, creamy. Remember that it should not be consumed with alcohol. The most delicious durians were eaten in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Season: April - August.

Durian prices:

• in Thailand it costs from 200 baht per kg (Phuket Town) and from 900 baht per kg in Patong - the difference in price is impressive. It is most profitable to buy sticky rice with durian - from 55 baht per package. Hearty and tasty.
• in Indonesia - from 10-40 to 25-60 thousand rupees. Such a spread in prices due to the size and place of sale. In the resorts of Bali, prices are greatly inflated, so it is cheaper to buy in the outback and near the roads.

(Photo © Mohafiz M.H. Photography (www.lensa13.com) / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Intro Image Source: © Andrea Schaffer / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0.

For fruit lovers, what could be better than enjoying a juicy and ripe product. Pears or apples familiar to our climate are delicious, but there are many exotic berries and fruits, some of which can be purchased at the supermarket, while others - only in hot countries. In this article we will talk about pink fruits, their beneficial properties and what they are called.

Lychee

The birthplace of this fruit is China (in translation, it grows in clusters, has an oval shape, the volume of the berry does not exceed four centimeters, weighs no more than twenty grams. The fruit is pink, white inside, has a dense but brittle skin of different colors from pink to bright purple. The flesh of the fruit is white or creamy, jelly-like in texture, with an inedible brown pit inside.

Taste. In this fruit, only the pulp is edible. It is tender, with a refreshing sweet and sour taste, vaguely reminiscent of grapes. The taste depends on sunny days and rainfall, so it can be from very sweet to very sour.

Beneficial features. The composition of the pink-white fruit includes vitamins C, K, PP, B1 and B2, as well as iron, copper, potassium and phosphorus. A high concentration of carbohydrates contributes to the normalization of digestive processes. It is recommended to use in the following diseases:

• in diabetes mellitus to normalize sugar levels;
• with anemia;
• mild anemia;
• with diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• with high cholesterol;
• with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

And also low-calorie fruit can be consumed during diets.

Harm. Pink-white fruit has no special contraindications. Not recommended for small children or in case of personal intolerance. And you can also harm the body if you eat a fruit with a stone or with excessive daily consumption.

How to choose? The freshest fruit can only be purchased in the countries where it is grown. When choosing, you need to know that lychee is divided into several varieties, if the fruit does not look like in the picture, this does not mean that it is stale or of poor quality. What you should pay attention to:

• the fruit should not be broken and contain soft areas;
• peel - whole, without cracks and breaks;
• to the touch the fruit is dense and elastic;
• brown shades indicate staleness.

How to store? Buy fruit should be in clusters along with foliage and branches. Store at room temperature for no more than three days, in the refrigerator - about 30 days.

How to peel and eat pink fruit with white flesh? Before use, use a knife to cut the shell, separate the pulp and pull out the bone. The fruit is consumed not only in its raw form. It is added to cocktails, various sauces, desserts.

Kepundung (Asian gooseberry)

Outwardly, it resembles longan (spherical orange fruits that form into clusters). Despite the dense peel, the fruit is easily peeled. A fruit with a pink-white jelly-like pulp, inside there is a hard-to-separate bone. Refreshing taste with sweet and sour notes. Contains a large number of vitamin C.

• are used for the treatment and prevention of colds, throat diseases, diseases of the gastric tract;
• helps with liver problems.

Due to the fact that the stone is difficult to separate, the fruits are practically not consumed fresh. They are added to sauces, syrups or dried.

Chompoo (Malay apple)

The fruit is oblong in shape and more like not apples, but small pears. The rind is shiny and looks like it has been waxed. Skin color can be pink or deep red. The pink fruit inside has a white juicy pulp and a pair of inedible brown seeds.

Taste. The pulp is juicy, when biting a crunch is heard. The taste is sweet and sour, in order to fully enjoy all its shades, it is recommended to use the fruit chilled.

• beneficial effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
• removes toxins from the body;
• has a diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect.

The pink fruit has no contraindications, but acquaintance with this fruit should begin with small doses.

They are used not only fresh, but you can also stew them with the addition of spices, prepare jams and jams.

Rambutan

Rambutan is the most exotic pink fruit that is extremely rare outside of its habitat. The size of the fruit is no larger than a chicken egg with a pronounced pink color, there are green hairs on the peel. Outwardly resembles a fluffy ball. The pulp is of a jelly consistency, its color is pink, white or milky. In the middle of the pink fruit is an inedible brown oblong bone.

The taste varies from variety, it can be sweet or sour. The whole fruit has no smell, but when opened, the smell is similar to ordinary blue grapes.

The composition contains vitamins of group B, folic and nicotinic acids, vitamin A and C, minerals. Benefit:

• stimulates the work of the kidneys;
• normalizes blood sugar;
• strengthens bones;
• helps with diets.

Fruit is contraindicated large quantities, no more than five fruits should be consumed per day. The peel of the fruit contains toxic substances, so medicinal products based on it should be used in doses.

In what form are they used? In order to properly peel the fruit, it is necessary to find a natural seam on the peel, scroll on both sides in opposite directions along the seam. The pulp is added to the cream for cakes, and sauces, ice cream, syrups are also made from it.

What to look for when choosing? First of all, the staleness of pink fruits is indicated by the excessive softness of the fruit, as well as wrinkled skin. If the hairs have fallen off or changed color, you should not buy such a fruit. Make sure that the fruit has a whole peel without dents, cracks or spots that are not characteristic of it. If rambutan is fresh, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

passion fruit

Fruit with a smooth surface, has a round and slightly elongated shape. Ripe fruits with a pronounced color can be pink, yellow, red or purple. Fruits of yellow varieties are less sweet. The pulp with stones is similar to jelly, also has different colors.

The fruits are sweet to taste, but opinions differ on what they look like. It combines several flavor notes, namely peach, gooseberry, plum and strawberry.

• helps to strengthen the immune system;
• prevention of cancer and eye diseases;
• improves skin covering;
• normalizes blood pressure and bowel function.

Although there are few contraindications, they still exist:

• during pregnancy or lactation, fruit is consumed in small quantities and it is imperative to monitor the reaction of the body;
• not recommended for young children, as their digestive system does not cope well with new diets;
• you should not use an exotic fruit with personal intolerance;
• people with diabetes should be treated with caution.

When used, it is necessary to cut the fruit in half and eat the pulp with a spoon along with the seeds, the peel is inedible. And you can also use the fruits as a filling for pies, make juices, mousses, salads and sauces out of them.

When choosing a fruit, pay attention to the peel, ideally it should be a little wrinkled, but at the same time dense. Store in the refrigerator for no more than seven days.

Mame

Another name for this fruit is the marmalade fruit or sapota. Basically, the fruits are spherical, but can be oblong. The diameter can reach twenty centimeters, and weight - up to three kilograms. The peel is dense and rough, red-brown in color. The color of the pulp can be not only pink, but also orange or red. Inside the fruit is a large bone. The consistency of the pulp of the fruit resembles marmalade, and the taste is caramel. It can be consumed fresh or added to ice cream or smoothies.

Useful properties include:

• jujube fruit is rich in vitamins C and A, and also contains calcium, iron and potassium;
• nicotinic acid (PP) lowers cholesterol levels;
• due to the high content of potassium, the fruit is useful for diseases of the kidneys or heart;
• unripe fruit has an astringent taste and helps with diarrhea;
• vegetable fats are used in cosmetic products (perfectly moisturizes the epidermis and restores the health of damaged hair).

Marmalade fruits are quickly perishable fruits, so you will not find them on the shelves of our supermarkets.

Pitahaya (pitahaya) - pink fruit with black seeds

Pitaya is the fruit of a cactus that grows in the subtropics, another name is dragon fruit. The fruit has an attractive appearance with a skin from bright pink to red. An oblong oval shape with outgrowths, the ends of which are bright green. In the context - a pink fruit with white pulp and black seeds, the pulp is creamy. Due to its unusual appearance, the fruit is often used for decoration. One fruit weighs up to ½ kilogram.

Variety. The species differ not only in size or shape, but also in the frequency of scales and the color of the flesh. There are three main types:

• White pitaya is the most common type of pink fruit, white inside with black seeds. The taste, although pronounced, is rather fresh compared to other types.
• Yellow - yellow peel, on which there are scales that look like pimples. The flesh is white with dark seeds. Sweeter in taste than other varieties.
• Red - the skin is almost red, inside the fruit is pink with black dots. Very fragrant, but more whimsical look.

Taste. The pulp is similar in consistency to thick sour cream, the taste of the fruit resembles a mixture of banana and kiwi. Pink fruit with black seeds goes well with other fruits or dishes. The main thing is that other foods should not be more sweet or spicy, as this will clog the taste of the pitahaya.

The composition includes vitamins (C, B), fiber, nicotinic and ascorbic acid, minerals (iron, potassium, phosphorus and calcium).

• great for weight loss;
• removes waste and toxins from the body;
• pink fruit, white inside with black dots, perfectly improves immunity;
• relieves constipation;
• has an anti-inflammatory effect;
• lowers blood sugar levels;
• slows down the aging process;
• has a beneficial effect on the epidermis and is widely used in cosmetic products.

• It should be used with caution by people prone to allergic rashes.
• Overeating can cause diarrhea.
• If you try the fruit for the first time, you need to use it a little.
• Pink fruit, white inside with dots, not recommended for small children.

In what form are they used? The fruit can be eaten not only raw, but also make juices or jams from it, add to salads.

A few tips on how to clean up.

• You can not remove the peel, for this, a pink fruit, white inside with seeds, is cut into two parts with a knife and the pulp is taken out with a spoon.
• You can peel the peel from top to bottom, like peeling a banana.
• You can cut the fruit into slices, like citrus fruits.
• If you cut the peel a little, and then move it down, then one pulp will remain in your hands.

How to choose? Before eating a pink fruit with black dots inside, you should familiarize yourself with the simple rules:

• the fruit should be slightly soft to the touch;
• if you purchased a hard fruit, you can send it to the refrigerator for a couple of days, and it will become soft;
• if there are dark spots on the peel - this fruit is overripe, you should not buy it;
• the surface of the fruit should have a bright color;
• growths should not be dry.

You can store pink fruit, inside with black seeds, in the refrigerator for no more than a week.

Pluot

This fruit is a hybrid that appeared due to the combination of apricot and plum. The fruits are in the form of a small ball. Smooth peel can be not only pink, but also green, burgundy or purple. The flesh is juicy and may be plum or white. In terms of taste, pluot is similar to an apricot.

Useful properties include:

• due to the fiber that the fetus contains, intestinal function is stimulated, and cholesterol levels are also reduced;
• B vitamins help to normalize the activity of the nervous system;
• the presence of potassium helps to restore not only the water balance, but also the work of the cardiovascular system;
• the fruit has an antipyretic effect during a cold;
• improves the immune system;
• beneficial effect on the organs of vision;
• helps with constipation.

It is not recommended to consume the fruit on an empty stomach, as some of the substances that make up the composition can irritate the mucous membrane. Due to the large amount of sugar, it should not be used in the diet of people with diabetes. Contraindicated in people with personal intolerance, as well as with gastritis or exacerbation of ulcers.

Juices and wines, jams and jelly are made from the fruit. Add to fruit salads, desserts.

Tsabr

Belongs to the cactus family, another name is prickly pear or Indian fig. The fruit grows on a cactus and looks like a pear, no more than eight centimeters long. There are small spines on the peel, the skin can be pink, red, yellow or green. The pulp is red or white with small seeds.

• the presence of calcium improves the condition of the nail plate and hair, and also strengthens the bones;
• there is phosphorus necessary for the body to form new cells;
• ascorbic acid strengthens the immune system;
• regular use normalizes the functioning of the kidneys and liver;
• the fruit is low in calories, so you can use it during the period of dietary nutrition.

How to clean the fruit? The process must be carried out with gloves, with a fork and knife. First, the cap is cut off from the fruit, then an incision is made in the center and the peel is unfolded with a fork, thus the pulp is separated.

The fruit can be eaten fresh and also used in cooking. For example, drinks, sauces, jams or jams are prepared from the pulp. Add to salads, pastries or desserts. Dried fruits are used as a condiment. And the stems are like vegetables and are used as a side dish for fish or meat dishes.

Guava

This fruit is pink inside, small in size, round or pear-like in shape. Depending on the variety, the flesh can be not only pink, but also white. The wrinkled peel looks dense on the outside, but in fact it is thin and healthy. Inside the pulp is a large number of small seeds.

Taste. Guava is a very mysterious fruit, as its taste is hard to describe. Ripe fruits are similar in taste to raspberries, but with hints of needles that appear from behind the peel. The most popular type is considered to be a fruit with pink flesh that tastes like a combination of strawberries and pineapple.

• normalizes pressure;
• strengthens the immune system;
• has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties;
• stimulates the work of the cardiac system and the production of hormones;
• tea from the roots helps with diarrhea;
• improves the functioning of the endocrine system;
• normalizes the digestive process;
• lowers blood sugar levels;
• has a positive effect on the epidermis;
• relieves stress and stimulates brain activity.

• excessive consumption can lead to indigestion;
• people with allergic diseases should eat this fruit with caution;
• unripe fruits adversely affect the functioning of the kidneys.

How to eat? You can use pink fruit with seeds, after cutting it into slices. Only ripe fruits are eaten with the peel (a little bitter). And you can also prepare juices, syrups, jam, mashed potatoes. Add to salads, smoothies or ice cream. Pickled guava goes well with meat dishes.

How to choose? First of all, you need to pay attention to the appearance. Fruit with pink flesh on the skin should not show damage or dark spots. The fruits are slightly soft to the touch. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 30 days, at room temperature for no more than four days.

Medlar Germanic (Caucasian)

Despite the fact that the plant belongs to the rose family, the color of the fruit is brown with a red tint. The fruit tastes slightly astringent, with sourness. There are about five bones inside.

• ascorbic acid helps to strengthen the immune system;
• eating fruit improves blood vessels, thereby preventing the formation of blood clots;
• has an anti-inflammatory effect;
• removes toxins from the body;
• improves blood circulation and blood clotting;
• the presence of potassium has a beneficial effect on the work of the cardiovascular system;
• calcium helps to strengthen not only the hair and the nail plate, but also the bones;
• magnesium normalizes the functioning of the nervous system.

Eating the fruit can only harm people with personal intolerance.

Syrups, juices, jams are made from fruits, they are added to desserts.

Using exotic fruits in cooking

Consider some incredible recipes on how to cook exotic fruits deliciously.

No. 1. Stuffed chompoo.

Ripe fruits are cut lengthwise into two parts, getting rid of the core. Minced meat is made from any kind of meat pulp, spices, salt, and a little tomato sauce are added to it. Lay out the meat filling in each half. Bake in the oven for about twenty minutes at a temperature of 180 degrees. Before serving, sprinkle the dish with chopped herbs and garlic.

No. 2. Lychee dessert.

First of all, you need to prepare the cream. To do this, beat three eggs and grind them with a tablespoon granulated sugar. Gently pour in freshly squeezed juice of ½ lemon and pour a little citrus peel. The mass is poured into a saucepan and put in a water bath, cooked until the mixture thickens, while stirring occasionally so that the cream does not stick to the bottom. Cool to room temperature in a natural way and add 25 grams of butter. Peeled fruits are laid out at the bottom of the baking dish, evenly poured with lemon cream and baked for no more than fifteen minutes to form a golden crust.

No. 3. Salad with the addition of rambutan.

For 250 grams of canned fruit you will need:

• 150 g crab meat;
• 50 grams of rice (boiled);
• greens and white sauce (mayonnaise).

All components are finely chopped and mixed in a deep bowl. Add salt, ground pepper to your taste and season with white sauce. Arrange in a salad bowl and decorate with herbs.

No. 4. Casserole with passion fruit and cottage cheese.

For three fruits you will need the following products:

• granulated sugar - 60 grams;
• two types of cottage cheese (crumbly - 150 g and soft - 100 g);
• 30 grams of starch;
• one egg and a little butter (butter).

Cottage cheese is pre-mixed, granulated sugar and an egg are sent there. Juice is made from two fruits and starch is added to it. The curd mass and juice are mixed. Lubricate the baking dish with oil and sprinkle with breadcrumbs, spread the dough evenly. Cook for about forty minutes at a temperature of 180 degrees. The finished casserole is decorated with whipped cream and the remaining passion fruit.

No. 5. Salad with chicken meat and pitahaya.

For two fruits you need to prepare:

• ¼ kilogram of chicken fillet;
• one stalk of celery;
• 100 grams of pistachios;
• one red onion;
• lettuce leaves.

Pre-cut the onion in half rings to remove bitterness, pickle it. To do this, mix a small amount apple cider vinegar with sugar and put a vegetable there for ten minutes. The meat is chopped into cubes and also poured with marinade. To prepare it, mix 60 milligrams of balsamic vinegar and oyster sauce. The chicken should marinate for about thirty minutes. After this time, it is fried in olive oil. Cut the celery into cubes, grind the nuts into crumbs. The fruit is cut lengthwise into two parts and the pulp is removed so that the skin is not damaged. The pulp of one fruit is whipped with a blender, 30 ml of sesame oil and 50 ml of olive oil are sent to it, and the remaining pulp is cut into cubes. They take the peel of the fruit, lay lettuce, onion, celery on the bottom. On top of the meat, fruit pulp and nuts. Gently drizzle with dressing.

No. 6. Rabbit with guava.

For the carcass of one rabbit, you will need the following ingredients:

• two fruits;
• 15 grams of dried marjoram, as well as salt and ground pepper;
• one lemon;
• a couple of cloves of garlic.

The meat is pre-washed, dried, cut into portions. Spread in a deep bowl and add all the spices, including chopped garlic and salt. The fruits are cut into two parts, with the help of a spoon they get rid of the seeds and chop into thin strips. The meat is fried until golden brown in vegetable oil, guava is laid out on top, freshly squeezed lemon juice and clean water are poured. Cover with a lid. Reduce the fire and simmer for about an hour.

No. 7. Sorbet is a light version of ice cream, where the pulp of the fruit is frozen and served as a dessert in special bowls.

To prepare it, we need:

• one pink pitahaya fruit;
• granulated sugar 30 grams;
• 15 ml lemon juice;
• 60 ml cold water.

Pre-take out the pulp and beat it with a blender. Carefully pour in water, citrus juice and pour out granulated sugar. Place in the freezer until the mixture is chilled. Served on the table in a skin of pitahaya.

1. Upon arrival in tropical countries, you should not immediately eat unusual fruits. Most of them are allergens, so you should wait two days for the body to adapt.
2. It is not recommended to eat exotic fruits in kilograms. You can get enough of one fruit or even half, it all depends on the size.
3. During pregnancy, lactation, as well as young children and the elderly, exotics should be eaten with extreme caution, and it is necessary to monitor the reaction of the body.
4. During improper transportation, most fruits lose their beneficial properties.

In this article, we examined in detail not only what pink fruits are called, but their features and recipes for their preparation.

Litchi (Litchi, Chinese plum, Litchi).

Round red fruit, up to 4 cm in diameter. Wonderful, delicious fruit. It has one bone in the middle. Look like Longon in shape, texture and stone, but with a richer taste and aroma. Very juicy, sweet, sometimes sour. The peel is easily separated from the white-transparent pulp.

Unfortunately, fresh Lychee can not be consumed all year round: the Lychee harvest season begins in May and lasts until the end of July. During the rest of the year it is almost impossible to find it.

During the off-season in Asia, canned lychees can be purchased in jars or plastic bags in their own juice or coconut milk.

Ripe fruits keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You can freeze and store in the freezer for up to 3 months peeled fruits.

Lychee contains many proteins, pectins, potassium, magnesium and vitamin C. A very high content of nicotinic acid - vitamin PP, which actively prevents the development of atherosclerosis. The widespread prevalence of Lychee in the countries of Southeast Asia is the reason low level atrosclerosis in this region.

Rambutan

Rambutan (Rambutan, Ngo, "hairy fruit").

Round fruits of red color, up to 5 cm in diameter, covered with soft processes like thorns. The pulp covering the stone is a transparent white elastic mass, with a pleasant sweet taste, sometimes with a sour tint. The stone is quite tightly connected to the pulp, and is edible.

Contains carbohydrates, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, nicotinic acid and vitamin C. Fruits have a short shelf life - up to 7 days in the refrigerator.

Harvest season: May to October.

It is cleaned by cutting the peel with a knife, or without using a knife, as if twisting the fruit in the middle.

Rambutan is eaten fresh, cooked jams and jellies, canned.

mangosteen

Mangosteen (Mangosteen, mangosteen, mangosteen, garcinia, mankut).

The fruits are about the size of a small dark apple. purple. Beneath the thick, inedible skin is the edible pulp in the form of garlic cloves. The pulp is sweet with sourness, very tasty, not like anything else. Generally pitted, although some fruits have small, soft pits that can be eaten.

Sometimes there are sick fruits of Mangosteen, with a dark creamy, sticky and unpleasant-tasting pulp. Such fruits cannot be identified until you peel them.

The harvest season is from April to September.

Natural biologically active substances contained in mangosteen reduce inflammatory reactions: swelling, soreness, redness, high temperature.

Eye of the Dragon

Dragon's eye (pitahaya, pitaya, moon yang, dragon fruit, pitaya).

These are the fruits of a cactus. The dragon's eye is the Russian version of the name of this fruit. The international name is Dragon Fruit.

Rather large, oblong fruits (palm-sized) red, pink or yellow on the outside. Inside the pulp is white or red, dotted with small black seeds. The pulp is very tender, juicy, slightly sweet, with an unexpressed taste. It is convenient to eat with a spoon, scooping out the pulp from the fruit cut in half.

The dragon's eye is useful for stomach pain, diabetes or other endocrine disease.

The harvest seasons are all year round.

durian

King of fruits. The fruits are very large: up to 8 kilograms.

A fruit famous all over the world for its smell. Almost everyone has heard of it, some have smelled it, and very few have tasted it. Its smell is reminiscent of the smell of onions, garlic and worn socks. With this fruit, because of its smell, it is even forbidden to enter hotels, transport and other public places. To remind you of the ban in Thailand, for example, they hang out signs with a crossed-out image of a fruit.

The sweet pulp of the fruit has a very delicate texture, and does not at all correspond to an unpleasant odor. You should try this fruit, if only for the reason that many have heard about it, but few dare to try it. But in vain. The taste is very pleasant, and the fruit itself is considered the most valuable fruit in Asia. It is very high in calories and healthy. Durian also has a reputation as a powerful aphrodisiac.

Sold cut (into slices) and packed in polyethylene. In supermarkets, you can find very interesting sweets with the taste and smell of Durian.

Sala

Sala (salak, rakum, snake fruit, snake fruit, sala)

Oblong or round fruits of small size (about 5 cm long) red (Rakum) or brown (Salak) in color, covered with dense small spines.

Fruit with a very unusual, bright sweet-sour taste. Someone reminds a persimmon, someone a pear. It is worth trying at least once, and then how you like it ...

You should be careful when peeling the fruit: the spines are very dense and dig into the skin. It's better to use a knife.

The season is from April to June.

Carambola (Starfruit, Kamrak, Ma Phyak, Carambola, Star-fruit).

"Star of the tropics" - in the context of the shape we represent an asterisk.

Fruit with an edible peel, eaten whole (there are small seeds inside). The main advantage is a pleasant smell and juiciness. The taste is not particularly distinguished by anything - slightly sweet or sweet and sour, somewhat reminiscent of eating apples. Sufficiently juicy fruit and perfectly quenches thirst.

Sold all year round.

People with severe kidney failures are not recommended to consume Carambola.

Longan (Lam-yai, Dragon's Eye).

Small fruits, similar to small potatoes, covered with a thin inedible skin and one inedible bone inside.

The pulp of Longan is very juicy, has a sweet, very aromatic, taste with a peculiar touch.

The season is from July to September.

Longkong/Langsat

Longkong (Longan, Longcon, Langsat, Lonngkong, Langsat).

Longkong fruits, like Longan, are similar to small potatoes, but are slightly larger in size and have a yellowish tint. It is possible to distinguish Longan if you peel the fruit from the peel: peeled, it looks like garlic.

They have an interesting sweet and sour taste. Fruits Rich in calcium, phosphorus, carbohydrates and vitamin C. The burnt skin of the Longkong gives off a fragrant smell that is not only pleasant, but also beneficial, as it serves as an excellent repellant.

Fresh fruit can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 4-5 days. The skin of a ripe fruit should be dense, without cracks, otherwise the fruit will quickly deteriorate.

The season is from April to June.

Sometimes a variety is also sold - Langsat, which looks no different, but has a slightly bitter taste.

Jackfruit (Eve, Khanoon, Jackfruit, Nangka, Indian Breadfruit).

Jackfruit fruits are the largest fruits growing on trees: their weight reaches 34 kg. Inside the fruit are several large sweet yellow slices of edible pulp. These slices are sold already peeled, because you yourself cannot cope with this giant.

The pulp has a sugary-sweet taste, reminiscent of melon and marshmallow. It is very nutritious: they contain about 40% carbohydrates (starch) - more than in bread.

The season is from January to August.

You can take the risk of bringing such a monster home as a whole, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. But it is better to buy chopped and packed slices of pulp.

Important! Some people have an unhealthy reaction in the throat after eating Jackfruit - spasms, it becomes difficult to swallow. Everything usually passes in an hour or two. Maybe it's an allergic reaction. Be careful.

Pineapple (Pineapple).

Pineapple fruits do not need special comments.

It should only be noted that Pineapples bought in Asia and Pineapples bought in Russia are completely different things. Pineapples in Russia are a pathetic imitation of real Pineapples that you can taste in their homeland.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the Thai Pineapple - it is considered the most delicious in the world. You should definitely try it and be sure to bring it home with you to pamper your loved ones. For consumption on the spot, it is better to buy already peeled.

Pineapple season - all year round

Mango (Mango).

According to some estimates, Mango is considered the most delicious fruit in the world.

Mango is quite widely known and sold in Russia. However, the taste and aroma of Mango in its homeland is very different from what is sold in our stores. In Asia, its fruits are much more fragrant, juicier, and the taste is more intense. And indeed, when you eat a fresh, ripe mango grown, for example, in Thailand it seems that there is nothing tastier.

The fruit is covered with an inedible peel that does not separate from the pulp: it must be cut into a thin layer with a knife. Inside the fruit there is a rather large, flat bone, from which the pulp also does not calve, and it must be separated from the stone with a knife, or simply eaten.

The color of the Mango varies from green to yellow (sometimes to yellow-orange or red) depending on the degree of maturity. For consumption on the spot, it is better to buy the most ripe - yellow or orange fruits. Without a refrigerator, such fruits can be stored for up to 5 days, in a refrigerator for up to 30 days, unless of course they were stored somewhere else before.

If you want to bring several fruits home, then you can buy fruits of medium maturity, greenish in color. They keep well and ripen on the road or already at home.

noina

Noina (Sugar apple, Annona scaly, sugar-apple, sweetsop, noi-na).

Another unusual fruit that has no analogues and does not look like any of the fruits we are used to. The fruits of Noina are the size of a large apple, green, bumpy.

Inside the fruit there is a sweet fragrant pulp and many small hard seeds.

It is very inconvenient to clean due to the bumpy skin. If the fruit is ripe, then the pulp can be eaten with a spoon, after cutting the fruit in half.

The fruit is rich in vitamin C, amino acids and calcium.

The season is from June to September.

Sweet Tamarind

Sweet Tamarind (Sweet Tamarind, Indian date).

Tamarind is considered a spice of the legume family, but is also used as an ordinary fruit. Fruits up to 15 centimeters long have an irregular curved shape. There is also a variety of Tamarind - green Tamarind.

Under the hard brown peel, resembling a shell, there is a brown pulp, sweet and sour with a tart taste. Be careful - inside Tamarind there are large hard bones.

By soaking tamarind in water and grinding through a sieve, juice is obtained. Sweets are made from ripe dried tamarind. You can buy in the store and bring home a wonderful tamarind sauce for meat and sweet tamarind syrup (for making cocktails.

This fruit is rich in vitamin A, organic acids and complex sugars. Tamarind is also used as a laxative.

The season is from October to February.

American Mammea (Mammea americana).

This fruit, also known as the American apricot and the Antillean apricot, is originally from South America, although it can now be found in almost all tropical countries.

This fruit, which is actually a berry, is quite large, growing up to 20 centimeters in diameter. Inside there is one large or several (up to four) smaller bones. The pulp is very tasty and fragrant, and, in accordance with its second name, tastes and smells like apricot and mango.

The ripening season is different depending on the region, but mainly from May to August.

Cherimoya (Annona cherimola).

Cherimoya is also known as Cream Apple and Ice Cream Tree. In some countries, the fruit is generally known under completely different names: in Brazil - Graviola, in Mexico - Roox, in Guatemala - Pac or Tzumux, in El Salvador - Anona poshte, in Belize - Tukib, in Haiti - Cachiman la Chine, in the Philippines - Atis , on Cook Island - Sasalapa. The birthplace of the fruit is South America, but it can be found in the countries of Asia and South Africa that are warm all year round, as well as in Australia, Spain, Israel, Portugal, Italy, Egypt, Libya and Algeria. However, in these countries the fruit is rare. It is most common on the American continent.

It is rather difficult to recognize the fruit of Cherimoyya at the first inexperienced glance, since there are several types of it with different surfaces (lumpy, smooth or mixed). One of the tuberculate varieties, including Noina (see above), which is widespread in the countries of Southeast Asia. The size of the fruit is 10-20 centimeters in diameter, and the shape of the cut fruit resembles a heart. The pulp resembles an orange in texture and is usually eaten with a spoon, very tasty and tastes like banana and passion fruit, papaya and pineapple, and strawberries with cream at once. The pulp contains very hard pits the size of a pea, so be careful, otherwise you may be left without a tooth. It is usually sold a little underripe and firm and must lie down (2-3 days) before getting its real amazing taste and texture.

The ripening season is usually from February to April.

Noni (Noni, Morinda citrifolia).

This fruit is also known as Big Moringa, Indian Mulberry, Healthy Tree, Cheese Fruit, Nonu, Nono. The homeland of the fruit is Southeast Asia, but now it grows in all tropical countries.

The Noni fruit resembles a large potato in shape and size. Noni cannot be called very tasty and fragrant, and, apparently, that is why tourists very rarely come across it. Ripe fruits have an unpleasant odor (reminiscent of the smell of moldy cheese) and a bitter taste, but are considered very useful. In some regions, noni is a staple food for the poor. It is usually consumed with salt. Noni juice is also popular.

Noni bears fruit all year round. But you can find it not in every fruit market, but, as a rule, in the markets for local residents.

Marula (Marula, Sclerocarya birrea).

This fruit grows exclusively on the African continent. And it is not easy to find it fresh for sale in other regions. The thing is that after ripening, the fruits almost immediately begin to ferment inside, turning into a low-alcohol drink. This property of marula is enjoyed not only by the inhabitants of Africa, but also by animals. After eating marula fruits that have fallen to the ground, they are often "drunk".

Ripe Marula fruits are yellow in color. The size of the fruit is about 4 cm in diameter, and inside is white pulp and a hard stone. Marula does not have an outstanding taste, but its flesh is very juicy and has a pleasant aroma until it starts to ferment. The pulp also contains a huge amount of vitamin C.

The harvest season of Marula takes place in March-April.

Wonderful Platonia (Platonia insignis)

Platonia grows only in the countries of South America. It is impossible to find it in the countries of Southeast Asia.

Platonia fruits are up to 12 centimeters in size, with a large thick peel. Under the peel there is a white tender pulp with a sweet and sour taste and several large seeds.

Kumquat (Kumquat)

Kumquat is also known as Fortunella, Kinkan, Japanese oranges. This is a citrus plant. It grows in southern China, but is also widely distributed in other tropical countries. Kumquat fruits can also be found on the shelves of our stores, but the taste is not at all what you can try at home in the freshest form.

Kumquat fruits are small (from 2 to 4 centimeters), similar to small oblong oranges or tangerines. Outside covered with a very thin edible peel, inside and in structure and taste almost the same as an orange, maybe a little more sour and bitter. Eaten whole (except bones).

The ripening season is from May to June, you can buy all year round.

Guava (Guajava)

Guava (Guajava), Guava or Guava is found in almost all tropical and subtropical countries. Despite the fact that the fruit is considered exotic, you should not expect an exotic taste from it: a rather mediocre, slightly sweet taste reminiscent of a pear. It may be worth trying once, but you are unlikely to become a fan of it. Another thing is the aroma: it is quite pleasant and very strong. In addition, the fruit is very useful, rich in vitamin C and perfectly raises the overall tone of the body and improves health.

Fruits come in various sizes (from 4 to 15 centimeters), round, oblong and pear-shaped. Skin, pits and pulp, all edible.

Passion Fruit/Passion Fruit

This exotic fruit is also called the Passion Fruit, Passiflora (Passiflora), Edible Passion Flower, Granadilla. Homeland is South America, but can be found in most tropical countries, including the countries of Southeast Asia. Passion Fruit got its second name because it is credited with the properties of a strong aphrodisiac.

Passion fruit fruits have a smooth, slightly elongated rounded shape, reaching 8 centimeters in diameter. Ripe fruits have a very bright juicy color and are yellow, purple, pink or red. The yellow fruits are less sweet than the others. The pulp also comes in a variety of colors. Under the inedible peel is a jelly-like sweet and sour pulp with seeds. You can’t call it especially tasty, juices, jellies, etc. made from it are much tastier.

When used, it is most convenient to cut the fruit in half and eat the pulp with a spoon. The bones in the pulp are also edible, but they cause drowsiness, so it is better not to abuse them. Passion fruit juice, by the way, also has a calming effect and causes drowsiness. The most ripe and delicious fruits are those whose skin is not perfectly smooth, but covered with "wrinkles" or small "dents" (these are the most ripe fruits).

The ripening season is from May to August. Passion fruit can be stored in the refrigerator for one week.

Avocado

Avocados are also called Perseus Americana and Alligator Pear. Avocado is considered to be a fruit. It may be scientifically true, but it tastes more like a vegetable.

Avocado fruits are pear-shaped, up to 20 centimeters long. Covered with a tasteless and inedible peel. Inside there is a dense pulp like a pear and one large bone. The flesh tastes like an unripe pear or pumpkin and is nothing special. Avocados are more commonly used for cooking than for eating raw. So do not chase to be sure to try this fruit. But dishes prepared with Avocado can be very varied. festive table. On the Internet you can find many recipes for avocado dishes, including salads, soups, main courses, but on vacation you are unlikely to need all this, so you can not look at Avocado.

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis, breadfruit, pana)

Don't confuse breadfruit with jackfruit. The jackfruit, although known as the Indian breadfruit, is actually a completely different fruit.

Breadfruit can be found in all tropical regions, but mainly in the countries of Southeast Asia and Oceania. Due to the very high yield of Breadfruit, its fruits are in some countries the main product of kicking, like our potatoes, for example.

Breadfruit fruits are rounded, very large, can reach 30 centimeters in diameter and four kilograms of weight. In its raw form, like a fruit, ripe fruits are consumed, and unripe fruits are used as vegetables in cooking. It is better to buy ripe fruits on vacation, and even better already cut into portions, because. you can hardly cut and eat the whole fruit. In a ripe fruit, the pulp becomes soft and slightly sweet, it tastes like a banana and a potato. Not to say that the taste is outstanding, and therefore breadfruit is not often found in tourist fruit markets. The taste of bread can only be felt when preparing an unripe fruit.

Breadfruit ripening season, 9 months a year. You can buy fresh fruits all year round.

Jabuticaba (Jabuticaba)

Jaboticaba (Jaboticaba) is also known as the Brazilian grape tree. You can meet it mainly in the countries of South America, but sometimes it is also found in the countries of Southeast Asia.

This is a very interesting, tasty and rare exotic fruit. If you can find it and try it, consider yourself lucky. The fact is that the Jaboticaba tree grows very slowly, which is why it is practically not cultivated.

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

The tree bears fruit almost all year round.

Kiwano Melon is also known as Horned Melon, African Cucumber, Antilles Cucumber, Horned Cucumber, Anguria. Kiwano really looks like a big cucumber in a section. Although it is a fruit, another question. The fact is that the fruits of Kiwano grow on a vine. It is cultivated mainly in Africa, New Zealand, on the American continent.

Kiwano fruits are oblong, up to 12 centimeters in length. The color is yellow, orange and red depending on the degree of ripening. Under a dense peel, the flesh is green, the taste is somewhat reminiscent of cucumber, banana and melon. The fruit is not peeled, but cut into slices or halves (like a regular melon), and then the pulp is eaten. In raw form, both unripe and unripe fruits are consumed. The unripe fruits can be eaten with the pits as they are soft. Also used with salt.

Magic fruit (Miracle fruit)

The magical fruit grows in West Africa. It does not have an outstanding exotic taste, but it is known and interesting in that after you eat it, for about an hour, all foods will seem sweet to you. The fact is that the Magic Fruit contains a certain protein that blocks for some time the taste buds on the tongue, which are responsible for the sour taste. So you can eat lemon and it will taste sweet to you. True, only fresh plucked fruits have this property, and during storage they quickly lose it. So don't be surprised if the trick doesn't work on purchased fruit.

The fruit grow on small trees or shrubs, have a rounded oblong shape, 2-3 centimeters long, red in color, with a hard bone inside.

The magical fruit bears fruit almost all year round.

Bael (Bael, Aegle marmelos)

Bail is sometimes called the "Stone Apple" because of its peel. Very widespread in Southeast Asia.

Bail fruits are not so easy to find in fruit markets in their entirety. And even if you meet him, you yourself will not cope with him. The fact is that its peel is hard as a stone, and it is impossible to get to the pulp without a hammer or hatchet.

Fruits are round or pear-shaped in diameter up to 20 centimeters. Ripe fruit is yellow. Inside the pulp and a few seeds covered with hairs. The flesh is yellow, fragrant, not too sweet and slightly astringent.

If you can’t taste the fruit fresh (which, in general, you shouldn’t worry about), you can buy tea from the Bail fruits, called Matum. It is a fruit cut into slices and dried. It is believed that it is very effective in the treatment of colds, bronchial and asthmatic diseases.

The Buddha Hand is a variety of Citron. It is also called Buddha Fingers and Finger Citron.

We decided to mention this very exotic fruit so that you do not try it during your vacation in a tropical paradise. This fruit is not one that you will enjoy the taste of. Undoubtedly, the fruit is very interesting and useful, and when you see it, you will most likely have a desire to try it. But don't rush. It is widely used in cooking, but you are unlikely to eat it. The fruit of the Hand of the Buddha is composed almost entirely of a rind (the pulp is inedible), which is similar to the rind of a lemon in taste (bitter and sour taste) and violet in smell.

The shape of the fruit is very interesting and looks like a palm with a large number of fingers, reaching a length of 40 centimeters. You can only buy it in order to bring it home with you as a souvenir, and already at home cook from it different dishes with citrus flavor (compote, jelly, candied fruits).

Traveling abroad, especially in warm countries, a Russian tourist is faced with completely unknown, hitherto unseen fruits. I, too, often do not even believe my eyes, what wonders of nature can be found on fruit stalls. And so, in order not to bulge out in 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 the “foreign countries”.

But I didn’t even suspect how much I would have to print! 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 this is not just a photo with names, but a description and interesting information. I definitely plan to update it periodically, so if you want to know about all the fruits, check back here 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, taste qualities are characterized in comparison with tastes known to most people. Since I tried as it turned out) only a small part, then I will talk about the taste of many exotic fruits based on the 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 connoisseurs of botany 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 of " fruit" is absent, but there is only a general term " fetus". Here, I will refer to “fruits” as tasty treats that grow on trees, shrubs or vines, usually sweet or sweet and sour, which can be bitten several times before it is finally eaten. And we will consider small fruits as a “berry”, which can be eaten in one bite entirely or even eat a handful and do not need to be peeled.

By the way, the article contains not only tropical fruits, because 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 a fruit, will say that it's just a pineapple and it has long been no longer exotic. But don't be in a hurry! Yes, "abakashi" ( a word from the language of the Indian peoples Tupi-Guarani) is one of the varieties of this prickly fruit, but it is called differently for a reason. Strictly speaking, in Portuguese abacaxi" And " ananas”- these are synonyms, but with this, the second word familiar to us, they denote the fruit familiar to us. At the same time, in the markets in Brazil and Portugal, people prefer to buy abacachi, which many consider to be a separate fruit.

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 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 vitamins of group B and provitamin A.

With your permission, I will not add a simple, familiar pineapple to the article, we will manage with a more exotic abacus.

Avara(Awarra, 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, 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 normal chicken egg and range in color from reddish brown to orange ( this one is more typical). The pulp is quite juicy, fragrant, its taste is most often compared with an apricot, although, in fact, there is little pulp in them, since most of it is occupied by a bone.

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

Actually, as an independent product in its raw form, avara is almost never used. Residents of the region where it is actively grown, prefer to eat steamed fruits as a side dish or make a kind of paste from it, which is used as the basis for other dishes. In addition, oil is extracted from Avars ( 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, American Perseus, Alligator pear). For many, it is no longer an exotic plant at all, but a very frequent guest of salads, it got on this list simply because it was the first to be remembered for the letter “A”. Avocado comes from Mexico, and nowadays it is 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 everything.

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 bone.

A ripe avocado is slightly oily with a slight nutty flavor. Avocados are the favorite of nutritionists around the world because of their many health benefits. 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 to fight insomnia.

Aguaj(Aguaje, Aguaje, Ita, Buriti, Canangucho) grows in the humid tropics of South America, where it is so incredibly popular that there are fears for the plant's population. The popularity is due to the supposedly special properties of the fruit, thanks to which girls who use it regularly, without any effort, keep slim figure In addition, aguaj is believed to be a strong aphrodisiac.

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

It contains many vitamins A, C, as well as phytohormones that mimic female hormones.

Azimina(Nebraska banana, Mexican banana, Asimina, banana tree, Pawpaw, Pow-Pow) comes from North America, more precisely from the territory of the southern states of the United States. But this amazing, seemingly thermophilic plant is able to withstand severe colds down to -30 Celsius! And thanks to such persistence, one of the ten species - " Azimina three-bladed"- grown by amateur gardeners in our country.

The fruits are collected in inflorescences 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, as it ripens, changes color from greenish ( unripe) to yellowish and even dark brown. The pulp is juicy, light sweet and very fragrant, often compared with custard. Up to 10 large flat bones are hidden inside. The disadvantage of pawpaws is the poor preservation of the harvested fruits, so they are most often eaten freshly picked or various jams are prepared.

Azimina is rich in amino acids and microelements, sucrose, vitamins A, C. The fruits do an excellent job of normalizing the work of the gastrointestinal tract, strengthen 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 painted in a purple-violet color. Outwardly, it may seem completely unattractive - an oblong fruit of a purple-lilac color with falling out pulp. But the appearance is deceiving - the taste of the pulp is similar to raspberries with a very pleasant aroma.

Aki(Ackee, Bligiya is delicious). The homeland of this tree is West Africa, it is also currently found in Central and South America, on the islands of the Caribbean.

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

Ambarella(Citera's 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 the 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 brought to the tropical countries of the Atlantic coast of America.

Ambarella fruits are oval ( they resemble a plum in shape, hence the pair of “aliases” of this fruit - the Polynesian plum or the 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 fruits it thickens and becomes golden yellow, the same color and flesh.

The flesh is fibrous, juicy, crispy, sour, slightly reminiscent of an unripe pineapple in aroma and taste to some people. Be especially careful with bones! They are simply dotted with bent spines, up to 1 centimeter long, so that sometimes they penetrate 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 better to eat it raw. You can also use green, then there will be more sourness. In addition to fruits, leaves are eaten - raw ( like a street food) or boiled / stewed with meat / fish, as well as in soups.

Ambarella is rich in proteins and fats, keeps the immune system in good shape, is very useful for the digestive system and even contributes to more rapid healing 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 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 of growth.

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

Due 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 tonic product.

Watermelon cucumber, cucumber watermelon - (Rough melotria, Melothria scabra, Mouse watermelon, Mouse melon, Mexican sour gherkins, Sandita, Cucamelon). A very strange subject on our list ... Decide for yourself what to attribute it to - a fruit or a vegetable. The external coloring is very reminiscent of a watermelon, and inside there is an easily recognizable texture of a cucumber, while the size of the fruits growing on a 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 even in pre-Columbian times. It is better known abroad 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 hard enough, and the pulp is very juicy. The taste is described as more like cucumber with a slight citrus sourness, and those who have tasted "cucumber-watermelon" liked the taste. They can be eaten just like that, but more often they are added to salads, to french fries, various salty dishes, and pickled watermelon cucumbers. In addition, the creeper has edible tubers!

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

Atemoya. This is a hybrid of two plants of the Annon family - cherimoya and noina, and many confuse them. Like her "parents", Atemoya appeared in the tropics of South America.

The fruits are conditionally heart-shaped (up to 10 cm long and up to 9 cm wide). 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 pulp, atemoya is best eaten with a spoon. Often there is a statement that atemoya is the most delicious of exotic fruits. It must be remembered that her seeds are poisonous!

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

Ripe brown fruit up to 20 cm in diameter. Ripe pulp - 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 (therefore, one of the names is “stone apple”). The taste is usually sweetish, 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 is found, that is, Jack, but not to be confused with Jackfruit!) is actively cultivated in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei ( these three states divide between themselves the island of Borneo, which is considered the birthplace of Vani), Singapore, Papua New Guinea and the Philippine Islands.

The name, of course, is misleading, because this fruit has only a distant relation to all the familiar mangoes, since they both belong to the same Anakrdiev (Sumach) family, but ordinary mango belongs to the genus Mango of the same name, and Vani belongs to genus "Anacardium" and is a type of cashew! So "White Mango" is just a trick, it's better to use some of the local names, the most common is the Indonesian version of "Vani" ( accent on "and") and the Malay "Binjai".

It is important that the fruits are ripe for consumption, as the juice of unripe fruits can cause skin irritation and serious consequences if ingested. Unripe fruits are green in color and firm 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 peel. The flesh is white, juicy, very tender and fibrous in texture, and inside there is one large bone. Ripe fruits are very fragrant, 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 being eaten raw, Vani is also consumed by dipping in chili and soy sauce... The local population also makes the base for spicy sambal sauce out of it.

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, of course, micro and macro elements.

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

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

In addition to the usual, there are also such varieties: red-fruited (" strawberry guava"") and yellow (" lemon guava"). Red-fruited pulp is juicy, translucent, has a pronounced strawberry flavor. Yellow fruits and inside the same color, 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, cream apple, so it is easy to confuse them the first time, and just like them, Guanabana comes from Latin America, but is now grown in so many countries with a suitable climate.

A ripe, round, irregular heart-shaped fruit can reach 12 kilograms. The bones are large, there are many of them. The fruit looks thorny, but in fact it will not be able to prick you, since the thorns are more fleshy than hard. Ripe pulp is fibrous-creamy white in color with a taste unlike anything else. The aroma may slightly resemble pineapple.

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

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

The fruits, which range in color from dark blue to purple, are also known as African pears and are oblong in shape with pale green flesh inside. These fatty fruits have been claimed to end hunger in Africa as 48 percent of the fruit is made up of 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, while all parts of the plant can be used.

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

The way the fruits grow is also interesting: they grow directly on the trunk, and not on the branches of a tree. The fruits are small (up to 4 cm in diameter), dark purple. Under a thin dense skin ( inedible) 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 tree and the Malaysian chempedak.

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

The peel of the jackfruit smells unpleasant, but under it are several slices of very tasty sweet yellow pulp. It is difficult to describe the taste - a certain 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 all over the world thanks to his amazingly disgusting smell.

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

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

figs(Fig, Fig tree, Fig, Wine berry, Smyrna berry, Ficus carica). I think you have met him more than once on the fruit stalls of your city, and if you haven’t tried it yet, be sure to do it. The skin color of figs can vary from yellow-green to purple. Red flesh with small seeds, juicy and sweet. The undoubted advantage of figs is that nutritionists classify it as one of the products with which you can get rid of excess weight!

Kaimito(Abiu) - do not confuse with another 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. White translucent creamy flesh is very sweet. The aroma is vaguely reminiscent of caramel with cream. It is recommended that you wet your lips before eating fresh Kaimito, 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(Canistel, Tiesa, Egg fruit, Yellow sapote). The region of origin is southern 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 wide and up to 12.5 long, their shape is very diverse, there are spherical, oval, ovoid, twisted. The color of the peel of ripe fruits is yellowish-orange. The pulp is mealy, yellow with 1-4 large seeds. It's funny that the flavor of the pulp is similar to fried pies, but the taste is very sweet due to the high content of sugars.

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

carambola(Starfruit, Kamrak, Ma Phuak, Carambola, Star-fruit). "Tropical star" or "Star of the tropics" this fruit is called simply because in the context it looks like a star. The fruit is edible as a whole, and if the taste of its juicy pulp does not seem bright enough to you, then 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 flesh of kasturi has a more pronounced taste and milder flavor compared to ordinary mangoes, although not as sweet as mangoes.

Kiwano(Kiwano Melon, Horned Melon, African Cucumber, Antilles Cucumber, Horned Cucumber, Anguria). Native to Africa, and most widely grown in Central America, New Zealand, Israel.

This is a vine with oblong fruits that are yellow, orange or red. The flesh is green, it really looks like a cucumber. The taste 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), macronutrients (sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium), it also contains many trace elements (iron, copper, zinc and manganese).

cocoon(Nightshade nightshade) grows in South America in mountainous regions.

Oval or spherical fruits (up to 4 cm long and up to 6 cm wide) resemble tomatoes, have three fruit color options; 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 cherry.

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 it here, because even though it is an exotic plant for the inhabitants of Russia, even children know what it is. In regions of growth ( all over the tropics) Coconuts are consumed in their entirety, from eating the pulp and juice, to making crafts from the shell using the rind as fuel. Down south, coconuts are sold green on the outside, but inside they have soft translucent flesh and delicious coconut water ( or "milk"). In our stores, they are already in a different stage of ripening - with a fibrous peel on the outside and a thick layer of pulp inside with a little liquid.

Coconut Marine (Coco de mer, Double walnut, Seychelles walnut) grows exclusively in the Seychelles, and only on two.

In shape, it is very different from an ordinary coconut and most of all looks like ... 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 harvested coconut is numbered and a certificate is issued upon purchase. In terms of taste, it is clearly inferior to ordinary coconuts, but if possible, you should definitely try it.

candy tree (Hovénia dúlcis, Sweet Govenia, is known abroad as the Japanese raisin tree or oriental raisin tree, that is, the Japanese raisin tree or Oriental raisin tree). Historically grown in Japan, East China, Korea and up to 2000 meters in the Himalayas. Due to its beautiful spreading crown, it was brought to some countries as an ornamental plant, 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 the plant is not valued at all by them, but by what the fruits are held on. The fleshy stalk, although it looks very strange, is actually very fragrant and sweet, it is suitable for eating raw. But more often the stalks of the candy tree are dried, then they become like raisins - both in taste and in appearance ( hence the western name "Japanese raisin tree"). The extract from seeds, twigs and young leaves is used as a substitute for honey, goes to the production of local wine and for sweets.

Of 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 hundreds of years to combat hangover symptoms. And so, scientists from the University of California at Los Angeles isolated the active substance from this extract, which they called dihydromyricetin (DHM). It allows you to sober up very quickly and even reduces cravings for alcohol! Already now there are preparations. The main component of which is dihydromyricetin, in fact, this is the way to create a “sobriety pill”, which not only relieves the symptoms of intoxication, but also helps to overcome alcohol addiction. This is such a wonderful candy tree!

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

Fruits (from 8 to 16 cm) are similar in shape to the heart ( hence one of the names), the outside may be yellow or brown with a reddish tinge. Inside is a sweet white, almost creamy pulp that melts in your 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 at present it is grown everywhere where the climate is suitable for other citrus fruits.

This representative of citrus fruits has long been a rarity on the shelves of supermarkets, however, many still have not dared to try it, but in vain. Small oblong fruits (up to four centimeters long and up to two and a half wide) look like small oranges, but their taste is still different. main feature kumkawata is that it is eaten directly with the peel, it is very thin; only the bones 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, with sweet, juicy jelly-like pulp and one seed. Many confuse it with Longan, they are really similar both in shape and in the consistency of the pulp, and in taste, but in lychee it is more pronounced.

Contains a lot of carbohydrates, pectins, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, a very high content of vitamin PP.

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

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

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

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

Lukuma(Pouteria lucuma) is originally from South America, where it is currently grown and also in Mexico and Hawaii.

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

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

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

magic fruit (Wonderful Berries, Sweetish Puteria, Miracle fruit) This member of the vast Sapotaceae family grows in West Africa.

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

Of course, the magic fruit 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 countries in the American tropics and is now cultivated throughout the world in areas with suitable climates.

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

Mame(Mamey-sapote, Mamey, Mamey-sapote, Marmalade fruit, Puteria, Pouteria sapota). A native of 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 long and weighing up to 3 kg.), covered with a thick reddish-brown skin. The color of the pulp can be pink, reddish, orange or gray, in its consistency it looks like marmalade ( which is reflected in the title), and the taste reminds someone of caramel, someone finds creamy shades. The fruit usually contains one large seed.

The fruits of the marmalade fruit 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 is difficult to call it exotic, because you can buy it in any large supermarket in Russia, but anyone who has tried mangoes in the places where they grow will say that store-bought fruit is absolutely not the same as fresh. Mango comes from India, and now it is grown literally all over the world, where 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-produced varieties there are other colors, such as purple, green or black. Therefore, when buying a green mango, you need to clarify, maybe this is such a variety and the fruit is already ripe.

In addition to the 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 birthplace of this plant is Southeast Asia, from where it spread further around the planet, up to Africa and Latin America.

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 lobules with seeds. The taste is sweetish, with a slight sourness, many people like it ( But I still couldn't get into them...). Unfortunately, diseased fruits often come across, which outwardly you can’t distinguish from healthy ones until you peel them, such pulp will not be white, but creamy and unpleasant in taste ( we often met).

passion fruit(Passion fruit, Passion fruit, Passion fruit, Edible passion flower, Edible Passionflower, Granadilla purple) is native to South America, and is currently grown in many countries with a tropical climate.

Round fruits (up to 8 cm in diameter) can have a different color - yellow, purple, pink, red. In general, the taste is more sour than sweet, especially yellow ( Personally, they look a lot like sea buckthorn to me.), therefore, in its pure form, the fruit is an amateur, as a rule, they use passion fruit juice mixed with others. The pits are small and edible, but they can cause drowsiness.

And passionfruit got its other name "Passion Fruit" because of its alleged aphrodisiac properties, although there were no serious studies 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 black continent, since ripe fruits very quickly begin to ferment inside, so that you can easily get a slight intoxication from eating overripe fruits.

The oblong fruits are covered with a thin yellow peel, and under it - the pulp is white, juicy, tart and one stone. Despite the tartness of taste, marula is quite an edible fruit, but more often it is used to make various desserts and the branded African liqueur Amarula. And from the peel, a drink is brewed that resembles tea, but with an unusual taste.

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

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

The fruits are round, ovoid or oval, large (up to 15 cm long and up to 8 cm wide) with a thick velvety greenish-brown skin. The flesh is orange-yellow, soft, juicy, sweet with a pleasant aroma and 2 to 5 large seeds.

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

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

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

Mombin purple (Mexican plum, Spondius Purpurea, Spondias purpurea, jocote, Hog Plum, Makok, Amra, Sirigela, 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 for purple mombin is " Ciruela”, sometimes used in Latin America, is literally translated from Spanish as “plum”, and, in fact, is also used to refer to an ordinary plum. And the Spaniards themselves use a different name for mombin - “ jocote". So look, do not be surprised at the possible confusion with this cunningly conspiratorial fruit! In general, in addition to those listed by me, it has a bunch of local names, the listing of which would really take one more paragraph ...

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 fragrant, juicy, and tastes sweet and sour. Inside is one large bone with grooves.

Contains a lot of B vitamins, vitamin C, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper.

Monstera(Monstera delicacy, Monstera attractive, Monstera delicious, 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 the 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, fragrant pulp, which tastes like a combination of banana and pineapple.

Medlar Japanese (Lokva, Japanese Eriobothria, Shesek, Nispero, Nispero) - originally from Japan and China, this plant once spread quite widely in the Caucasus, and in former times the fruits of the medlar were quite familiar, 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 stone. To taste, someone resembles a pear with a cherry, someone an apple with an apricot, but always sweet with sourness. I first tried Medlar in Hong Kong, and before that I didn’t even know about its existence; really a very pleasant fruit, it seemed to me that its taste is absolutely independent, easily recognizable. Many useful properties, especially for people suffering from hypertension, arrhythmia, dropsy, 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 it has an original appearance with peculiar “scales”. This bumpy green fruit is very widely cultivated in countries with a tropical climate - from South America to Polynesia. ( Many often confuse it with the Guanabana fruit, they are really similar, as they are "close relatives", but they are not the same thing! Also, guanabanu is often called "sugar apple", but again, by mistake.)

Under the bumpy peel is sweet pulp, the taste is very pleasant and hard inedible bones (up to 60 pieces). A ripe fruit should be soft when pressed, its flesh 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 lie down for a couple of days and ripen.

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

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

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

You will definitely 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 with tourists ... But the population of countries where it is grown actively eats it, often as the main daily 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, sabr). Cactus! The real one, only not so decorative that it might grow in your home, but a large tree-like plant. The main place of growth ( remember westerns) – America ( both continents). Do not be embarrassed that some variants of the name contain the adjective "Indian", if you remember the school history course, you understand that it has only an indirect relation to India ( Columbus sailed to open the way to India, hence the confusion).

They eat, of course, not thorns, but fruits ( though they are also spiky...) small sizes (up to 10 cm), which can be of different shades ( green, red or yellow). Their flesh is sweet and 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 the 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, Strawberry pineapple). It is a hybrid of the South American Chilean strawberry and the South American Virginia strawberry.

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

It is almost impossible to find it on sale in Russia, since pineberry is extremely barren, in rainy weather highly susceptible to rot and does not tolerate transportation. Pineberry is 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, as some of its species are ornamental house plants.

The round fruits are pineapple-like in shape and are orange-red in color when ripe. The fruits of only some types of pandanus are conditionally edible. That is, you can chew the juicy pulp and enjoy a taste similar to pineapple, but then you have to spit it out ( although nowhere did I find information about any complications in case of eating it ...). Basically, juice and essential oil are made from pandanus to flavor various dishes or even soap.

Papaya(Papaya, Melon tree, Breadfruit). It comes from Central and South America, and nowadays it is cultivated in almost all tropical countries. Do not confuse it with other "Breadfruit" ( Jackfruit and Breadfruit Artocarpus altilis), there is nothing in common between these plants, just if you bake papaya on fire, it will start 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 ripe fruits are yellow-orange. The taste of a ripe papaya is not some super exotic and memorable, but still very pleasant, something really resembles a melon.

Unripe fruits are also used for food for a wide variety of dishes. And papaya is also used to make preparations for the treatment of 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 predominantly grown, also cultivated in New Zealand.

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

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

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

From the second name it is also clear that the taste of pitanga is most similar to cherries, sometimes with a slight bitterness; its red flesh is very juicy with one stone. Rounded fruits can be various shades of red and even black. But their main feature, immediately evident - they are ribbed.

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

Pitahaya(Pitaya, Long yang, Dragon fruit, Dragon fruit, sometimes the Dragon's Eye). Only when I began to prepare this article did I find out that pitahaya is a cactus. It comes 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 peculiar. The color of the skin can be red, pinkish or yellow, and the color of the flesh is white or red.

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

In pitahaya great content 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 it is very difficult to try it somewhere other than in the countries of this region (Brazil, Guyana, Colombia, Paraguay).

Spherical or oval fruits in diameter can be up to 12 cm. Thick yellow-brown peel hides fragrant white pulp and several large seeds. Sweet and sour pulp is eaten both fresh and in the form of desserts, marmalade, jelly. Platonium fruits contain a lot of iron, phosphorus and vitamin C.

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

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

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

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

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

The fruits are spherical, large, sometimes even very, right up to 10 kilograms; The color can be green or yellow. Under the thick skin, 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 trace elements, vitamins B1, B2, B5, C, beta-carotene. Pomelo is perfect for strengthening immunity and preventing colds.

Cancers(Salacca wallichiana) is the closest relative of the Snake Fruit (Salacca zalacca), which is discussed below. They are often confused, but the fruits of Rakama ( accent on the second "a"), as opposed to Rakuma ( Snake fruit, description and photo just below in the text) are more elongated, colored red and have a more pronounced taste. But otherwise, everything 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. Red round fruits (up to 5 cm in diameter) are really “hairy”, it is 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 the countries of Southeast Asia ( especially rambutan is popular in Thailand), as well as in Africa, Australia, Caribbean countries.

The peel is soft, very easy to remove by hand, and under it is a very juicy translucent pulp, fragrant and sweet, often with a slight pleasant sourness. The color of the gelatinous pulp can be red or white.

It is better to eat a raw stone, as it can be poisonous, and it does not have a very good taste, but roasted seeds can be safely eaten. Rambutan is also used to make jams, jellies, and you can often buy it in canned form in our stores.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Berries can be eaten just like that, but more often they are used to make jams, drinks, as a rule, alcoholic ones, for example " Guavaberry liqueu r", made from rum and is a popular Christmas drink among the inhabitants of the Caribbean.

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

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

Despite this, the Hand of the Buddha is on all fruit counters in Southeast Asia, as it is used in cooking, for flavoring pastries, jam, drinks, and candied fruits are made from it.

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

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

Under the prickly peel is a beige pulp, 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 persimmon is felt to someone, pear to someone, pineapple or banana with a nutty flavor to someone, that is, you must definitely try, cannot be explained in words.

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

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

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 slices, with one bone in each. The sweet or sour-sweet taste of santol is reminiscent of the more common mangosteen, giving it one of its names. Bones should not be eaten, 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, strengthens bones and teeth.

sapodilla(Hot tree, Tree potato, Oil tree, Achra, 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 long) 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 tinge. It tastes like caramel, one of my favorite fruits. There are about a dozen bones inside the fruit, each has a hook, so you need to be careful not to accidentally swallow them, otherwise they can catch in the throat with this hook ( but the bones are very easily separated from the pulp and I had no 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 regions of cultivation or the countries closest to them ( Russia, as you understand, does not belong to them).

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

Sapote white (White Sapote, White sapote, Matasano, Edible Casimiroa, Casimiroa edulis, Mexican apple, Mexican apple). To the representatives of the Sapotov family described above ( sapodilla, lucuma) is irrelevant, as it belongs to another family - Rutaceae. A plant native to the central regions of Mexico, cultivated in Central and South America, on some islands of the Caribbean and neighboring Bahamas, in India, New Zealand, the Mediterranean.

Round fruits (up to 12 cm in diameter) with a thin smooth yellowish or green skin, and creamy white flesh. It tastes like vanilla cream or pudding. Bones (up to 6 pieces) should not be eaten, as it is believed that they are 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. It is also grown in Australia and Polynesia.

Oval-shaped fruits (up to 12.5 cm in length and up to 7.5 cm in diameter) are covered with a smooth thin skin of olive or yellow-green color, may be speckled with red-brown. The flesh adheres 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). Not to the Sapotovs ( sapodilla, lucuma), nor to the Rutovs ( White sapote) has nothing to do, despite the name, since it belongs to a completely different family - Ebony, and the closest known relative of the black sapote is persimmon. The region of origin is Central America and the southern regions of Mexico, in addition, it is grown on islands such as Mauritius, Hawaii, the Philippines, the Antilles and Brazil.

Spherical fruits (up to 12.5 cm in diameter) in the mature state 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 bones, which are easily separated from it.

TamarindSweet (Sweet Tamarind, Indian date, Asam, Sampalok, Chintapandu). The homeland of this tree of the legume family is East Africa, nowadays it is cultivated everywhere in tropical countries.

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

It is also used fresh, but finds much greater use in cooking in the form of spices and sauces.

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

Tamarillo(Tamarillo, Tomato tree, Cyphomandra beetroot, Cyphomandra betacea). Countries are considered to be home west coast South America; grown in almost all countries of South America, as well as in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Haiti and New Zealand.

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 flesh is golden-reddish, with many small seeds, it tastes sour-sweet-salty, similar to a tomato with a touch of passion fruit or currant. It is usually eaten with a spoon, simply by 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 Brazilian Amazon regions; grown in Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.

The fruits are oval (from 5 to 10 cm long and 4 to 8 cm in diameter), covered with a thin smooth peel of yellow, red, black or green. You can eat with the peel, and the pulp layer is only 2-5 mm., It is yellow, oily, sweet, with a strong characteristic pleasant taste and aroma. Inside the fruit is one hard big bone, they are fried and eaten. Umari is consumed simply like a normal fruit, and also due to its fatty, buttery texture, literally like butter is 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 bumpy dark green one, it tastes sour, so it is better to eat without it. The flesh color of a 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, vitamin C.

Physalis(Physalis, sometimes called Emerald Berry or Earth Cranberry, Peruvian Gooseberry, Bubblegum, Pesya Cherry, Marunka, Strawberry Tomato) - you have probably seen it many times, it is very often used to decorate confectionery, although it is also found simply 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 a slight sourness, depending on the specific variety ( and there are a lot of them) different shades may be present in taste and aroma, for example, strawberries in Strawberry physalis.

It has 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 the homeland, from where this plant spread to the islands of Oceania and to the countries of Southeast Asia. The very productive Breadfruit is a staple food in some countries.

The fruits are very large, round-oval (up to 30 cm in diameter and weighing up to 4 kg.) Covered with a rough peel, which is green in an unripe form, and in a ripe fruit it is yellow-brown. The wild variety of breadfruit contains many seeds in the fruit, while the cultivated variety does not have seeds.

Unripe flesh is white, fibrous, starchy, while ripe flesh becomes soft and changes color to cream or yellow. The ripe fruit is sweetish, but in general, their taste is not very attractive, more like a potato and a banana. Unripe fruits are used as vegetables, and when they are cooked, you can just feel the bready taste.

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

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

Spherical or oval fruits (up to 10 cm in diameter) are covered with a smooth inedible green or purple-brown peel, depending on the variety. The flesh can be white to purple in color and 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 across, then the cut pattern will look like a star. The ripe fruits are wrinkled and soft and can be refrigerated for up to three weeks, making a great gift to friends and family from your tropical vacation.

Contains a lot of phosphorus, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin C, amino acids and protein; has a 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, Indonesia. A relative of the Marang, Breadfruit and Jackfruit.

The fruits are elongated, large (up to 45 cm long and up to 15 cm wide) covered with a yellow-brown rough peel, they smell pleasant. The peel can be easily removed by hand, but it is worth remembering that due to the released latex, it is very sticky. The pulp is divided into segments, it is dark yellow in color, juicy, sweet and tender, with round stones ( 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 immunity, bones and teeth, and is also very good as a tonic product.

Cherimoya(Annona cherimola, Cream apple, Ice cream tree, Graviola, Tzumux, Anona poshte, Atis, Sasalapa and a whole bunch more possible titles...). Originally from the foothills of the South American Andes, it is actively grown in regions with suitable subtropical climates around the planet.

Cherimoyya has many close relatives, so it is sometimes easy to get confused, for example, the Cream Apple is also called Annona reticulum, in addition there is Annona prickly ( Guanabana or Soursop), Annona scaly ( Noina or Sugar Apple).

The fruit has a heart-shaped shape (up to 20 cm long and up to 10 cm wide), covered with a green peel with characteristic irregularities. The pulp is white, fibrous-cream in texture, with a pleasant aroma and complex taste from a mixture of passion fruit, banana, pineapple, strawberries and cream. The bones 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(Jujube real, Unabi, Chinese date, Breast berry, Chapyzhnik, Jujuba, Jujube). Cultivated in the Southeast and Central Asia, Japan, Australia, in the European Mediterranean, in the Caucasus.

The fruits are ovoid or round, although in fact they are very different in shape. The smooth, thin, shiny skin also has 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; one bone inside.

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

Yangmei(Mountain peach, Yangmei, Chinese strawberry or Chinese strawberry tree, Red waxwort). Originally from China, where it has been mainly grown for more than two thousand years, but is also found in neighboring countries.

Fruits - "rough" balls (up to 2.5 cm in diameter) can be painted 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 pungent, with hints of cherries, blackberries and strawberries.

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

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

Traveling abroad, especially in warm countries, a Russian tourist comes across completely unknown, hitherto unknown fruits. I, too, often do not even believe my eyes, what wonders of nature can be found on fruit stalls. And so, in order not to bulge out in 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 the “foreign countries”.

But I didn’t even suspect how much I would have to print! 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 this is not just a photo with names, but a description and interesting information. I definitely plan to update it periodically, so if you want to know about all the fruits, check back here 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, taste qualities are characterized in comparison with tastes known to most people. Since I tried as it turned out) only a small part, then I will talk about the taste of many exotic fruits based on the 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 connoisseurs of botany 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 of " fruit" is absent, but there is only a general term " fetus". Here, I will refer to “fruits” as tasty treats that grow on trees, shrubs or vines, usually sweet or sweet and sour, which can be bitten several times before it is finally eaten. And we will consider small fruits as a “berry”, which can be eaten in one bite entirely or even eat a handful and do not need to be peeled.

By the way, the article contains not only tropical fruits, because 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 a fruit, will say that it's just a pineapple and it has long been no longer exotic. But don't be in a hurry! Yes, "abakashi" ( a word from the language of the Indian peoples Tupi-Guarani) is one of the varieties of this prickly fruit, but it is called differently for a reason. Strictly speaking, in Portuguese abacaxi" And " ananas”- these are synonyms, but with this, the second word familiar to us, they denote the fruit familiar to us. At the same time, in the markets in Brazil and Portugal, people prefer to buy abacachi, which many consider to be a separate fruit.

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 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 vitamins of group B and provitamin A.

With your permission, I will not add a simple, familiar pineapple to the article, we will manage with a more exotic abacus.

Avara(Awarra, 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, 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 normal chicken egg and range in color from reddish brown to orange ( this one is more typical). The pulp is quite juicy, fragrant, its taste is most often compared with an apricot, although, in fact, there is little pulp in them, since most of it is occupied by a bone.

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

Actually, as an independent product in its raw form, avara is almost never used. Residents of the region where it is actively grown, prefer to eat steamed fruits as a side dish or make a kind of paste from it, which is used as the basis for other dishes. In addition, oil is extracted from Avars ( 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, American Perseus, Alligator pear). For many, it is no longer an exotic plant at all, but a very frequent guest of salads, it got on this list simply because it was the first to be remembered for the letter “A”. Avocado comes from Mexico, and nowadays it is 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 everything.

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 bone.

A ripe avocado is slightly oily with a slight nutty flavor. Avocados are the favorite of nutritionists around the world because of their many health benefits. 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 to fight insomnia.

Aguaj(Aguaje, Aguaje, Ita, Buriti, Canangucho) grows in the humid tropics of South America, where it is so incredibly popular that there are fears for the plant's population. The popularity is due to the supposedly special properties of the fruit, thanks to which girls who use it regularly maintain a slender figure without any effort, in addition, it is believed that aguaj is a strong aphrodisiac.

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

It contains many vitamins A, C, as well as phytohormones that mimic female hormones.

Azimina(Nebraska banana, Mexican banana, Asimina, banana tree, Pawpaw, Pow-Pow) comes from North America, more precisely from the territory of the southern states of the United States. But this amazing, seemingly thermophilic plant is able to withstand severe colds down to -30 Celsius! And thanks to such persistence, one of the ten species - " Azimina three-bladed"- grown by amateur gardeners in our country.

The fruits are collected in inflorescences 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, as it ripens, changes color from greenish ( unripe) to yellowish and even dark brown. The pulp is juicy, light sweet and very fragrant, often compared with custard. Up to 10 large flat bones are hidden inside. The disadvantage of pawpaws is the poor preservation of the harvested fruits, so they are most often eaten freshly picked or various jams are prepared.

Azimina is rich in amino acids and microelements, sucrose, vitamins A, C. The fruits do an excellent job of normalizing the work of the gastrointestinal tract, strengthen 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 painted in a purple-violet color. Outwardly, it may seem completely unattractive - an oblong fruit of a purple-lilac color with falling out pulp. But the appearance is deceiving - the taste of the pulp is similar to raspberries with a very pleasant aroma.

Aki(Ackee, Bligiya is delicious). The homeland of this tree is West Africa, it is also currently found in Central and South America, on the islands of the Caribbean.

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

Ambarella(Citera's 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 the 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 brought to the tropical countries of the Atlantic coast of America.

Ambarella fruits are oval ( they resemble a plum in shape, hence the pair of “aliases” of this fruit - the Polynesian plum or the 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 fruits it thickens and becomes golden yellow, the same color and flesh.

The flesh is fibrous, juicy, crispy, sour, slightly reminiscent of an unripe pineapple in aroma and taste to some people. Be especially careful with bones! They are simply dotted with bent spines, up to 1 centimeter long, so that sometimes they penetrate 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 better to eat it raw. You can also use green, then there will be more sourness. In addition to fruits, leaves are eaten - raw ( like a street food) or boiled / stewed with meat / fish, as well as in soups.

Ambarella is rich in proteins and fats, keeps the immune system in good shape, is very useful 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 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 of growth.

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

Due 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 tonic product.

Watermelon cucumber, cucumber watermelon - (Rough melotria, Melothria scabra, Mouse watermelon, Mouse melon, Mexican sour gherkins, Sandita, Cucamelon). A very strange subject on our list ... Decide for yourself what to attribute it to - a fruit or a vegetable. The external coloring is very reminiscent of a watermelon, and inside there is an easily recognizable texture of a cucumber, while the size of the fruits growing on a 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 even in pre-Columbian times. It is better known abroad 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 hard enough, and the pulp is very juicy. The taste is described as more like cucumber with a slight citrus sourness, and those who have tasted "cucumber-watermelon" liked the taste. They can be eaten just like that, but more often they are added to salads, to french fries, various salty dishes, and pickled watermelon cucumbers. In addition, the creeper has edible tubers!

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

Atemoya. This is a hybrid of two plants of the Annon family - cherimoya and noina, and many confuse them. Like her "parents", Atemoya appeared in the tropics of South America.

The fruits are conditionally heart-shaped (up to 10 cm long and up to 9 cm wide). 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 pulp, atemoya is best eaten with a spoon. Often there is a statement that atemoya is the most delicious of exotic fruits. It must be remembered that her seeds are poisonous!

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

Ripe brown fruit up to 20 cm in diameter. Ripe pulp - 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 (therefore, one of the names is “stone apple”). The taste is usually sweetish, 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 is found, that is, Jack, but not to be confused with Jackfruit!) is actively cultivated in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei ( these three states divide between themselves the island of Borneo, which is considered the birthplace of Vani), Singapore, Papua New Guinea and the Philippine Islands.

The name, of course, is misleading, because this fruit has only a distant relation to all the familiar mangoes, since they both belong to the same Anakrdiev (Sumach) family, but ordinary mango belongs to the genus Mango of the same name, and Vani belongs to genus "Anacardium" and is a type of cashew! So "White Mango" is just a trick, it's better to use some of the local names, the most common is the Indonesian version of "Vani" ( accent on "and") and the Malay "Binjai".

It is important that the fruits are ripe for consumption, as the juice of unripe fruits can cause skin irritation and serious consequences if ingested. Unripe fruits are green in color and firm 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 peel. The flesh is white, juicy, very tender and fibrous in texture, and inside there is one large bone. Ripe fruits are very fragrant, 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 being eaten raw, Vani is also consumed by dipping in chili and soy sauce... The local population also makes the base for spicy sambal sauce out of it.

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, of course, micro and macro elements.

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

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

In addition to the usual, there are also such varieties: red-fruited (" strawberry guava"") and yellow (" lemon guava"). Red-fruited pulp is juicy, translucent, has a pronounced strawberry flavor. Yellow fruits and inside the same color, 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, cream apple, so it is easy to confuse them the first time, and just like them, Guanabana comes from Latin America, but is now grown in so many countries with a suitable climate.

A ripe, round, irregular heart-shaped fruit can reach 12 kilograms. The bones are large, there are many of them. The fruit looks thorny, but in fact it will not be able to prick you, since the thorns are more fleshy than hard. Ripe pulp is fibrous-creamy white in color with a taste unlike anything else. The aroma may slightly resemble pineapple.

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

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

The fruits, which range in color from dark blue to purple, are also known as African pears and are oblong in shape with pale green flesh inside. These fatty fruits have been claimed to end hunger in Africa as 48 percent of the fruit is made up of 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, while all parts of the plant can be used.

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

The way the fruits grow is also interesting: they grow directly on the trunk, and not on the branches of a tree. The fruits are small (up to 4 cm in diameter), dark purple. Under a thin dense skin ( inedible) 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 tree and the Malaysian chempedak.

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

The peel of the jackfruit smells unpleasant, but under it are several slices of very tasty sweet yellow pulp. It is difficult to describe the taste - a certain 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 all over the world thanks to his amazingly disgusting smell.

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

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

figs(Fig, Fig tree, Fig, Wine berry, Smyrna berry, Ficus carica). I think you have met him more than once on the fruit stalls of your city, and if you haven’t tried it yet, be sure to do it. The skin color of figs can vary from yellow-green to purple. Red flesh with small seeds, juicy and sweet. The undoubted advantage of figs is that nutritionists classify it as one of the products with which you can get rid of excess weight!

Kaimito(Abiu) - do not confuse with another 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. White translucent creamy flesh is very sweet. The aroma is vaguely reminiscent of caramel with cream. It is recommended that you wet your lips before eating fresh Kaimito, 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(Canistel, Tiesa, Egg fruit, Yellow sapote). The region of origin is southern 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 wide and up to 12.5 long, their shape is very diverse, there are spherical, oval, ovoid, twisted. The color of the peel of ripe fruits is yellowish-orange. The pulp is mealy, yellow with 1-4 large seeds. It's funny that the flavor of the pulp is similar to fried pies, but the taste is very sweet due to the high content of sugars.

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

carambola(Starfruit, Kamrak, Ma Phuak, Carambola, Star-fruit). "Tropical star" or "Star of the tropics" this fruit is called simply because in the context it looks like a star. The fruit is edible as a whole, and if the taste of its juicy pulp does not seem bright enough to you, then 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 flesh of kasturi has a more pronounced taste and milder flavor compared to ordinary mangoes, although not as sweet as mangoes.

Kiwano(Kiwano Melon, Horned Melon, African Cucumber, Antilles Cucumber, Horned Cucumber, Anguria). Native to Africa, and most widely grown in Central America, New Zealand, Israel.

This is a vine with oblong fruits that are yellow, orange or red. The flesh is green, it really looks like a cucumber. The taste 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), macronutrients (sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium), it also contains many trace elements (iron, copper, zinc and manganese).

cocoon(Nightshade nightshade) grows in South America in mountainous regions.

Oval or spherical fruits (up to 4 cm long and up to 6 cm wide) resemble tomatoes, have three fruit color options; 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 cherry.

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 it here, because even though it is an exotic plant for the inhabitants of Russia, even children know what it is. In regions of growth ( all over the tropics) Coconuts are consumed in their entirety, from eating the pulp and juice, to making crafts from the shell using the rind as fuel. Down south, coconuts are sold green on the outside, but inside they have soft translucent flesh and delicious coconut water ( or "milk"). In our stores, they are already in a different stage of ripening - with a fibrous peel on the outside and a thick layer of pulp inside with a little liquid.

Coconut Marine (Coco de mer, Double walnut, Seychelles walnut) grows exclusively in the Seychelles, and only on two.

In shape, it is very different from an ordinary coconut and most of all looks like ... 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 harvested coconut is numbered and a certificate is issued upon purchase. In terms of taste, it is clearly inferior to ordinary coconuts, but if possible, you should definitely try it.

candy tree (Hovénia dúlcis, Sweet Govenia, is known abroad as the Japanese raisin tree or oriental raisin tree, that is, the Japanese raisin tree or Oriental raisin tree). Historically grown in Japan, East China, Korea and up to 2000 meters in the Himalayas. Due to its beautiful spreading crown, it was brought to some countries as an ornamental plant, 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 the plant is not valued at all by them, but by what the fruits are held on. The fleshy stalk, although it looks very strange, is actually very fragrant and sweet, it is suitable for eating raw. But more often the stalks of the candy tree are dried, then they become like raisins - both in taste and in appearance ( hence the western name "Japanese raisin tree"). The extract from seeds, twigs and young leaves is used as a substitute for honey, goes to the production of local wine and for sweets.

Of 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 hundreds of years to combat hangover symptoms. And so, scientists from the University of California at Los Angeles isolated the active substance from this extract, which they called dihydromyricetin (DHM). It allows you to sober up very quickly and even reduces cravings for alcohol! Already now there are preparations. The main component of which is dihydromyricetin, in fact, this is the way to create a “sobriety pill”, which not only relieves the symptoms of intoxication, but also helps to overcome alcohol addiction. This is such a wonderful candy tree!

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

Fruits (from 8 to 16 cm) are similar in shape to the heart ( hence one of the names), the outside may be yellow or brown with a reddish tinge. Inside is a sweet white, almost creamy pulp that melts in your 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 at present it is grown everywhere where the climate is suitable for other citrus fruits.

This representative of citrus fruits has long been a rarity on the shelves of supermarkets, however, many still have not dared to try it, but in vain. Small oblong fruits (up to four centimeters long and up to two and a half wide) look like small oranges, but their taste is still different. The main feature of kumkavat is that it is eaten directly with the peel, it is very thin; only the bones 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, with sweet, juicy jelly-like pulp and one seed. Many confuse it with Longan, they are really similar both in shape and in the consistency of the pulp, and in taste, but in lychee it is more pronounced.

Contains a lot of carbohydrates, pectins, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, a very high content of vitamin PP.

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

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

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

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

Lukuma(Pouteria lucuma) is originally from South America, where it is currently grown and also in Mexico and Hawaii.

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

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

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

magic fruit (Wonderful Berries, Sweetish Puteria, Miracle fruit) This member of the vast Sapotaceae family grows in West Africa.

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

Of course, the magic fruit 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 countries in the American tropics and is now cultivated throughout the world in areas with suitable climates.

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

Mame(Mamey-sapote, Mamey, Mamey-sapote, Marmalade fruit, Puteria, Pouteria sapota). A native of 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 long and weighing up to 3 kg.), covered with a thick reddish-brown skin. The color of the pulp can be pink, reddish, orange or gray, in its consistency it looks like marmalade ( which is reflected in the title), and the taste reminds someone of caramel, someone finds creamy shades. The fruit usually contains one large seed.

The fruits of the marmalade fruit 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 is difficult to call it exotic, because you can buy it in any large supermarket in Russia, but anyone who has tried mangoes in the places where they grow will say that store-bought fruit is absolutely not the same as fresh. Mango comes from India, and now it is grown literally all over the world, where 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-produced varieties there are other colors, such as purple, green or black. Therefore, when buying a green mango, you need to clarify, maybe this is such a variety and the fruit is already ripe.

In addition to the 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 birthplace of this plant is Southeast Asia, from where it spread further around the planet, up to Africa and Latin America.

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 lobules with seeds. The taste is sweetish, with a slight sourness, many people like it ( But I still couldn't get into them...). Unfortunately, diseased fruits often come across, which outwardly you can’t distinguish from healthy ones until you peel them, such pulp will not be white, but creamy and unpleasant in taste ( we often met).

passion fruit(Passion fruit, Passion fruit, Passion fruit, Edible passion flower, Edible Passionflower, Granadilla purple) is native to South America, and is currently grown in many countries with a tropical climate.

Round fruits (up to 8 cm in diameter) can have a different color - yellow, purple, pink, red. In general, the taste is more sour than sweet, especially yellow ( Personally, they look a lot like sea buckthorn to me.), therefore, in its pure form, the fruit is an amateur, as a rule, they use passion fruit juice mixed with others. The pits are small and edible, but they can cause drowsiness.

And passionfruit got its other name "Passion Fruit" because of its alleged aphrodisiac properties, although there were no serious studies 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 black continent, since ripe fruits very quickly begin to ferment inside, so that you can easily get a slight intoxication from eating overripe fruits.

The oblong fruits are covered with a thin yellow peel, and under it - the pulp is white, juicy, tart and one stone. Despite the tartness of taste, marula is quite an edible fruit, but more often it is used to make various desserts and the branded African liqueur Amarula. And from the peel, a drink is brewed that resembles tea, but with an unusual taste.

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

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

The fruits are round, ovoid or oval, large (up to 15 cm long and up to 8 cm wide) with a thick velvety greenish-brown skin. The flesh is orange-yellow, soft, juicy, sweet with a pleasant aroma and 2 to 5 large seeds.

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

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

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

Mombin purple (Mexican plum, Spondius Purpurea, Spondias purpurea, jocote, Hog Plum, Makok, Amra, Sirigela, 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 for purple mombin is " Ciruela”, sometimes used in Latin America, is literally translated from Spanish as “plum”, and, in fact, is also used to refer to an ordinary plum. And the Spaniards themselves use a different name for mombin - “ jocote". So look, do not be surprised at the possible confusion with this cunningly conspiratorial fruit! In general, in addition to those listed by me, it has a bunch of local names, the listing of which would really take one more paragraph ...

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 fragrant, juicy, and tastes sweet and sour. Inside is one large bone with grooves.

Contains a lot of B vitamins, vitamin C, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper.

Monstera(Monstera delicacy, Monstera attractive, Monstera delicious, 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 the 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, fragrant pulp, which tastes like a combination of banana and pineapple.

Medlar Japanese (Lokva, Japanese Eriobothria, Shesek, Nispero, Nispero) - originally from Japan and China, this plant once spread quite widely in the Caucasus, and in former times the fruits of the medlar were quite familiar, 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 stone. To taste, someone resembles a pear with a cherry, someone an apple with an apricot, but always sweet with sourness. I first tried Medlar in Hong Kong, and before that I didn’t even know about its existence; really a very pleasant fruit, it seemed to me that its taste is absolutely independent, easily recognizable. Many useful properties, especially for people suffering from hypertension, arrhythmia, dropsy, 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 it has an original appearance with peculiar “scales”. This bumpy green fruit is very widely cultivated in countries with a tropical climate - from South America to Polynesia. ( Many often confuse it with the Guanabana fruit, they are really similar, as they are "close relatives", but they are not the same thing! Also, guanabanu is often called "sugar apple", but again, by mistake.)

Under the bumpy peel is sweet pulp, the taste is very pleasant and hard inedible bones (up to 60 pieces). A ripe fruit should be soft when pressed, its flesh 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 lie down for a couple of days and ripen.

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

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

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

You will definitely 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 with tourists ... But the population of countries where it is grown actively eats it, often as the main daily 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, sabr). Cactus! The real one, only not so decorative that it might grow in your home, but a large tree-like plant. The main place of growth ( remember westerns) – America ( both continents). Do not be embarrassed that some variants of the name contain the adjective "Indian", if you remember the school history course, you understand that it has only an indirect relation to India ( Columbus sailed to open the way to India, hence the confusion).

They eat, of course, not thorns, but fruits ( though they are also spiky...) small sizes (up to 10 cm), which can be of different shades ( green, red or yellow). Their flesh is sweet and 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 the 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, Strawberry pineapple). It is a hybrid of the South American Chilean strawberry and the South American Virginia strawberry.

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

It is almost impossible to find it on sale in Russia, since pineberry is extremely barren, it is highly susceptible to rot in rainy weather and does not tolerate transportation well. Pineberry is 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, as some of its species are ornamental house plants.

The round fruits are pineapple-like in shape and are orange-red in color when ripe. The fruits of only some types of pandanus are conditionally edible. That is, you can chew the juicy pulp and enjoy a taste similar to pineapple, but then you have to spit it out ( although nowhere did I find information about any complications in case of eating it ...). Basically, juice and essential oil are made from pandanus to flavor various dishes or even soap.

Papaya(Papaya, Melon tree, Breadfruit). It comes from Central and South America, and nowadays it is cultivated in almost all tropical countries. Do not confuse it with other "Breadfruit" ( Jackfruit and Breadfruit Artocarpus altilis), there is nothing in common between these plants, just if you bake papaya on fire, it will start 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 ripe fruits are yellow-orange. The taste of a ripe papaya is not some super exotic and memorable, but still very pleasant, something really resembles a melon.

Unripe fruits are also used for food for a wide variety of dishes. And papaya is also used to make preparations for the treatment of 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 predominantly grown, also cultivated in New Zealand.

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

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

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

From the second name it is also clear that the taste of pitanga is most similar to cherries, sometimes with a slight bitterness; its red flesh is very juicy with one stone. Rounded fruits can be various shades of red and even black. But their main feature, immediately evident - they are ribbed.

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

Pitahaya(Pitaya, Long yang, Dragon fruit, Dragon fruit, sometimes the Dragon's Eye). Only when I began to prepare this article did I find out that pitahaya is a cactus. It comes 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 peculiar. The color of the skin can be red, pinkish or yellow, and the color of the flesh is white or red.

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

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

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 it is very difficult to try it somewhere other than in the countries of this region (Brazil, Guyana, Colombia, Paraguay).

Spherical or oval fruits in diameter can be up to 12 cm. Thick yellow-brown peel hides fragrant white pulp and several large seeds. Sweet and sour pulp is eaten both fresh and in the form of desserts, marmalade, jelly. Platonium fruits contain a lot of iron, phosphorus and vitamin C.

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

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

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

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

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

The fruits are spherical, large, sometimes even very, right up to 10 kilograms; The color can be green or yellow. Under the thick skin, 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 trace elements, vitamins B1, B2, B5, C, beta-carotene. Pomelo is perfect for strengthening immunity and preventing colds.

Cancers(Salacca wallichiana) is the closest relative of the Snake Fruit (Salacca zalacca), which is discussed below. They are often confused, but the fruits of Rakama ( accent on the second "a"), as opposed to Rakuma ( Snake fruit, description and photo just below in the text) are more elongated, colored red and have a more pronounced taste. But otherwise, everything 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. Red round fruits (up to 5 cm in diameter) are really “hairy”, it is 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 the countries of Southeast Asia ( especially rambutan is popular in Thailand), as well as in Africa, Australia, Caribbean countries.

The peel is soft, very easy to remove by hand, and under it is a very juicy translucent pulp, fragrant and sweet, often with a slight pleasant sourness. The color of the gelatinous pulp can be red or white.

It is better to eat a raw stone, as it can be poisonous, and it does not have a very good taste, but roasted seeds can be safely eaten. Rambutan is also used to make jams, jellies, and you can often buy it in canned form in our stores.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Berries can be eaten just like that, but more often they are used to make jams, drinks, as a rule, alcoholic ones, for example " Guavaberry liqueu r", made from rum and is a popular Christmas drink among the inhabitants of the Caribbean.

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

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

Despite this, the Hand of the Buddha is on all fruit counters in Southeast Asia, as it is used in cooking, for flavoring pastries, jam, drinks, and candied fruits are made from it.

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

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

Under the prickly peel is a beige pulp, 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 persimmon is felt to someone, pear to someone, pineapple or banana with a nutty flavor to someone, that is, you must definitely try, cannot be explained in words.

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

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

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 slices, with one bone in each. The sweet or sour-sweet taste of santol is reminiscent of the more common mangosteen, giving it one of its names. Bones should not be eaten, 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, strengthens bones and teeth.

sapodilla(Hot tree, Tree potato, Oil tree, Achra, 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 long) 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 tinge. It tastes like caramel, one of my favorite fruits. There are about a dozen bones inside the fruit, each has a hook, so you need to be careful not to accidentally swallow them, otherwise they can catch in the throat with this hook ( but the bones are very easily separated from the pulp and I had no 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 regions of cultivation or the countries closest to them ( Russia, as you understand, does not belong to them).

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

Sapote white (White Sapote, White sapote, Matasano, Edible Casimiroa, Casimiroa edulis, Mexican apple, Mexican apple). To the representatives of the Sapotov family described above ( sapodilla, lucuma) is irrelevant, as it belongs to another family - Rutaceae. A plant native to the central regions of Mexico, cultivated in Central and South America, on some islands of the Caribbean and neighboring Bahamas, in India, New Zealand, the Mediterranean.

Round fruits (up to 12 cm in diameter) with a thin smooth yellowish or green skin, and creamy white flesh. It tastes like vanilla cream or pudding. Bones (up to 6 pieces) should not be eaten, as it is believed that they are 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. It is also grown in Australia and Polynesia.

Oval-shaped fruits (up to 12.5 cm in length and up to 7.5 cm in diameter) are covered with a smooth thin skin of olive or yellow-green color, may be speckled with red-brown. The flesh adheres 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). Not to the Sapotovs ( sapodilla, lucuma), nor to the Rutovs ( White sapote) has nothing to do, despite the name, since it belongs to a completely different family - Ebony, and the closest known relative of the black sapote is persimmon. The region of origin is Central America and the southern regions of Mexico, in addition, it is grown on islands such as Mauritius, Hawaii, the Philippines, the Antilles and Brazil.

Spherical fruits (up to 12.5 cm in diameter) in the mature state 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 bones, which are easily separated from it.

TamarindSweet (Sweet Tamarind, Indian date, Asam, Sampalok, Chintapandu). The homeland of this tree of the legume family is East Africa, nowadays it is cultivated everywhere in tropical countries.

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

It is also used fresh, but finds much greater use in cooking in the form of spices and sauces.

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

Tamarillo(Tamarillo, Tomato tree, Cyphomandra beetroot, Cyphomandra betacea). Homeland are the countries of the western coast of South America; grown in almost all countries of South America, as well as in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Haiti and New Zealand.

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 flesh is golden-reddish, with many small seeds, it tastes sour-sweet-salty, similar to a tomato with a touch of passion fruit or currant. It is usually eaten with a spoon, simply by 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 Brazilian Amazon regions; grown in Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.

The fruits are oval (from 5 to 10 cm long and 4 to 8 cm in diameter), covered with a thin smooth peel of yellow, red, black or green. You can eat with the peel, and the pulp layer is only 2-5 mm., It is yellow, oily, sweet, with a strong characteristic pleasant taste and aroma. Inside the fruit is one hard big bone, they are fried and eaten. Umari is consumed simply like a normal fruit, and also due to its fatty, buttery texture, literally like butter is 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 bumpy dark green one, it tastes sour, so it is better to eat without it. The flesh color of a 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, vitamin C.

Physalis(Physalis, sometimes called Emerald Berry or Earth Cranberry, Peruvian Gooseberry, Bubblegum, Pesya Cherry, Marunka, Strawberry Tomato) - you have probably seen it many times, it is very often used to decorate confectionery, although it is also found simply 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 a slight sourness, depending on the specific variety ( and there are a lot of them) different shades may be present in taste and aroma, for example, strawberries in Strawberry physalis.

It has 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 the homeland, from where this plant spread to the islands of Oceania and to the countries of Southeast Asia. The very productive Breadfruit is a staple food in some countries.

The fruits are very large, round-oval (up to 30 cm in diameter and weighing up to 4 kg.) Covered with a rough peel, which is green in an unripe form, and in a ripe fruit it is yellow-brown. The wild variety of breadfruit contains many seeds in the fruit, while the cultivated variety does not have seeds.

Unripe flesh is white, fibrous, starchy, while ripe flesh becomes soft and changes color to cream or yellow. The ripe fruit is sweetish, but in general, their taste is not very attractive, more like a potato and a banana. Unripe fruits are used as vegetables, and when they are cooked, you can just feel the bready taste.

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

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

Spherical or oval fruits (up to 10 cm in diameter) are covered with a smooth inedible green or purple-brown peel, depending on the variety. The flesh can be white to purple in color and 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 across, then the cut pattern will look like a star. The ripe fruits are wrinkled and soft and can be refrigerated for up to three weeks, making a great gift to friends and family from your tropical vacation.

Contains a lot of phosphorus, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin C, amino acids and protein; has a 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, Indonesia. A relative of the Marang, Breadfruit and Jackfruit.

The fruits are elongated, large (up to 45 cm long and up to 15 cm wide) covered with a yellow-brown rough peel, they smell pleasant. The peel can be easily removed by hand, but it is worth remembering that due to the released latex, it is very sticky. The pulp is divided into segments, it is dark yellow in color, juicy, sweet and tender, with round stones ( 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 immunity, bones and teeth, and is also very good as a tonic product.

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

Cherimoyya has many close relatives, so it is sometimes easy to get confused, for example, the Cream Apple is also called Annona reticulum, in addition there is Annona prickly ( Guanabana or Soursop), Annona scaly ( Noina or Sugar Apple).

The fruit has a heart-shaped shape (up to 20 cm long and up to 10 cm wide), covered with a green peel with characteristic irregularities. The pulp is white, fibrous-cream in texture, with a pleasant aroma and complex taste from a mixture of passion fruit, banana, pineapple, strawberries and cream. The bones 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(Jujube real, Unabi, Chinese date, Breast berry, Chapyzhnik, Jujuba, Jujube). Cultivated in Southeast and Central Asia, Japan, Australia, the European Mediterranean, the Caucasus.

The fruits are ovoid or round, although in fact they are very different in shape. The smooth, thin, shiny skin also has 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; one bone inside.

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

Yangmei(Mountain peach, Yangmei, Chinese strawberry or Chinese strawberry tree, Red waxwort). Originally from China, where it has been mainly grown for more than two thousand years, but is also found in neighboring countries.

Fruits - "rough" balls (up to 2.5 cm in diameter) can be painted 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 pungent, with hints of cherries, blackberries and strawberries.

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

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