A fruit similar to a green tomato. Exotic fruits. Philippine rose apple

It is believed that a person needs to eat those vegetables and fruits that grow in his habitat, northern peoples do not need to feast on overseas pineapples, such an experiment will not bring benefits, but it can harm. However, few people are able, being in an exotic country, to resist the temptation to try an unusual fruit, or not to taste the forbidden fruit from the hands of someone who has just returned "from the south." Numerous types of tropical fruits excite the minds and gastronomic sensations of travelers. Going to a new country, one cannot help but try exotic fruits, the photos of which could only be seen in the picture before. Some have an incredibly alluring appearance, others repel, and even frighten with their non-standard beauty of bizarre shapes.

In this article, we will look at exotic fruits, the list of which is very long. Perhaps, after looking at the description and photo, you will understand that you will never take THIS in your mouth, but you are ready to go beyond the seven seas for another exotic fruit. What is the name of the exotic fruit, the easiest way to understand it is from the photo and description. Get ready, the list is really long.

Lychee

The most famous exotic fruit from Thailand, which travelers try and bring back, is lychee. Lychee has a strange appearance, an original taste, reminiscent of a mixture of very sweet grapes and gooseberries, and, by the way, also grows in China and Indonesia. This is a small red fruit, about 4 cm in diameter, has a hard peel, which is easy to remove, only by adapting and eating a lot of pieces. The pulp is white-transparent, slightly jelly-like, very sweet, but with a slight sourness. Large bone inside. The fruit has a rich vitamin and microelement composition: pectins, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, PP. In addition, lychee is rich in proteins.

Longan

This yellow exotic fruit also comes from Thailand and resembles lychee in taste and appearance, but the name of this tropical fruit is different - longan or, as it is also called, the Dragon's Eye.

Some of the appearance of this fruit is compared with a small potato, but it is similar to it only in the size and color of the peel. The skin of the longan is also very tough, although thin. The yellow color of the longan peel hides the delicate pulp, like that of the lychee, white, translucent. This tropical fruit has a sweet taste. The texture is also jelly-like, elastic, the bone is large and hard. The fruits are rich in calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, and sugars. The fruit also grows in China, Vietnam, Cambodia.

Pitahaya

Some of the tropical countries are brought local fruits as a souvenir, not everyone decides to immediately try the overseas miracle, but they want to know what it is, because exotic fruits with names fascinate with their beauty and play of colors. For example, many are interested in the question of what kind of exotic fruit it is - white with black seeds. White tender flesh, generously strewn with black small seeds in pitahaya.

The appearance of the pitahaya, otherwise, the Dragon Fruit, is also memorable: an oval fruit the size of a palm with a red or pink skin. The fruit is very juicy and soft inside, it is most convenient to eat with a spoon. The fruit is very interesting in appearance, but nothing remarkable in taste. Basically, it is added when preparing various desserts, but as an independent product, they try it rather out of curiosity. It grows in Southeast Asia, Vietnam, China, Thailand.

By the way, pitahaya is the fruit of a cactus, which can be guessed from its appearance.

Kiwano

Kiwano is an exotic fruit similar to cucumber. The transparent green flesh of the kiwano resembles the pulp of a well-known vegetable. The fruit has other names, which are translated into our language as “Horned Melon”, “African Cucumber”, “Horned Cucumber”. The peel of the fruit is yellow-orange with thorns. Before use, the fruit is not peeled, but cut like a watermelon. The fruit tastes like a cross between banana, melon, cucumber and kiwi. In Africa, New Zealand, Chile, Guatemala, Israel and the United States, kiwano is added to both desserts and main dishes. Unripe fruits are also edible.

carambola

Many have managed to fall in love with an exotic fruit of bright yellow color, which has a funny shape and edible peel - carambola. In the context of this exotic fruit, it looks like a star, it is eaten whole, along with the skin and seeds. It has a pleasant smell and juicy pulp, sweet and sour in taste. Some argue that the taste of carambola is vaguely reminiscent of an apple. Carambola fruits will decorate the festive table, cocktail or dessert. It grows in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Buddha hand

Other yellow tropical fruits that stand out in appearance, but do not amaze with taste, are citrons, or "Buddha's Hand". The shape of the fruit resembles a human hand with long fingers, it does not look very appetizing. The peel here occupies more than 70% of the entire fruit, and the pulp is bitter in taste. It is not recommended to try fresh citron, you will not get pleasure from such a snack. You can bring it home as a souvenir, and then add it instead of lemon when preparing sweet dishes. For these purposes, they are used in their homeland - in India, Japan, Vietnam, China.

Pepino

Considering the most exotic fruits, consider another one of them - pepino. Native to South America and New Zealand, this yellow tropical fruit is actually a berry. True, the weight of such a berry can be more than 700 grams. We call it Melon pear or Sweet cucumber. It tastes like a good ripe melon, the peel, like the seeds, is edible, but unpleasant in taste. Grown mainly in

Mafai

Mafai, or Burmese grape, is similar in appearance and taste to longan. The pulp is yellow, translucent, jelly-like. Inside the fruit is juicy, sweet and sour, refreshing. Inside the fruit is a few cloves, like garlic. And in each slice there is a bitter bone, which is difficult to separate from the pulp. These tropical fruits can be bought in Thailand, Vietnam, India, China, Cambodia.

medlar

Medlar, or Lokva, is another rather unusual "sunny" yellow-orange exotic fruit. Outwardly, the fruits resemble an apple or persimmon, but the texture of the pulp is like that of a plum. The taste is reminiscent of sweet and sour blueberries, apple, persimmon and pear combined. Such is the "multifruit". You can buy not only in overseas countries, but also here, in Russia: in the Crimea and in the Krasnodar Territory.

Guanabana

Guanabana is a green tropical fruit with a bright appearance and original taste. The appearance of this fruit is deceptive: the prickly-looking spikes on the peel are actually soft processes that do not cause unpleasant tactile sensations. The fruits are large - on average, from 3 to 14 kilograms, and it is not surprising that his bones are the size of a large bean.

Guanabana pulp is oily and fibrous, sweet and sour with a unique taste reminiscent of Citro soda. An unripe fruit is absolutely tasteless, so many tourists, having bought a “green” guanabana in every sense, do not find anything good in it. Ripe fruit should be elastic and bend when pressed. If the fruit is hard, then it is not ripe. Let it lie down for a few days, and you can enjoy the original taste. You need to eat guanabana, cutting it in half, scraping out the pulp with a spoon. Can be cut into slices and eaten like watermelon or melon. You can buy this splendor in South America.

Avocado

Green tropical fruit, which for Russians has almost ceased to be exotic - avocado. Yes, in fact, the fruit is a fruit, although it tastes more like a vegetable. Oily, oily texture flesh, somewhere between an unleavened pumpkin and a nut.

The stone inside the fruit is very large, inedible, but also there. More details can be found in a separate article on our website.

Like many other unusual overseas fruits, avocado is a very healthy fruit that is best bought in Vietnam, India, Cuba.

Spanish lime

Another green exotic fruit is the Spanish lime. Its taste properties are far from the qualities of limes known to us. The Spanish lime has a sweet flesh, not bitter, but the peel is also inedible. You can try it in Ecuador, Colombia.

Ambarella

Ambarella is an oval yellow-green fruit. The skin is hard, inedible, the stone is prickly and hard, but the pulp is very juicy, soft, a bit reminiscent of a mixture of mango and pineapple. Grows in India, Indonesia,

bail

Bail is an exotic fruit that looks like a pear or an apple, and has a second name, which translates as a tree apple. The skin is dense and rusty, like a nut, the flesh is hairy, sweet or sour, irritates the throat when consumed. The peel of the bail is so tough that you can only cut the fruit in half with a hammer. For this reason, it is sold mainly already cut up. It grows in India, Pakistan, Indonesia.

bam-balan

The original taste is distinguished by a fruit called bam-balan. Tourists claim that the taste of the fruit resembles the taste of borscht seasoned with sour cream. It grows on the island of Barneo, on the Malaysian side.

pink banana

Banana is a pink exotic fruit that grows in many warm countries and practically does not differ in taste from its yellow counterpart.

mangosteen

Mangosteen is an exotic fruit of a dark purple hue. About the size of an apple, it has a thin but inedible skin. Elastic sweet and sour pulp with virtually no pits. If the bones are found, they can be eaten. Due to its composition, mangosteen is able to reduce inflammation in the body: swelling, pain, redness.

Marula

Marula is a greenish fruit with juicy, unsweetened and tasteless flesh that can ferment. The fruits begin to ferment immediately after ripening, so finding fresh fruit is problematic. However, this does not upset either the inhabitants of Africa or the animals: both of them love to eat "alcoholic" fruit.

Guava

Guava is a pink tropical fruit on the inside and green on the outside. It grows in most tropical and subtropical countries. The original appearance, unfortunately, does not match the taste: one should not expect something magnificent from the pulp of guava. The taste resembles an ordinary unsweetened pear, but the aroma and beneficial properties of guava are on top. It is worth buying such a fruit, if only for the sake of satisfying curiosity.

passion fruit

Passion fruit is a tropical fruit known in our country rather by name, but not by taste. It is called "Passion Fruit", it is considered a natural aphrodisiac. Fruits are oval-shaped, yellow, purple, pink or red. The skin is inedible, and the flesh has a jelly-like texture. The taste is not particularly attractive, passion fruit juices and desserts have much more intense notes. To eat the fruit, you need to cut it in half and pick it off with a spoon from the skin. The most delicious fruits are ripe, they can be identified by wrinkles and dents on the peel. The birthplace of the fruit is South America.

Coconut

Coconut is one of the few exotic fruits ubiquitous in our supermarkets and grocery stores. However, overripe, tasteless fruits, as a rule, fall on our shelves. A ripe but not overripe coconut has a smooth green shell, not the "hairy" one we usually see. "Green" coconut has a jelly-like pulp and sweetish milk, which quenches thirst well. As a rule, coconuts are specially opened for tourists, tubes are inserted so that the milk can be easily drunk.

Mammaya

Mammaya is an exotic fruit similar to an apricot in appearance and taste. The second name of the fruit is known - "American apricot". The berry is large, up to 20 centimeters in diameter, the pulp is sweet, the taste and aroma is akin to apricot and mango. You can buy it in almost all tropical countries.

Rambutan

Rambutan is an exotic hedgehog-like fruit also called the "Hairy Fruit". The fruits are red, round, covered with long shoots resembling thorns. The pulp is transparent white, elastic, jelly-like. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour, and the stone is edible. The brighter the skin color, the riper the fruit. It grows in Indonesia, India, Thailand, Philippines.

sapodilla

Sapodilla is an oval-shaped fruit up to 10 cm in diameter. The fruit is also called the tree potato. The color of the peel really resembles the skin of a potato. The pulp is soft and juicy, a little knit, like a persimmon, but has a caramel flavor. The bones have a pointed shape, so when eating, you need to make sure that they do not get into the throat. It grows in countries with a tropical climate - America, Indonesia, Thailand, India.

noina

Noina, or Sugar Apple, is an exotic fruit that looks like a cone. It has not only original appearance, but also taste. The fruits are bumpy, which makes them look like cones. Very tasty, sweet, ripe fruit pulp. The taste of the unripe fruit resembles a pumpkin. The fruit grows in Thailand. Due to the uneven, tough peel, but very tender pulp, the fruit can be difficult to cut.

A pineapple

Pineapples are also tropical fruits that look like cones. Of course, most of us have tried pineapples, even if we didn't include exotic countries. But the taste of "our" pineapples, which we see every day on the shelves of supermarkets, cannot be compared with real tropical representatives. They are very juicy, fleshy, have an incredibly rich taste. This fruit can be found in Brazil, China and the Philippines.

Aki

Aki is a yellow or red exotic fruit, slightly shaped like a pear. But the content is not like anything, just look at the photo to be convinced of this. The large black "eyes" are the bones of the fruit, which protrude along with the pulp when the fruit ripens. The ripe fruit bursts, and its pulp tastes like walnuts. The fruit grows in Brazil, Jamaica and Hawaii.

Now you can easily determine the name of exotic fruits from photos and descriptions, if you are lucky enough to visit distant countries. Before you dare to try any fruit, look at the picture and the name so as not to be disappointed in an unripe or overripe tropical fruit.

Of course, we did not give the entire list of exotic fruits, but tried to talk about the most popular and interesting representatives of overseas juicy wonders.

Video

Arriving in a warm country, you encounter an abundance of exotic fruits, the name of which you heard for the first time. Let's deal with these "overseas fruits", a complete overview of the tropical fruits of the world of warm countries that you need to try. For each tropical fruit, below is a description, taste, ripening seasons, as well as how to cut and consume it.

Round red fruit, up to 4 cm in diameter. Wonderful, delicious fruit. It has one bone in the middle. Similar to 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 wide prevalence of Lychee in the countries of Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand) is the reason for the low level of atherosclerosis in this region.

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

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, garcinia, mankut).

The fruit is about the size of a small dark purple apple. 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.

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 or Pitahaya.

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.

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 (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia). 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 (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 the taste of an apple. 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 (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: it contains 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 is 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 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 are well preserved and ripen on the road or already at home.

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 is very palatable, sweet fragrant pulp and many hard seeds the size of beans. The unripe fruit is firm in texture and not at all tasty, similar to a pumpkin. Therefore, having bought an unripe fruit on the market and having tasted it, many tourists refuse to eat it further, immediately disliking it. But if you let it lie down for a day or two, it ripens and becomes very tasty.

The peel is inedible, it is very inconvenient to peel 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 most mature or slightly overripe fruits literally fall apart in the hands.

To choose a ripe tasty noina, you need, first of all, to focus on its softness (soft fruits are more mature), but you need to be careful, because if you press a little harder on a ripe fruit, it will simply fall apart in your hands on the counter.

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

The season is from June to September.

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 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 known under completely different names: in Brazil - Graviola, in Mexico - Poox, 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 homeland of the fruit is South America, but it can be found in the countries of Asia and South Africa, which are warm all year round, also 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 quite difficult to recognize the fruit of Cherimoya 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 smell (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 is a white tender pulp with a sweet and sour taste and several large seeds.

Kumquat (Kumquat)

Kumquats are 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.

In Asia, a green, slightly unripe Guava is liked to be consumed by dipping pieces of the fruit in a mixture of salt and pepper. From the outside it may seem unusual, but if you try it, the taste turns out to be quite interesting and tonic.

Passion Fruit/Passion Fruit

This exotic fruit is also called 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 stones. 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. Stored in the refrigerator Passion Fruit can be 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. But if the avocado is well ripened, its flesh becomes softer, more buttery, and more palatable.

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 greatly diversify the festive table. You can find many recipes for avocado dishes on the Internet, including salads, soups, main courses, but on vacation you are unlikely to need all this, so you don’t have to look too much 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. When ripe, the flesh becomes soft and slightly sweet, reminiscent of banana and 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) is a soft jelly-like and very tasty pulp with several seeds.

The tree bears fruit almost all year round.

Kiwano/Horned melon

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. Therefore, you can eat a 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, wood apple, wood apple)

Also known under other names: Aegle marmelos, stone apple (stone apple), limonia acidissima, feronia elephantum, feronia limonia, hesperethusa crenulata, elephant apple, monkey fruit, curd fruit. It is very widespread in the countries of Southeast Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand).

This fruit grows on a tree and reaches 5-20 cm in diameter. The fruit is grey-green (immature) to yellow or brown (ripe) with a very dense, rough rind resembling a walnut shell. The flesh of the unripe fruit is orange, divided into segments with white seeds. In a ripe fruit, the pulp is mushy, brown, sticky, and can taste sour or sweet.

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.

If you can’t try it fresh (which, in general, you shouldn’t worry about), you can buy a tea from the fruits of Bail, called Matoom (Matoom tea). It consists of dried orange-brown circles, divided into several segments. It is believed that it is very effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal, colds, bronchial and asthmatic diseases. It is also used in cooking (tea, drinks, jams, jams, salads) and cosmetology (soap, aromatic oil).

The ripening season is from November to December.

Buddha hand

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 buy it only in order to bring it home with you as a souvenir, and already at home cook various dishes with citrus flavor from it (compote, jelly, candied fruit).

Banana (Banana, Musa)

Well, in general, everyone already knows about bananas. We accidentally mentioned banana so you can vote for them if they are your favorite. By the way, it is worth mentioning that bananas in exotic countries taste much better than those sold at home, so be sure to try bananas on vacation, maybe you will like them even more than before.

Papaya (Papaya, Melon tree, Breadfruit)

Papaya is native to South America but is now found in almost all tropical countries. Papaya fruits grow on trees, have a cylindrical oblong shape up to 20 centimeters in length.

Many who have tried Papaya say that it is more of a vegetable than a fruit. But that's because they ate unripe papaya. Unripe Papaya is really very widely used in cooking, salads are made from it (be sure to try the spicy Thai Papaya salad called Som Tam), meat is stewed with it and simply fried.

But ripe papaya in its raw form is really very tasty and sweet. In texture, it resembles a dense melon, and in taste it is something between a pumpkin and a melon. On sale there are both whole fruits of green color (not yet ripe, for cooking), and yellow-orange (ripe, ready to eat raw). It is not worth buying the whole fruit, it is better to buy ready-to-eat, peeled and cut into slices Papaya.

You can meet Papaya in tropical countries all year round.

Coconut (coconut, cocos, coco)

Coconut and coconut are quite often used as identical words. However, the name "coconut" in this case is not correct, because. coconut, in its structure, is classified as a stone fruit, such as apricot or plum.

Coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm, which grows throughout the tropics. Belongs to the category of fruits.

It is a large rounded (up to 30 cm in diameter) fruit, weighing up to 3 kg. Koros has conditionally two degrees of maturation. A young coconut has a smooth, light green or green-yellow outer layer, under which is a hard pit, which in turn is a clear (coconut water) or white emulsion (coconut milk), with a small jelly-like layer of coconut flesh on the walls of the shell. The liquid inside with a slightly sweet taste quenches thirst well, the pulp can also be eaten by scraping it off the walls with a spoon.

Another degree of maturation (or overripeness) that we see in our stores is the following: on the outside, a fibrous and rough layer, under which there is a hard brown shell, and under it a thick layer of white pulp and a slightly cloudy liquid. This liquid, as a rule, is not tasty, and the pulp is dry and tasteless.

When opening a coconut, you need to be careful, one universal kitchen knife is not enough here, you will need more “heavy artillery”. But fortunately, if you buy coconut in tourist areas, you don’t have to worry about opening it: it will be opened in front of you, and, most likely, they will also give you a drinking straw and a spoon to “scrape” the pulp. Chilled coconut is best.

Tourists love a special coconut cocktail very much: you need to drink a little juice from a coconut, and add 30-100 grams of cognac, rum or whiskey there.

Coconut contains vitamins A, B, C, proteins, sugar, carbohydrates, organic acids; minerals - sodium, calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus.

The ripening season is all year round.

Sapodilla or sapote tree or tree potato (Manilkara achras, M. zapota, or Achras zapota), sapodilla, prang khaa, la-mut, naseberry, chiku)

Sapodilla is an oval or round fruit up to 10 cm and weighing 100-150 g. It looks very much like a plum. The skin is matte and thin, has a color from light to dark brown.

The ripe fruit has a sweet flavor with a slight caramel flavor. In structure, the pulp resembles persimmon - soft and juicy, and just like persimmon, it can “knit” a little, only much less. Inside are several large black bones with a hook at the end (you need to be careful when using). As a rule, it is not recommended to store fruit for more than 3 days, because. it quickly deteriorates and sours. Therefore, Sapodilla is practically not found on the shelves of our stores. Unripe fruit is also not recommended, because. it has a very bad taste. It is worth choosing ripe fruits based on their color (those that are yellower or brown are more ripe, green ones should not be chosen at all) and softness. Hard fruits are completely immature, a mature fruit gives in to pressure a little, and an overripe one is squeezed very easily.

Sapodilla grows in countries with a tropical climate, in particular in America, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines.

Most often Sapodilla is used in desserts, salads and drinks. Unripe fruits are used for diarrhea, burns, and also in cosmetology.

Contains vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, carbohydrates.

The ripening season is from September to December.

pomelo

Pomelo or pomelo or pamela (Pomelo pummelo, pumelo, som-o, pompelmus, sheddok, Citrus maxima or Citrus grandis, Chinese grapefruit, dzheybong, jeruk, limo, lusho, jambura, sai-sekh, banten, zebon, robeb ​​tenga)

Pomelo belongs to citrus fruits and is considered the largest among this family. It is often compared to grapefruit. As a rule, the fruit has a rounded shape, can reach up to 20 cm in diameter and weigh up to 10 kg!!! Color, depending on the variety, can be from green to yellow-green. The peel is very thick, inside there is a light pulp: from white to pale yellow or pink. The pulp is divided into slices separated by film partitions. Each lobule has large fibers and may contain small white pits. The taste of Pomelo is sweet with sourness, it can be slightly bitter. Compared, for example, with the same grapefruit, the pulp of Pomelo is more dry.

Pomelo grows in the countries of Southeast Asia (Malaysia, China, Japan, Vietnam, India, Indonesia), on about. Tahiti, Israel, USA. In Russia, it can be purchased at any supermarket, so it is not so exotic for the inhabitants of Russia.

It is worth choosing Pomelo focusing, first of all, on a pronounced aromatic citrus smell and soft peel. Before use, you need to peel it from a thick peel, making several cuts (to make it more convenient and easier to clean), then divide into separate slices, which are also freed from partitions (they are very hard). Store at room temperature for up to a month, cleaned - in the refrigerator, no more than 3 days.

Use this fruit in cooking, in cosmetology. In some countries, it is consumed with salt, chili pepper and sugar, dipping peeled slices into this mixture.

Pomelo contains vitamins A, B, C, trace elements, fiber, essential oils.

Ripening season: all year round.

Fig (fig, fig, fig, fig, smyrna berry, Ficus carica)

Fig fruits can be round, pear-shaped or flattened with one "eye". On average, a ripe fruit weighs about 80 g, up to 8 cm in diameter. It is covered with a thin smooth skin from yellow-green to dark blue or purple on top. Under the skin is a layer of white peel. Inside the pulp is very sweet and juicy with small seeds, jelly-like consistency, reminiscent of strawberries in taste. In color - the flesh is from pink to bright red. Unripe fruits are inedible and contain milky juice.

It grows in Central Asia, in the Caucasus, in the Crimea, in the Mediterranean countries.

You need to choose ripe figs with a dense skin, without spots, slightly soft. It is recommended to store it for no more than 3 days in the refrigerator, because. it quickly deteriorates and is not transportable. You can eat with the peel, cut into slices or in half, scraping the pulp with a spoon. Most often, figs can be found on store shelves only in dried form. Dried fruits are pre-soaked in water before use, after such a “soaking” you can drink water (useful substances pass there).

Figs are dried, marinated, jam is cooked. In dried form, it is more nutritious and high-calorie than in fresh form.

Figs contain a lot of potassium, iron, vitamins B, PP, C, carotene, minerals and organic acids.

Harvest season: August to November.

Kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa), Chinese actinidia (Actinidia chinensis), Kiwi, Chinese gooseberry, Chinese grape)

Kiwi fruit is a berry. It has small fruits of a round or oval shape, covered on the outside with a fleecy thin brown skin. The mass of the fruit can reach up to 80 g, the diameter is up to 7 cm. Under the skin is juicy pulp, depending on the variety, it can be from green to yellow. In the very middle of the fruit, the flesh is white, surrounded by many small black seeds. The seeds are edible and taste sour. Kiwi pulp, in general, is sweet with a slight sourness, reminiscent of a mixture of gooseberries, apples, pineapples.

Kiwi is grown in countries with a subtropical climate (Italy, New Zealand, Chile, Greece). There are also small plantations in Russia (Krasnodar Territory). You can buy everywhere at any time of the year.

You need to choose even fruits, without dents and other damage to the skin, their ripeness is determined by the softness of the fruit. If the fruits are hard and hard, then they will ripen at home without any problems, for which they need to be placed in a bag with apples for one or two days. Kiwi can be stored at room temperature for up to 5 days, in the refrigerator - up to two weeks, after putting it in a bag or plastic container.

There are two ways to eat kiwi: peel and cut into slices or cut in half and eat away the pulp with a spoon.

Kiwi contains a large amount of vitamins B and C, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium.

Various desserts, fruit salads are made from it, served with meat, fish, seafood, drinks are prepared (syrups, liqueurs, wine, cocktails). Used in cosmetology.

Chrysophyllum or Star apple (Chrysophyllum cainito), star apple, cainito, caimito, (caimito, star apple), milky fruit (milky fruit)

The fruits of the Star apple are round or oval, up to 10 cm in diameter. The peel is thin, smooth, green to purple or brown, depending on the variety. Under the peel is a layer of peel of the same color as the peel itself. The flesh is white to purple, juicy, sweet, sticky, jelly-like, with an apple flavor. Inside there are up to 10 solid brown bones, up to 2 cm long. In cross section, the pulp resembles a star. Unripe fruits are knit and inedible. The milky juice that remains even in ripe fruits is very sticky, as a result, lips can stick together a little when eating the fruit.

It grows in countries with a tropical climate: in South America, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, West Africa.

Ripe fruits should be selected for slightly wrinkled peel and softness when pressed, no damage. Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks. The fruits tolerate transportation well. Before use, the fruit must be cooled and peeled and peeled (they are bitter). You can eat, either by cutting in half and picking out the pulp with a spoon, or by cutting into slices, like a watermelon, the bones are inedible.

Used in the preparation of desserts.

Star apple is rich in vitamin C and trace elements. Very nutritious.

Harvest season: February to March.

Guanabana

Guanabana is a close relative of Noina and Cherimoya, and they can really be confused with an inexperienced eye in appearance and even in taste. Their main difference is in the peel: in Guanabana, the surface of the peel is clearly similar to rare low spines or villi, although in fact these processes are soft and not prickly at all. The fruit is round, irregularly elongated, quite large, can reach a weight of 12 kilograms, although usually there are fruits weighing no more than 3 kilograms on sale.

The homeland of Guanabana is tropical America, but today it can be found in almost all tropical regions, including the countries of Southeast Asia. You can not find this fruit in every fruit market, but if you find it, be sure to try it.

The flesh of the fruit is white, soft creamy in texture and slightly fibrous. The taste is sweet and slightly sour, unlike any other fruit. Inside there are a large number of hard bones the size and shape of a large bean.

In an unripe fruit, the flesh is hard and tasteless, like a pumpkin. Moreover, the fruits are often sold unripe (they ripen within a few days), which is why tourists, having bought it and tried it, do not immediately fall in love with it. But it is enough to let her lie down for a couple of days, as she acquires her own unique taste. To select a ripe fruit, you need to press a little on it, the peel should sag slightly. Hard dense fruits are unripe.

Guanabana can be eaten by cutting the fruit in half and scraping out the pulp with a spoon, or cut into slices and consumed like a watermelon. Peeling a ripe fruit will not work.

Guanabana is a perishable product and should be stored in the refrigerator. If you want to bring home, choose firm unripe fruits, they ripen quite well within 2-3 days, but then deteriorate.

The ripening season of Guanabana is all year round.

Tamarillo (Tomato tree, Cyphomandra beetroot, Cyphomandra betacea)

Tamarillo is an oval-shaped berry, reaching a length of 5 to 10 cm, with a diameter of up to 5 cm. The color of the fruit varies from yellow to dark red and even purple. It looks and tastes very similar to tomatoes, which is why its second name is Tomato tree, but still it is a fruit. Its skin is hard, smooth and bitter. It is very reminiscent of a tomato with a currant flavor, but has a slightly pronounced fruity smell. The flesh may be yellow or orange. As a rule, it has two sections inside with light or dark small seeds (depending on the color of the peel of the fruit itself, the lighter the color, the lighter the seeds).

It grows in the countries of South America (Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, etc.), some countries of Central America, Jamaica, Haiti, New Zealand.

You need to choose even and smooth fruits, without external damage, slightly soft. In this case, you should be aware that the fruits of yellow and orange are sweeter, and the fruits with a darker color become more sour as they ripen. Ripe fruits are not stored for long (in the cold for no longer than 7 days), unripe ones are able to ripen at room temperature. Poorly tolerate transportation.

They eat tamarillo, having previously peeled it (it is inedible), and slightly capturing a layer of pulp, or cutting it in half and scooping out the pulp with a spoon.

It is widely used in cooking, using it in dishes both as a vegetable and as a fruit.

Tamarillo is rich in vitamins (A, group B, C, E) and trace elements.

The ripening season is all year round.

Feijoa (Feijoa, Pineapple Guava, Acca Sellowiana)

Feijoa is a small oval-shaped berry, 3 to 5 cm long, up to 4 cm in diameter. The average fruit weight is from 15 to 50 g. "tail". The skin is thin dense, can be smooth or slightly bumpy, wrinkled. The flesh under the skin, depending on the degree of maturity, is from white or cream to brownish (in the latter case, the berry is said to be spoiled). Inside the pulp is divided into sections, in the center of which there are several light edible seeds. The consistency of a ripe feijoa is light and jelly-like. The taste of the berry is juicy, sweet and sour, reminiscent of a mixture of strawberries with pineapple or strawberries with kiwi (people have different tastes).

It grows in countries with a subtropical climate: in South America (Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay) in the Caucasus and southern Russia (Krasnodar Territory), Abkhazia, Georgia, Crimea and Central Asia.

You can eat as a whole fruit with a peel, however, this is not for everyone, because. feijoa skin tastes sour and astringent. In most cases, feijoa is cut in half and the flesh is scraped out with a spoon, or you can peel the skin with a knife and eat the peeled fruit.

For immediate consumption, you need to choose soft (ripe) fruits. If you have to transport, then hard (unripe) feijoa fruits are perfect for this, and will ripen on the road. Ripe berries should be stored no more than 3-4 days.

Feijoa contains a large amount of iodine, acids, vitamin C.

It is used in cooking: preparing jams and jellies, salads and drinks.

The ripening season is October-November.

Pepino (Melon Pear, Sweet Cucumber (Solanum muricatum)

This rather large berry grows up to 700 g in weight. The fruits can be different in shape and oblong, pear-shaped, and round. In color, mostly pale to bright yellow, sometimes with purple patches or stripes. Ripe fruit is very juicy and sweet, reminiscent of melon in taste, but unripe can be a little sour. The peel is thin, dense, smooth. The pulp is yellow, inside there are sinuses with small light seeds (edible). Before eating, it is customary to peel the fruit (it is edible, but unpleasant in taste)

It is cultivated in large numbers in South America (Peru, Chile), New Zealand.

You need to choose ripe fruits for a rich yellow color with a slightly pronounced fruity aroma and a little soft. A feature of Pepino is that ripe fruits can be stored for several months in the refrigerator, unripe ones are able to ripen and also be stored for a long time.

Contains vitamins (A, B, C, PP), keratin, iron, potassium, pectin.

Used in cooking, along with vegetables, especially unripe Pepino fruits.

The ripening season is all year round.

Santol or Cato (Sandoricum koetjape, santol, kraton, krathon, graton, tong, donka, wild mangosteen, false mangosteen)

Santol grows in the countries of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Philippines).

The fruit of Santola has a rounded shape from 8 to 15 cm in diameter with a long stalk. Depending on the variety, it can be from yellowish to brown in color, the peel is slightly velvety on top. Fruit color is usually uneven with pigmentation over the entire surface. Under a rather thick peel, a whitish opaque pulp is hidden, similar to "garlic" cloves, up to 5 pieces. Inside each slice is a large brownish bone (it is not recommended to eat it unnecessarily, because it has a laxative effect). The pulp is juicy in taste, ranging from sour to sweet and sour, reminiscent of a little mangosteen. As a rule, the fruits of yellowish varieties are sweeter.

Before use, you need to peel the fruit (it is inedible), after cutting it across into two halves, with a knife or peel it with your hands, and then remove the slices of pulp and free them from the seeds. The pulp does not separate well from the stone, so it is customary to suck it. Sometimes Santol is eaten with salt and pepper.

Santol fruits contain a large amount of iron, magnesium, fluorine.

Used in cooking (desserts, alcohol) and cosmetology (masks, scrubs).

The ripening season is from May to June.

Jujube or jujube (Zizyphus jujuba) (unabi, Chinese date, chest berry, jujube, jujube)

The fruit of the shrub is ovoid or rounded in length from 2 to 6 cm, depending on the variety. Outside, the fruit is smooth, shiny, from green or yellowish to dark red, even brown. Sometimes the color of jujube can be uneven over the entire surface, as if spotty. The skin is thin and almost inseparable from the fruit. Inside the pulp is white dense, very juicy and sweet, reminiscent of an apple. In the middle there is, as a rule, one oblong bone. The aroma of jujube is slightly fruity.

It grows in countries with a temperate climate to subtropical, in particular Thailand, China, India, Japan, Central Asia, the Mediterranean, southern Russia, the Caucasus.

You need to choose dense fruits, but not very hard (they can be unsweetened), dark red or brown. Eat with the peel. Fresh fruits do not store well, so it is recommended to dry them.

Yuyuba is a useful and even medicinal product. It is used both fresh and dried. Rich in vitamins A, B, especially vitamin C, sugars, acids, trace elements.

Widely used in cooking (drinks, wine, jams, preserves, etc.), medicine (has a calming, anesthetic, tonic effect), cosmetology.

The ripening season is from August to October.

Burmese grape or Mafai (Mafai, Baccaurea ramiflora, Baccaurea sapida)

Mafai fruits taste very similar and outwardly similar to Longan fruits. They are from yellow to red with a diameter of up to 5 cm. The peel is thin, soft, smooth. Inside from 2 to 4 cloves, outwardly resembling garlic. The pulp is juicy, white, sweet and sour with a refreshing effect. Inside each lobule is a bone that does not separate from the pulp, the stone tastes bitter. Because of this, it is not very convenient to eat the fruit, since almost all the pulp remains “stuck” to the bone, and it cannot be separated in any way. This fruit has no characteristic aroma. In general, it cannot be said that this fruit is worth “hunting” in order to definitely try it.

The peel of Mafai is well cleaned (about the pulp mentioned above), it is best stored in the refrigerator.

You can meet this fruit in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, China, Cambodia. Occurs very rarely.

The ripening season is from May to August.

Traveling abroad means getting to know more than just gorgeous landscapes and culture. Outlandish overseas fruits and unusual berries will help to create a complete taste picture about the location. It is easier to choose from the variety of offers you like with the help of the description.

Avocado

Considered a fruit. The taste is more inclined towards a vegetable, namely pumpkin with hints of an unripe pear with a nutty tinge. Ripeness is determined by the degree of softness. Has a large bone inside. The peel is not edible. Sizes up to 20 centimeters. The soft, oily flesh is eaten raw. Butchering is the removal of the skin and bone. You can try in Vietnam, India, Cuba, Dominican Republic

Aki

Visually similar to a red-yellow or orange pear. Ripe fruits (immature poisonous) are consumed thermally processed, the taste resembles a walnut. Maturity is determined by the openness of the fruit - a ripe one bursts, and the pulp protrudes. It is offered to feast in Brazil, Jamaica, Hawaii.

Ambarella

It has the shape of an oval golden color. Grows in clusters. Rigid rind on the outside, hard prickly bone on the inside. The pulp is sweet, juicy, with a taste of mango and pineapple notes. Places of growth: India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines.

pineapples

The taste is not comparable to those sold in Russia - juicy, fleshy, sweet and sour fruits with a bright aroma. Sizes from an average apple to the usual for us. You should choose a pineapple of medium hardness - the pulp will definitely be tasty. It will be possible to take a sample in Brazil, China, the Philippines.

Bail (tree apple)

Fruit with hard skin. Only a hammer will help to divide it in half. On sale is often presented cut. Flesh with hairs, yellow, irritating to the throat. It will be possible to see on sale in India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka.

bam-balan

The taste of the fruit resembles borscht with mayonnaise and sour cream. The smell is specific. Cleaning is to free from the crust. They can offer a curiosity on the island of Borneo from the Malaysian side.

banana pink

A miniature species up to 8 centimeters in size with a thick peel. The skin of ripe pink bananas bursts, revealing pulp with many seeds. An unpretentious plant that can be grown even at home. Widespread throughout many warm countries.

crowberry

Berry with a black color and a neutral taste (not sweet and not sour), similar to lingonberries. It looks like a blueberry. It is possible to try it in the countries of the northern hemisphere - Korea, Japan, Canada, the USA, China and even Russia.

Eye of the Dragon

Round brown fruit. The skin and the bone inside are not edible. The consistency is jelly-like, transparent white. The taste is bright, sweet. Big calorie content. Excessive consumption may increase the temperature. You can buy in Thailand, China, Cambodia, Vietnam.

Strawberry Guava (Cattleya)

Fruits are yellow to red. The size reaches a diameter of 4 centimeters. Juicy, sweet strawberry flavored guavas are exotic fruits from India, Africa, Bermuda, and America.

Guanabana (soursop)

Fruit with a mass of 3 to 7 kilograms. The shape is round, oval. The green surface of the soursop is covered with processes in the form of soft bells. Inside is white, soft, with a taste reminiscent of citro with sourness. The ripe fruit is pressed with a finger. You will be able to eat in the Bahamas, in Mexico, Peru, Argentina.

Jaboticaba

Fruits that grow on poles and branches. Grows in clusters. They look like black grapes. The skin is bitter and unfit for consumption. The pulp is like a transparent jelly, sweet, with seeds. Grows in Brazil, Argentina, Panama, Cuba, Peru.

Jackfruit

A large green fruit, weighing up to 34 kilograms. It should be purchased already cut. Yellow slices have the taste of melon and duchesse. Possible allergic reaction and difficulty swallowing. The symptom goes away after a few hours. It grows in Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand.

durian

The king of fruits. It has a specific smell of a mixture of onions, garlic and dirty socks. The pulp is soft, sweet and healthy. You should buy cut slices. A whole durian reaches a large size and is covered with thorns. Due to the smell, you can not eat in public places and transport in transport. You can taste the curiosity in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia.

Imbe (African Mango)

Exotic tree with orange fruits. The size is small - up to 3 centimeters. The taste is bright, rich, sweet and sour. Has a coloring effect. You can try in Africa.

figs

The fruit is pear-shaped and blue-violet in color. Weight varies between 80 grams and 8 centimeters in diameter. The skin can be eaten. The taste is juicy, watery, reminiscent of strawberries with an admixture of blackcurrant. You can eat in the Mediterranean countries, the Crimea and Central Asia.

Spanish lime (Giseps)

It looks like a familiar lime only in shape. It looks light green, the peel is not edible, pleasantly sweet inside with a bone. You can eat by removing the tip of the peel and squeezing. Found in Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia.

carambola

Yellow-green star-shaped fruit. It has a smooth skin that is edible. The taste is bright, with hints of a flower, similar to an apple. Inside there are seeds that are edible. You can see it on the shelves of Thailand and Indonesia.

Kiwano

Oblong fruit of bright yellow color. The ripened fruit is covered with yellow-orange horns and bright green inside. The cut looks like a cucumber. The taste is a combination of melon, avocado, banana and cucumber. They eat the pulp, cutting the fruit like a watermelon. You can try in New Zealand, Africa, Chile, Israel.

Kiwi

Looks like a hairy potato on the outside and a gooseberry on the inside. Size up to 80 grams and 7 centimeters. The flesh varies from yellow to green with edible black seeds. Choose soft, smooth fruits. The taste is similar to strawberry. Growing countries: Chile, Italy, Greece, Krasnodar region of Russia.

Coconut

Round, large fruit, reaching 3 kilograms. According to the degree of maturity, it is divided into young and overripe. A young coconut has a tender skin, juicy flesh and milk/juice inside the shell. Overripe coconuts have a hairy surface, a cloudy liquid inside, and a tough inside. The second are found in the countries of importation. Growing countries: Thailand, Vietnam, India.

Kumquat

Exotic fruits of China predominantly. Small citrus fruits 2-4 centimeters long. Inside they have inedible bones. Eaten with skins. The taste is similar to orange, but more sour. You can also try in Japan and Southeast Asia.

Cupuaçu

Melon shaped fruit. Covered with a red-brown hard crust. The inside is white, sweet-sour with seeds. The most delicious is the fruit that left the tree itself. The trees are located in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia.

Kuruba

Fruit in the form of a cucumber on the outside and corn inside. The ripe color of the fruit is bright yellow. Fiery orange flesh inside. The taste is juicy, sweet, with sour notes. Contains a lot of water. Grows in Bolivia, Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina.

Lychee

It is similar in appearance to longan, but has a brighter taste and smell. Ripe lychee has a red skin. Transparent smooth pulp has a sweet taste. Contains inedible bone. Where to eat: China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand.

Longkong

It looks like a longan. Distinguished by a larger size and yellowish skin color. The delicacy inside is similar in shape to garlic. The taste is specific, sweet and sour. The peel is inedible, but useful. You can find it in the markets of Thailand.

magic fruit

Guest from West Africa. Small red fruits reach 2-3 centimeters and grow on trees. They have a bone inside. The magic of the fruit lies in the ability to retain the sweetness of the taste for a long time. Lemons and grapefruits eaten after a treat will also seem sweet.

Mameya (Mammeya)

Similar to apricot in appearance and taste of pulp. Larger in size - up to 20 centimeters in diameter. The skin is light brown. The berry has one to four seeds. The hint of taste goes into mango. Place of offer: Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela.

Mango

A popular large tropical fruit. It is better to cut the fruit with a knife - remove the skin and bone. The color of the fruit changes with the degree of ripeness - from green to orange-red. Taste gathered notes of melon, rose, peach and apricot. Growing countries: Myanmar, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam.

mangosteen

Outwardly, it resembles a persimmon, only the color is dark purple. The skin is thick and inedible. Inside - garlic cloves with a unique sweet-sour taste. Ripe fruit is firm and without dents. Mangosteen peel juice does not wash out. Sample locations: Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand.

passion fruit

Fruits of various colors from yellow to purple. The size is 8 centimeters in diameter. Ripe fruits are covered with a wrinkled skin. The pulp is the same iridescent, depending on the variety, similar to sweet and sour jelly with stones. Is an aphrodisiac. It grows in Vietnam, India, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Marang

Elongated fruit. The peel is covered with thorns, the degree of maturity is determined by their hardness. Inside are white fruits with a stone. The taste varies from sweet ice cream to light marshmallow. Perishable, not subject to transportation. It grows in Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Marula

A perishable fruit that can ferment. The effect also affects animals. The fruits are small, yellow, with a stone. Fresh with a slight aroma and not sweet in taste. You can only meet in Africa.

Mafai

Small fruits in yellow, orange and red hues. Grow up to 5 centimeters. Thin skin conceals transparent slices of fresh sweet taste. The bone of the fruit is bitter and tightly attached to the pulp. You can find it in India, China, Thailand, Vietnam.

medlar

Sunny orange small fruit with brown pits. Unripe tastes like persimmon - tart and viscous. Ripe has the aroma and taste of blueberries. Home of the fruit: Egypt, Dominican Republic, Crimea, Abkhazia, southern Russia.

Naranjilla

A fruit shaped like a cherry tomato. The hairy fruit progresses through the stages of maturity from green to bright orange. Taste - strawberry-pineapple with notes of mango. Grows in Panama, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica.

Noina (sugar apple)

A fruit with the size of an average apple and the appearance of a green cone. The internal component is soft, sweet, pleasant to the taste. Butchering is difficult due to uneven inedible skin. The maturity of the fruit is determined by its softness. But do not be zealous - the fruit is fragile and can fall apart when checking. Place of growth - Thailand.

Noni

The fruit is shaped like a convex green potato. The smell of the fruit is specific - spoiled cheese with mold. The taste is not pleasing - bitter. But at home, it is considered very useful and healing. Noni is the basis of the diet of the poor in southeast Asia. You can meet in Australia and Malaysia.

Papaya

Fruit in the form of a cylinder. Color from unripe green to mature yellow-orange. The size reaches 20 centimeters. It is more convenient to buy cut. The taste is a melon-pumpkin mixture. Places of cultivation: Bali, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia.

Pepino

Exotic fruits from Egypt. Large - up to 700 grams. Painted in different shades of yellow with lilac stripes. Inside are seeds that are edible. Ripe fruit should be chosen - it is tender, soft, with a melon note. The peel is removed - it is possible, but unpleasant to eat. You can also try in Peru, Turkey, New Zealand.

Pitaya

Oblong fruit of bright color (pink, burgundy, yellow). The surface is scaly. You can peel like a grapefruit or cut and eat with a spoon. Inside the pulp is transparent, white or reddish, sprinkled with small grains. It grows in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, Vietnam.

Platonia

Small brown fruits with a diameter of up to 13 centimeters. Inside they have a few unusable grains. The inside is white with a tropical taste and aroma. It is used as a base for sherbet and jelly. Habitat: Paraguay, Colombia, Brazil.

pomelo

Citrus hybrid of orange and grapefruit. It has a large size, reaching up to 10 kilograms. The peel is thick, fleshy, green. The pulp is in film slices that are bitter. The taste is less juicy than grapefruit. You should choose ripe for a bright citrus smell. You can eat in Tahiti, India, China, Japan.

Rambutan

Fleecy fruit of red-violet color. You can open it by twisting it with both hands in different directions. Inside is transparent, with a bright taste. The raw grains are poisonous. Ripeness directly depends on the brightness of the color of the fruit. They will offer to buy in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Thailand.

Buddha Hand (Citron)

Beautiful on the outside and uninteresting on the inside. The unusual shape of the fruit resembles a hand with many fingers. But 70 percent of the fruit consists of a peel, 30 percent of sour-bitter pulp. It is actively used in culinary crafts. You can admire the curiosity in India, Japan, Vietnam, China.

Sala

Convex brown fruit with small prickly protrusions. It is advisable to clean with a knife. The inside is divided into 3 parts with a bright sweet taste of persimmon pear. Parameters - up to 5 centimeters. Grows in Malaysia, Thailand.

Santol

It has a pear shape of uneven brown color. The rind is inedible and needs to be removed. The pulp is white with a bright mangosteen flavor. Seeds have a laxative effect and are used as needed. Grows in Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines.

sapodilla

A small fruit with a thin matte skin. The size of the fetus is 10 centimeters and 200 grams. Taste - milky caramel, causes viscosity in the mouth. Seeds are not recommended. Grows in Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Hawaii.

Sugar palm (Cambodian palm)

"Female" trees bear fruit. Fruit pulp is packed far inside, transparent white. Has refreshing properties. It is the basis for Thai sweet ice. Distributed in Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines.

Plums Natal

The fruits of this tree are the only part of the bush that does not harm people. Branches and leaves are unfit for consumption and contain poison. The color of the plums is hot pink with a wrinkled texture, and the taste is sweet. Suitable for use in baking as a filling. Homeland - South Africa.

Tamarillo

Berry in the form of an oval with dimensions up to 5 centimeters in diameter. Skin color options: yellow, burgundy, purple. The peel is unhealthy, peeled off with a knife. The taste is currant with notes of tomato. The smell is bright fruity. Located in Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile.

Tamarind

Outwardly, it resembles a bean pod with a light brown skin. It is used in the preparation of sweets and sauces for meat. The pulp is dark brown in color with a spicy sweet and sour taste. Has bones. You can try in Sudan, Thailand, Cameroon, Australia, Panama.

feijoa

A green fruit with a ponytail on top. Weight reaches 45 grams, up to 5 centimeters in size. The peel is thin with an ambiguous taste, sour and causes a viscosity in the mouth. It is recommended to peel the fruit from the skin or cut into two halves and eat with a spoon. The color of the pulp varies from cream to burgundy (the latter indicates the spoilage of the product). The taste is fresh, tropical, with strawberry notes. It grows in South America, Georgia, Abkhazia, the Caucasus.

Breadfruit

The unripe fruit serves as a source of nutrition for the inhabitants of African countries. It tastes like bread when cooked. Ripe fruits have a pleasant sweetness similar to banana. The size is large, up to 3.5 kilograms. It is recommended to purchase cut. It is possible to take a sample in Southeast Asia.

Chrysophyllum (Star apple)

The fruit is oval-shaped with a skin color to match the flesh - pale green or lilac. The flesh is sticky, sweet, the consistency of jelly with stones like an apple. Cut like a star. It is recommended to use only ripe fruits. Where it grows: India, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia.

Cereus

A relative of the pitaya, rounded and with a smooth surface. Inside is a juicy transparent watery pulp with seeds. The taste is tropical, bright, sweet. Eat, cut in half, with a spoon. The skin is not edible. Grown on plantations in Israel.

Cherimoya

The surface of the green-colored fruit may be with or without tubercles. The pulp is similar in structure to an orange, but includes the tastes of mango, banana, strawberry with notes of ice cream. Contains hard, inedible grains. Habitat: Asian countries, Israel, Algeria, Australia, Spain.

Black Boot (Chocolate Pudding)

A dark green type of persimmon. The flesh takes on an almost black color with brown seeds. The taste of chocolate pudding, sweet and bright. The size reaches 13 centimeters in length. The homeland of the product is Guatemala, Brazil, Southern Mexico.

Chompoo

The shape is similar to bell pepper. The light varies from green to red. White flesh inside. The taste is sweet, watery. Good thirst quencher. It is not subjected to cleaning, it has no seeds. Grows in Sri Lanka, Colombia, India, Thailand.

Jujube

Small fruits up to 6 centimeters. Smooth, green with brown spots. I have a sweet apple taste and a tropical aroma. Delicious fruit - dense, not hard. The skin is edible, the pit is not. It is found in Japan, China, Thailand, the Caucasus.

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, next time, in order not to bulge my eyes in surprise 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 trace elements (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 outer color 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 flavor. 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 their places of growth 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 at one time 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 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 that 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 in length) are covered with a thin skin of brown shades from light to dark, ripe fruits should be dark and soft. The pulp is very tender, juicy, brown in color, sometimes with a pink 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 no relation, 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 have 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 fruit is wrinkled and soft and can be refrigerated for up to three weeks, making it 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 general 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.

Cherimoya 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 flesh is white, fibrous-creamy 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?

List of green fruits you can find anywhere. Some fruits are well known, and some are known only in places of rest, in resorts. Others are generally not known to ordinary people. But these fruits have one thing in common - they are all green.

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

This is a fruit that looks more like a vegetable than a fruit. Avocado pulp is very rich in vitamins. You can find out more about him.

Annona scaly, sugar apple

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

This fruit has very soft flesh. She is edible. Various products are made from the fruit. The seeds are poisonous. Widespread in the tropics.

A pineapple

Watermelon

Everyone knows this fruit. You can find out more about him.

Banana

Everyone knows this fruit. You can find out more about him.

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

Grape

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

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

Guava fruits are eaten raw. They also make various products. Guava berries range in size from 4 to 12 centimeters. Today, guava is grown in the subtropics and subtropics. There are many different varieties that differ in many ways.

This fruit has huge fruits. It can reach a weight of up to 25 kilograms. The taste of jackfruit is peculiar with a fresh-sweet taste. A sweet smell emanates from it.

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

Cainito, star apple

Cainito berries reach sizes up to 10 centimeters. Cainito grows in warm countries. It mainly grows in Central and South America. The pulp is eaten with a spoon. The bark is inedible.

Carambola fruit in cross section resembles a star, and this is what it is mostly remembered for. You need to eat carambola with caution, because there are contraindications to certain types of diseases.

Coconut palm

Everyone knows what a coconut is. Fresh coconut is green. A variety of food products are made from coconut. Juice is drunk from an unripe coconut by making a hole in the coconut. Not only the drupe of the palm is used, but all parts. So, for example, wine, vodka, vinegar, syrup and sugar are made from palm sap. Coconut grows in the tropics around the world.

Corilla, cyclantera

It is a climbing tree up to 5 meters long. Berries are up to 23x7 centimeters in size. The pulp is juicy with a pleasant taste similar to cucumber. It grows in the tropics on the mountains and subtropics.

Lime

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

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

passion fruit

Passion fruit is mostly brown in color, but it also has greenish varieties. It grows throughout the world in the tropics and subtropics. You can read more.

Momordica, bitter cucumber

Momordica is a climbing plant. Cucumber-like fruits are harvested in their unripe green form. When the fruit ripens, it becomes bright yellow or orange. It is more of a vegetable than a fruit. The fruits are bitter, they are first processed and only then cooked. The sap of the plant is poisonous in its raw form. This fruit grows in Russia, follow the link and find out where. Grows throughout the world with warm climates.

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

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

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

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

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

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

pumpkin tree, tree calabash

The tree reaches a height of 10 meters. The fruits are round, up to 40 centimeters in size. The pulp of young fruits is marinated in vinegar. The seeds are roasted and eaten. Fresh fruits can not be eaten, they are poisoned. Grows in Central America. Earlier, dishes were made from the shell, but now plastic has replaced it.

Philippine rose apple

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

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

Chayote, Mexican cucumber

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

Cherimoya, Annona cherimola

Distributed throughout the mountainous regions of the tropics, in subtropical and Mediterranean climates. This fruit has a delicious taste. It is eaten cut into two parts and the inner pulp is eaten with a spoon. The seeds are poisonous. Cherimoya is used to make various dishes and products.

Black sapote or black persimmon

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