A Guide to Different Types of Exotic Fruits
Exotic fruits can be rather unusual, yet unique. Some of them are characterized by their peculiar appearance and bright colors, while others are known for their nutritional compounds. Even though they can be easy to recognize, sometimes it might be rather difficult to tell one from the other.
5-Minute Crafts has created this guide with the most popular exotic fruits you can find.
1. Dragon fruit
This fruit is native to Central and South America, and Mexico. However, it can also be found in other places, like India. It has bright pink skin with green spikes and white or pink flesh with black seeds.
Dragon fruits are characterized by their high antioxidant content. Moreover, research has shown that this fruit might have positive effects on treatment for diabetes.
2. Guava
Guavas are believed to be native to Central and South America. They have a sweet and tangy flavor, which might be similar to pears and strawberries.
Some of these fruits are seedless. However, others may have pale seeds. Guavas provide different nutrients, including vitamins A and C, fiber, and potassium.
3. Lychee
Lychees originated in China. However, they are grown in other places as well, including Central and South America, Africa, and the United States.
This small-sized fruit has sweet white flesh and is covered in red skin, which should be removed before being eaten. Lychees are rich in vitamin C and have antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties.
4. Passion fruit
Although passion fruit is a tropical fruit, it can also be grown in the sub-tropical areas of Asia, Europe, South and North America, and Australia.
This fruit has a tough outer skin with a juicy center full of seeds. They can be found in different sizes and colors, yellow and purple being the most common ones.
5. Jackfruit
This fruit is believed to have originated in Malaysia and India. However, it can be found in other parts of the world, like South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa
Jackfruits are considered the largest fruit on the planet, reaching up to 110 pounds. Their green to yellow-brown skin has multiple tiny spikes. Ripe jackfruit has a sweet flavor with a soft texture.
💡 When unripe, this fruit can be used to make vegan jerky and other meat-like preparations due to its texture, which resembles pulled pork.
6. Starfruit
Also known as “carambola,” starfruit is native to Southeast Asia. Nowadays, it can be found in different parts of the world, including Florida, in the United States.
When ripe and cut, this fruit has a sweet flavor and a crunchy texture, with a star-like shape. It has multiple nutrients, including vitamin C, copper, and fiber.
7. Papaya
Papayas originated in Southern Mexico and Central America. When ripe, they can be consumed raw. However, unripe papayas need to be cooked before eating.
This fruit has green and orange skin, which will depend on its maturity. Papayas can grow up to 20 inches and they’re characterized by their pear-like shape.
8. Mango
This fruit is originally from India and Southeast Asia. It’s characterized by its large seed in the center, which means it’s in the stone fruit family.
Mango is a source of different nutrients, including vitamin C, copper, and folate, which can be especially good for pregnant women.
9. Durian
This fruit originated in Southeast Asia. It has spiny skin that covers its creamy flesh. It has a sweet flavor, which can be slightly bitter.
When ripe, durian is very fragrant. It provides several nutritious compounds, including fiber and potassium.
10. Mangosteen
Mangosteen is native to Southeast Asia. It is a round fruit, with deep purple skin. Its white edible flesh is divided into pieces.
It has a sweet flavor with a soft texture. Mangosteens can be consumed fresh and used to make different types of desserts, including sorbets.
11. Prickly pear
Prickly pear is a sweet edible fruit grown on a cactus. It’s also known as “nopal or “tuna” and is characterized by its different uses in Mexican cuisine, as they can be included in egg dishes, soups, salads, and tacos.
This fruit has a crunchy texture. However, they can also be slimy. It has a sweet flavor, which resembles the one found in watermelons.
12. Loquat
Loquats are native to Southeast China. However, they are now cultivated in different parts of the world, including Brazil, Italy, and Spain.
They have a sweet and sour flavor with an edible skin that can vary from yellow to red. They’re rich in provitamin A carotenoids, which are beneficial for vision and immune health.
13. Breadfruit
This fruit is considered a vegetable when eaten before reaching full ripeness. It’s a good source of nutrients, including fiber, potassium, and vitamin C.
Breadfruit has a starchy texture. Therefore, it can be prepared in different ways, such as baked, fried, sautéed, and steamed.
14. Kiwano
Also known as “horned melon,” this fruit originated in Central and Southern Africa. It has a peculiar appearance, as it has bright orange skin covered in small spikes or horns.
The inner flesh is lime-green in color with a gelatinous texture and multiple seeds. Its flavor is mild and rather sweet, similar to the taste of cucumber.
15. Persimmon
This orange-colored fruit, native to China, has a sweet flavor, similar to honey. Persimmons can be consumed cooked, dried, or fresh, and can be used as an ingredient in different types of dishes, including jellies, curries, and pies.
Moreover, they are an excellent source of fiber, folate, phosphorus, and magnesium. They’re low in calories, which makes them a great fruit for weight loss.