Fruits of Phuket: names, description, useful properties

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

The Kingdom of Thailand is famous not only for its stunning resorts and beaches. Also, this country is not deprived of exotic fruits. Due to the hot climate and rather long rainy season, the yield is very high. Local residents collect the gifts of nature three times a year, without using any additives or other substances that affect the growth of fruits.

Since Phuket is the most visited by domestic tourists, let's talk about the main fruits of this island.

Exotics of Thailand: litchi, longan and longkong

These Phuket fruits were originally brought to Thailand from other countries. For example, the lychee comes from China. A small fruit of deep pink color. Usually sold with a branch. Under the peel is a sweet white pulp with a bone inside. Syrups, desserts, jams and juices are prepared from lychee. On a hot day, the fruits are perfectly refreshing and quench your thirst.

How to choose? Quality fruit has a bright pink even red skin. When pressed, juice should flow from the elastic fruit. You can clean by hand. atepulp, don't forget to spit out the pit.

Longan is another guest from China. The name is borrowed from the phrase "Long yan", which means "dragon's eye". They sell it in bunches along with branches intertwined with elastic bands. A small fruit is covered with a light brown peel, under which a slightly transparent pulp with a stone is hidden. Longan is very sweet with a subtle honey flavor. Eaten fresh or served with ice cream. The fruit is also sold dried.

Today longkong is grown in the south of the country, but it was originally brought from Malaysia. The peel is a pleasant sandy shade. Under it is the pulp, consisting of 5 slices, under which the bone is hidden - you have to be very careful with it. Although it is soft, it tastes very bitter.

How to choose? The lighter the peel, the better the longkong. The fruits should fit snugly on the branch, not have cracks or dents.

Durian and mangosteen

The specific smell of durian is legendary. Locals say it smells like hell but tastes like heaven. The fruits are quite large, their weight sometimes reaches 10 kilograms. Outside, the durian is covered with thorns, and inside it is, as it were, divided into several sections, each of which contains light yellow flesh with large bones. The fruit is high in calories, so if you are on a diet, then eat it in moderation. It is also not recommended to combine durian with alcohol. Such a "duo" can cause problems with blood pressure and heart.

How to choose: not worth itfocus on the color of the peel, it can be either brown or green. It is best to seek help from the seller, who will gladly pick up the right fruit. In Phuket, fruit can also be bought cut up. In this case, pay attention to the pulp. Ideally, it should be elastic, but fleshy.

Mangosteen is called the "Queen of Fruits" by the locals. Outwardly, it resembles an eggplant, only a round shape. Under the dark purple and rather thick skin lies a white pulp, similar to garlic. Sometimes there are bones in it. The taste of mangosteen is delicately sweet with a subtle astringency. Tourists prefer it fresh, but the locals are very fond of making dessert from the fruit.

How to Peel: The thick and fleshy skin will prevent you from cutting the mangosteen in half. It is enough to notch around the circumference and open. The pulp is best eaten with a fork.

Rambutan, tamarind, noina and jackfruit - what are these fruits and how to eat them correctly

Rambutan is not only the most visible, but also exclusively Thai fruit. Locals are very fond of these fruits, and in August they even celebrate a holiday dedicated to him. Tourists call it hairy fruit. No wonder, because the bright red peel is covered with light green bristles. The taste is very similar to grapes, only sweeter.

Tamarind itself is a sour fruit, but only sweet varieties grow in Phuket and throughout Thailand. The fruits are very similar to pods. Hard skin light brown. Beneath it is a dark pulp withbones. Locals prefer to make refreshing drinks from it.

Jackfruit comes from India and is considered the largest in the world, as the weight of one fruit can reach 40 kilograms. Under the greenish-yellow peel are slices of pulp with a strong aroma and sweet taste. The second name "breadfruit" was due to its calorie content (40% carbohydrates).

Noina is a very sweet and juicy fruit that looks like an apple, only with large seeds. The consistency of the pulp is like a cream. Therefore, it is recommended to eat the fruit with a spoon.

Now that you know what these fruits are jackfruit, noina, tamarind and rambutan, let's tell you how to eat them properly:

• Rambutan: it is necessary to make an incision along the circumference and open. There is only pulp.
• Tamarind: to get to the pulp, just press on the peel, and it will crack. Then just peel off the top layer and be sure to remove the fibers around the pulp.
• Jackfruit: cut the whole fruit into 2 parts and take out the yellow pulp.
• Noina - cut in half.

Pineapple and watermelon

In Phuket, pineapples ripen all year round and taste very different from those sold in Russia. Imported fruits are usually picked green so that they can withstand long transportation and stay on the shelves for as long as possible. There is no benefit from such pineapples, because, only when fully ripe, it acquires such useful substances as iodine, calcium, copper, iron, phosphorus,manganese, zinc and vitamins A, PP and group B.

The following video tutorial will tell you how to peel a pineapple.

Teng Mo - this is the name of the watermelon on the island, which can be bought not only as a whole, but also cut into slices. Its prices vary greatly. For example, in the rainy season, the berry grows slowly, so the cost is higher. Be sure to try the yellow watermelon, whose outlandishness and sweetness will remain in your memory for a long time.

Santol

Kra Khthon is also one of Phuket's exotic fruits. In terms of its characteristics, santol is close to mangosteen, only its peel is brown (rarely red). Harvested from mid-summer to October. On the island, the fruit is used for medical purposes, in particular, for the prevention of infectious diseases. But local women prefer not only to use Kra Khton, but also to make face masks out of it. According to them, a cosmetic product based on it heals the skin.

Sapodilla and herring

The appearance of a sapodilla resembles a kiwi, only its peel is smooth. The fruit is seasonal, so anyone planning a trip at the beginning of autumn can try it. It is customary to consume fresh, but a ripe fruit cannot be stored for more than two days. Therefore, do not buy sapodilla in large quantities.

Salak is an unusual fruit, the contour of which looks like a pear. The color of the peel, consisting of separate small faces, is similar to snake skin, which gave rise tosecond name - snake fruit. The main thing you need to know for tourists who have never encountered him is cleaning. Be extremely careful, because in order to get to the sweet pulp, you must carefully remove the protective "shell". For this purpose, it is best to wear gloves, as the sharp needles of the herring will scratch the skin of your hands.

Dragon Fruit and Chom Phu

Pitahaya is one of Phuket's memorable fruits. The bright coloring of the dragon fruit immediately catches the eye. By the way, tourists are also surprised by the pulp of the fruit, as its color starts from white and reaches a rich purple hue. Pitahaya is very beneficial for the endocrine system and digestion. However, you need to consume the fruit in small quantities - large doses act as a laxative.

Chom Phu or Malay apple is the most common fruit on the island. The color of the peel depends on the variety. The most beautiful and delicious are considered pink. Tourists appreciate chom phu for its sweetness and juiciness. They taste somewhat like watermelon. By the way, the rose apple acts as a diuretic in many cases, so don't get carried away.

Carambola and guava

The appearance of the guava is very similar to our pear. As a rule, the fruit has a yellow-green color, but depending on the variety, the color may vary. How to eat guava, Thais will teach. Locals prefer to sprinkle the flesh with pepper, s alt or sugar in order to bring down the sharp and pronounced smell.

Fruit Virtues:

• improves the functioning of the digestive tract;
• normalizes metabolism;
• contributes to the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system.

How to eat guava? Cut the fruit into 4 parts, cut out the place with the stones and enjoy the sweetness of the pulp.

Unusual carambola cut very similar to a star. By the way, this is one of the most purchased fruits of the island. The fruits ripen twice a year - in autumn and summer. As for the color, it varies from pale yellow to deep green. Experts have proven that the use of carambola not only improves appetite, but also contributes to the functioning of the nervous system.

Fruit season in Phuket

If you plan to visit the island at a certain time, then you should not expect a full set of fruits on the stalls. As a rule, only seasonal items are sold here. By the way, off-season ones can only be found in supermarkets, but be aware that in most cases they were brought from other countries.

So all year round in Phuket you can enjoy bananas, rose apple, coconuts, watermelons, dragon fruit, papaya and guava. During the winter months, get ready to experience the taste of zapadalha, tamarin, jackfruit and mango. In the spring, lychee, mango, durian, mangosteen and rambutan will appear on the shelves. In summer, oranges, grapefruits and longans will join the spring fruits of Phuket. Sapodilla will ripen again in autumn.

Where to buy and current prices

You will not have any problems with the purchase, since the fruits are sold onevery corner. Even by the road there are small stalls and, as a rule, the cost of fruits in them is much lower than on the island itself. Quite adequate price tags are set in the markets of Phuket. There are a lot of fruits here, and if you buy them in large quantities, the sellers will gladly make a discount.

The most expensive fruits, of course, are in supermarkets. Especially if the store is located on some popular beach. For example, in Patong it is "Big C".

In general, if you want to buy fruits cheaper, then you need to look for them in roadside stalls or markets.

Approximate fruit prices in Phuket (per kg):

• ripe mangoes, mangosteen, pomelo and oranges - 145 rubles;
• papaya and pineapple - 60 rubles;
• dragon fruit, guava, bananas, rose apple and coconuts - 80 rubles;
• durian - 165 rubles;
• longan - 185 rubles;
• tamarind - 270 rubles.

In the end, I would like to remind you that not every fruit can be exported from Thailand. Absolutely all airlines have banned durian because of its specific smell. Many carriers also do not allow coconuts to be exported. It is not known what this is connected with, but you must admit that it simply does not make sense to bring some fruits home. For example, Phuket fruits such as coconuts, bananas, pineapples and mangoes can be found in any supermarket in Russia. True, according to tourists, Thai mango is so tasty that it is quite problematic to find a similar one in your homeland.

Also do not forget about the expiration date,which can sometimes be up to 3 days. Therefore, if you decide to bring exotic fruits from Phuket, buy them immediately before the flight and consume them in the first days after arrival.