Exotic fruit: names and description with photo

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

Exotic alligator fruit, horned melon, star apple, dragon fruit - all these are not the names of magical plants, but quite real names of unusual fruits from different parts of the Earth. And what other interesting fruits exist in the world, what are they called and what do they taste like? The most curious exotic fruits with names, photos and descriptions are further in the article.

Carambola

Carambola or "star fruit" is an exotic fruit of trees native to India and Indonesia. Currently, they have taken root in the countries of Southeast Asia and South America. For the growth of a tropical plant, a lot of moisture is needed, and the presence of light is not of particular importance, so carambola can be grown even at home. The fruit is rich in many vitamins: calcium, sodium, vitamin C.

The fruits of the tree are yellow or dark yellow. Ripe sweet and sour fruit has a crispy and juicy texture. The taste of carambola pulp resembles a proportionately perfect cocktail fromgooseberry, apple and cucumber. Due to its original shape, the fruit is often used to decorate various drinks, desserts and salads. The fresh taste of carambola is in perfect harmony with hot meat dishes.

Lychee

Red exotic fruit with a diameter of only 4 centimeters is one of the most popular fruits in Southeast Asia. It is also called "Chinese plum". Lychee is widely distributed in Thailand, China, Indonesia and Australia. The outer layer of the berry is a dense, bumpy peel. Inside is a brown bone, and around it is a juicy white pulp. Lychee has a refreshing sweet and sour taste with a hint of honey. It has washed out flavor notes of strawberry and grapes.

Quality ripe fruit is colored red or pinkish. Brown indicates spoilage of the product, and yellow indicates immaturity. To the touch, the ripe fruit is elastic and has no spots or cracks. A good lychee has a sweet, floral scent.

Many experts have come to the conclusion that the frequent use of "Chinese plum" has a beneficial effect on the body. Lychee vitamins help prevent heart disease and atherosclerosis.

Longkong

Longkong or langsat grows throughout Malaysia. Also, the fruits of exotic plants are cultivated in Thailand and the Philippines, India and Vietnam. The appearance of the fruit resembles an ordinary potato, but has a more pronounced yellow color. Sweet and sour white slices are hidden under the peel,shaped like garlic. The pulp has an unusual taste, sometimes compared to the taste of a lychee berry.

There is a bitter and sour variety of fruit called mafai, which is very similar to longkong. Because of this, the sweet fruit is greatly underestimated by tourists. Langsat is rich in many vitamins: phosphorus, vitamin C, calcium. A photo of the exotic fruit is below.

Mango

Despite the frenzied worldwide popularity, mangoes are classified as exotic fruits. The epicenter of fruit growing are countries such as Thailand, India, Cuba, China, the Philippines, Brazil. According to some polls, the mango is recognized as the most delicious fruit in the world. It can be purchased almost anywhere in the world, but it will be most amazing in its homeland. For example, in Cuba, the mango remains more juicy and fragrant than after a 15-hour flight to another mainland.

The fruit is usually egg-shaped. During ripening, the skin of the fruit turns from green to yellow or red. The aroma of the fruit resembles the smell of lemon and melon. The outer layer is inedible. A quality mango has juicy and sweet orange flesh. However, the unripe fruit is often eaten with s alt and pepper.

Mango is perfect for salads or fish dishes. The use of an exotic fruit in cooking is extremely diverse. Sauces and cocktails are prepared on its basis, and in oriental cuisine, mango is added to pilaf.

Pitahaya

Pitahaya, "dragon fruit" or "dragon eye" is the fruit of a cactus. Plants are grown inVietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, China, USA, Australia. The size of a large apple, the fruit has an elongated shape. The color of a ripe fruit can be identified by a bright pink or red color.

Peel off like an orange. Inside there is a white, red or purple pulp with many small black seeds, which, by cutting the fruit in half, can be scooped out with a spoon. The color of the edible part of the fruit does not depend on the degree of maturity, but on the variety. Pitahaya with red flesh is considered the sweetest and juiciest. It is advised to slightly supplement it with lime juice so that the taste is revealed in all colors. "Dragon fruit" is good for people suffering from stomach diseases or diabetes.

Mangosteen

The exotic mangosteen fruit usually grows to the size of a small apple. It is widely distributed in Southeast Asia: Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam and India. The plant also lives in Africa, Central America and the Philippines.

Under the thick and inedible rind of the mangosteen is a pitted pulp resembling the shape of garlic cloves. The outer layer of the fruit secretes a blue juice that does not wash off. Sweet, with a slight sourness, the edible part of the mangosteen has a taste unlike any other fruit. Choosing a good ripe fruit is simple: it should be large and firm. The smaller one will have less pulp. And if the fruit is too hard and dry, then this means that the mangosteen is overripe.

The fruit contains vitamins that reduce inflammation: swelling, redness,temperature.

Durian

Durian grows in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Its significant mass reaches a weight of 8 kilograms. However, he is famous all over the world not for his "royal" size, but for an unusual characteristic. The exotic fruit has a specific smell that discourages most tourists from tasting the fruit. Witnesses compare the flavor of durian pulp to a cocktail of onions and garlic "adorned" with worn socks. In public places of countries where this fruit is sold, special signs with a crossed-out image of this fruit are installed. It cannot be used in most hotels and public transport.

However, the flesh of the fruit itself has a sweet and delicate taste. A freshly cut durian gives off an unpleasant odor after 15 minutes, to taste the fruit and not smell the bad aroma, there is enough time. They say that the taste is very pleasant and rich. No wonder the fruit is considered the most valuable and expensive in Asia.

Yam

The sweet potato (known as the sweet potato) is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. South America is considered its homeland, from where the cultivation of sweet potato spread to the countries of the Mediterranean Sea and to other tropical and subtropical regions of the planet. However, many travelers share the secret that the juiciest and sweetest sweet potatoes continue to grow within the Caribbean, namely on the island of Cayo Coco, Cuba. An exotic fruit grows here in primeval wild conditions. Walk through protected areas in search ofsweet potatoes are of course forbidden there, but you can visit the local market.

The sweet potato looks like an elongated regular potato, but with orange or pink flesh. It can be eaten raw. The taste of the sweet fruit is similar to melon, banana and walnut at the same time. Sweet potatoes are boiled, baked and fried. It is served with meat and fish dishes as a side dish. Also, sweet potatoes are used in the production of chips, marmalade, soufflé and other dishes.

Kaimito

The kaimito tree has oval or round fruits. The exotic fruit, also known as the star apple, can be tasted while relaxing in Southeast Asia, Africa, South America or India. The thin skin of the caimito can be green, purple, or brown, depending on the variety. Beneath the inedible outer layer is a thick rind that protects the sweet and jelly-like flesh with a slight apple flavor.

It is recommended to use only ripe fruits, because unripe ones not only have an astringent taste, but can also cause food poisoning. A ripe star apple will have a slightly wrinkled rind that should be free of blemishes and blemishes.

Kamito is rich in vitamin C and is very nutritious. In cooking, it is often used in the preparation of various desserts.

Pomelo

Pomelo or pomelo is an exotic fruit that grows in China, Vietnam, Israel, USA, India, Malaysia. This citrus fruit is considered the largest, it reaches a size of up to 20 centimeters in diameter andcapable of weighing over 10 kilograms. The fruit may be green or yellow. Under the thick skin are white or pink slices of pulp, which may contain a small amount of seeds. The taste of ripe sweet pomelo is similar to grapefruit, but has less bitterness.

When choosing a quality fruit, you should pay attention to the bright citrus aroma and soft peel. The fruit contains a large number of different vitamins, essential oils and trace elements.

In one of the innovative Mexican dishes, pomelo is used as a sauce ingredient, which also includes chili.

Jackfruit

Jackfruit, known as Indian breadfruit, is widely distributed throughout India and Thailand. Locals call it both a fruit and a vegetable. The exotic fruit grows on twenty-meter trees and is a kind of outgrowth on the trunk of a plant.

Jackfruit can weigh more than 40 kilograms, which is a kind of threat to residents and guests of the country. There were cases when the locals forgot to take off the ripened fruit, which soon fell off and fell on the walkway. In addition to a decent weight, the jackfruit also has thorns, but as they ripen, they become softer.

The pulp of a ripe fruit is sweet and juicy, which is usually mixed with ice and various sweet sauces, turning the fruit into a full-fledged ice cream. The fruit of the Indian breadfruit tree is so unique and practical that it is essentially impossible to make a mistake with the degree of maturity. If it is ripe, then you get a delicious dessert, if not yet - lunch soup. It can also be finely choppedfry with garlic and serve with fish. Or even cook as a side dish for meat. But a real Indian delicacy is chicken stuffed with fresh jackfruit. However, it should be borne in mind that a large amount of ripe fruit eaten can lead to indigestion.

Bail

Also known as the "stone apple" is an exotic fruit native to India, Pakistan, Thailand and Indonesia. The fruit grows up to 5-20 centimeters in diameter. Unripe fruit is green, while ripe fruit is yellow. The peel resembles a walnut shell. The sticky flesh of the mature fruit is brown in color and has a sweet and sour, slightly astringent taste.

In the markets, "stone apple" is sold in a "disassembled" state. All because of the hard peel, which is removed with a special tool that looks like a hatchet. Bail is used in the production of the popular Thai Matuma tea, which is effective in treating various colds and stomach ailments.

Cherimoya

Cherimoya or cream apple grows in South America, Australia, Israel and many Mediterranean countries (Spain, Italy, etc.). The fruit is very difficult to find, since there are several similar varieties of this plant, but the taste of cherimoya is unmistakable. The size of a mature fruit is 10-20 centimeters in diameter. It has a thick, inedible green outer layer with a yellow blush. Choose the fruit carefully, avoiding too soft or hard.

The structure of the pulpsimilar to an orange, in which there is a small amount of hard black seeds. Usually, the fruit is cut in half and eaten out with a spoon. The taste neatly evokes many gastronomic associations at once: from pineapple-banana milkshake to strawberries with cream. In addition to the richness of taste, cherimoya has a large vitamin arsenal. Eating the fruit helps to strengthen hair, vision and improve digestion.

Passionfruit

Passion fruit is native to South America, but now its cultivation is widespread in almost all tropical countries. The fruit has an elongated shape and reaches a size of 10 centimeters in diameter. Has a bright yellow, pink or red color. Yellow passion fruit is considered the least sweet.

The inedible rind protects the jelly-like pulp that tastes sweet and sour like no other. The bones inside are edible and very he althy, they have a calming effect on the body, although they are practically tasteless. Usually, to get to the sweet part, the fruit is cut in half and the flesh is eaten with a spoon.

According to many lovers of exotic fruits and vegetables, passion fruit is best consumed in the form of juice, which has tonic properties. Also, the fruit is used as the main ingredient for many cocktails and confectionery. It is used in cosmetology and pharmaceuticals.

Rambutan

Fruit is grown in almost all countries of Southeast Asia, where Thailand is the leader in the number of plantations. Also, the plant has taken root in Africa,Australia, Ecuador and the Caribbean. The fruits have the shape and size of a walnut. One branch contains about 30 pieces of rambutan.

Ripe berries are distinguished by dense yellow or red skin, which has green or brown hairs on its surface. Inside there is a white tender sweet and sour pulp, vaguely reminiscent of the taste of green grapes. It is eaten either fresh, or prepared in jams or salads. In Thailand, this is one of the most beloved delicacies.

In the very center of the fruit there is a bone, which cannot be eaten raw, because it contains alkaloids and tannin. However, if fried, it becomes edible. They are used to make oil, which is used in the cosmetics industry.

Kumquat

Kumquat is a small exotic orange-colored fruit that resembles an orange. The birthplace of the fruit is China. Currently grown in Japan, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Corfu, Greece.

The taste of the pulp of the fruit resembles a sour tangerine, but the peel of the oval orange is sweet, so the harmonious fruit is completely edible. Kumquat is used in the production of jams, jellies and candied fruits. Particularly in demand among manufacturers of marmalade and liqueurs.

Thailand even came up with a medicine with this exotic fruit, which helps in the fight against ulcers and gastritis. Kumquat is also one of the most popular culinary ingredients. It is used in the preparation of tart sauces and salads. Citrus fruit is a favorite among bartenders, becauseone of the most delicious mulled wines is made with the addition of kumquat. Scientists have proven that eating this "little orange" can reduce the risk of depression.

Avocado

There are more than 400 varieties of avocados of various shapes in the world. Because of its green and tough rind, it is called the "alligator pear". An exotic fruit is characterized, rather, not by fruit, but by vegetable taste. However, from a scientific point of view, it is still a fruit. It is most widespread in South America, Africa and Israel.

Under the outer layer of an avocado is a pit and pulp that tastes like something between a pear and a pumpkin. Sufficiently ripe fruit has a pleasant oily taste with nutty notes. However, more often the exotic fruit is used in cooking, less often it is used raw.

Ripe avocado is widely popular in various culinary recipes. It is added to soups and salads. For example, fruit is the main ingredient in Mexican Guacamole and in the Japanese roll of the same name. A photo with an exotic fruit is presented below.

Kivano

Kivano (African cucumber, horned melon, English tomato) comes from Africa. Now it is successfully cultivated in South America and in some countries of the tropical region. The yellow kiwano fruit looks like a small round melon and has a peel with sharp but soft spike-like growths. The outer layer of the fruit hides a jelly-like green pulp that has many edibleseeds.

Due to the fact that kiwano is not picky about growing conditions and is characterized by numerous and fast fruiting, it is grown in the UK, Italy, USA, New Zealand. An approach to an exotic fruit was found even in Russia. Gardeners have bred the "Green Dragon" variety, which can grow not only in the south, but also in the greenhouses of Siberia.

The taste of the pulp of horned melon conveys a large number of different associations: some recall a cocktail of cucumber and banana, others recall cucumber and lemon, and some taste like something between melon and lime. One way or another, everyone praises the fruit for its bright and refreshing taste. Salads and sauces for hot dishes are made from it. One of the most popular: grilled seafood with cheese and kiwano.

Figs

Figs are the most familiar exotic for residents of the post-Soviet countries. It grows in Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Crimea. An exotic fruit has a round or elongated shape. Beneath the thin, dark green or dark blue skin is a juicy, jelly-like flesh that can be pink or red.

The taste of figs is reminiscent of a harmonious combination of strawberries and chocolate. The ripened fruit has a dense outer layer, slightly soft. The fruit is edible with the skin. Due to the presence of a large number of disease substances, the fruit is very popular with cooks. It is used to make jam or jelly. Dried figs are the most nutritious.

Guava

Guava or Guava is grown in most tropical and subtropicalcountries (Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, India and others). Green exotic fruits are found in different shapes and sizes - round or elongated, from 4 to 15 centimeters. The smell of ripe guava is pleasant and rich, reminiscent of the aroma of lemon.

The pulp of the fruit has a light sweetish taste and a huge range of shades: from dazzling white to bright red. Both the skin, and the pulp, and the bones of the fruit are edible. The aftertaste of guava is vaguely reminiscent of the taste of an unripe pear. Representatives of Asian countries prefer to consume this fruit by dipping it in a mixture of s alt and pepper. Guava is loved by culinary experts all over the world, making salads, mashed potatoes and even ice cream out of it. Eating this fruit is an excellent remedy to combat dizziness and cramps.