[Amazing] 25 Of The Strangest Fruits You Have Ever Seen
What are some of the strangest fruits you have ever eaten? Is the bitter gourd one of them? Maybe the Physalis? While you may have had the exotic privilege of eating exotic fruits, what you may not realize is just how many exotic fruits there are exist. Well, first of all, let’s backtrack. Many of the things that you would consider to be vegetables are technically fruits. Why technically? Because “vegetable” is not a scientific word. It has no precise definition. It is a culinary word that more or less describes a savory food originating from a plant. This can be a root (like a carrot) or the plant itself (like a cabbage). A scientist would most likely divide these “plant centric” foods into fruits, roots, leaves, etc. A chef, on the other hand, would most likely just use the terms “fruit” and “vegetable”. Now that we have that out of the way we are going to focus on fruits.
Assuming that you live in an English speaking country that isn’t in Africa or Asia (India, Nigeria, etc) the fruit you are about to see aren’t your everyday fruits. While Europeans and North Americans are exposed to what they see as your “standard fruits” (bananas, apples, blueberries, etc), people in many other countries have very little knowledge of such fruits. To them, apples and blueberries are extremely exotic. The point, however, is this – that exoticism is relative. At any rate, for most of you these will be 25 of the strangest fruits you have ever seen!
Rambutan
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Native to Indonesia, this is one of the best known fruits of southeast Asia. (But if you live in the west, you’ve probably never seen this fruit).
Ackee
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Originally from West Africa, it was transported to Jamaica via the slave trade and today is an important component of Caribbean cuisine.
Jackfruit
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Sometimes just known as “Jack”, this is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world.
Buddha's hand
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Also called the fingered citron, this fruit is often used in Asia for perfume, medicine, and various rituals.
Lychee
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Native to China, records indicate that this fruit has been cultivated for over 2,000 years.
Aguaje
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Used to make oil, jam, ice cream, and even wine, this South American fruit is known for its multipurpose nature.
Markut Lime
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
This Asian fruit has also been called a kaffir lime but the term “kaffir” is offensive in some cultures so The Oxford Companion to Food recommends using the term markut lime instead
Cherimoya
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Also known as the ice cream fruit because the inside has a similar texture, Mark Twain described this South American delicacy as the “most delicious fruit known to man”.
Romanesco broccoli
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
First documented in Italy, the shape of this fruit has led to the name broccoflower (cauliflower).
Pandanus
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
A major source of nutrition in Micronesia, this fruit has many uses and can even be used as dental floss!
Mangosteen
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Valued for its juicy, delicate texture, this fruit has been cultivated in southeast Asia for thousands of years.
Do you want even more exotic fruits? Check out these 25 Fruits That You Probably Have Never Eaten But Should.
Akebia
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Although it is considered invasive in several US states, the akebia is popular in Japan. Some older people will likely recollect how they foraged for it in the hills as children.
Salak
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Found in Java and Sumatra, this fruit is also called snake fruit due to its scaly outer layer.
Physalis
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Found primarily in the America’s, this fruit is like a tomato in texture but more of a strawberry in taste.
Custard Apple
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Grown in subtropical regions, to eat this fruit you simply cut it in half and scoop out the white flesh.
Gac
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Because this Vietnamese delicacy has a very short season, consisting mostly of December and January, gac is usually just served at ceremonies like weddings.
Horned Melon
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Although it is native to Sub-Saharan Africa, this fruit is grown around the world and in the United States it is known as blowfish fruit for potentially obvious reasons.
Pitaya
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Originally from Mexico, this well-loved fruit grows on a cactus and only blossoms at night. It is commonly known as dragon fruit.
Sapodilla
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
With an exceptionally sweet and malty flavor, these Caribbean trees die extremely fast if the temperature drops below freezing.
Sapota
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Another Caribbean fruit, this one is popular for its use in milkshakes, smoothies, and ice cream. It particularly popular in Central America, South Florida, and the Caribbean.
Kumquat
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Although it looks like an orange, its actually much hardier. These citrus fruits can withstand temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit)
Cupuaçu
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Cultivated throughout the Amazon Basin, this fruit is known for its unique aroma which is said to be a blend of chocolate and pineapple. Its taste, however, is more like pear with a bit of banana.
Bitter Gourd
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Not all fruits are sweet. This one is grown throughout Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its extremely bitter taste!
Carambola
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
Also known as starfruit due to their shape after cutting, carambolas are said to taste like a mix of apple, pear, grape, and citrus.
Durian
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia
In spite of the fact that it is known for its incredibly pleasing taste, this fruit smells awful. In fact, it smells so bad that in many Asian establishments (and public transport) it is banned.
