Southeast Asia and numerous other tropical countries are a fruit and gastronomic paradise for admirers and lovers of exotic fruits. Pitahaya, tamarillo, mangosteen, snake fruit and many more exotic items will not surprise anyone in the tropics. These extraordinary fruits are an integral part of the life of many peoples inhabiting our planet.

When a tourist arrives in a southern country, he is faced with a colorful picture of unprecedented diversity. Exotic fruits amaze with their aromas, tastes, varieties and shapes. In the markets, in stores, “eyes run wide” at the sight of multi-colored: yellow, pink, purple, red, brown, large and small fruits.

This article will help you deal with overseas fruits seen for the first time, in order to know exactly what this or that fruit is called, to understand how ripe the fruit is, why it is so good, and finally, how to cut and eat it.

Prices for fruits depend on the country of growth, harvest season, variety, and of course on the ability to bargain. A tropical southern fruit will still be cheaper than the usual Russian one.

And so, let's start our acquaintance with exotic representatives of warm countries - fruits that you must definitely try.

Persea Americana (alligator pear) is an evergreen fruit tree. Avocado is one of the most famous tropical exotics. Homeland is Central and South America. The Indians grew an exotic plant for another three millennia BC. The Spaniards brought the fruits to Europe, then the plant spread to Israel, Africa, India, Asia. Avocado fruits are cultivated where the subtropical and tropical climate prevails.

Light pulp of oily consistency, in the middle - a large bone. The fruits are very nutritious and have a high content of unsaturated fats (up to 30%). Avocado contains a lot of useful substances: vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, essential oils.

The taste and smell of the fruit are slightly pronounced. The ripe fruit resembles vegetable puree with herbs and butter. To improve the taste, the pulp of the fruit is sprinkled with salt or spices. Exotic avocado is widely used in cooking, especially in Asian countries. It is added to sushi, soups, sandwiches and various cold snacks are made from it.

Did you know! The name of the fruit comes from the Aztec "ahuacati", which means "testicle". The reason for the name was not only the external similarity in the shape of the fruit with the designated “object”, but also the fact that the fruits hang in pairs on trees.

The national exotic fruit of the island state of Jamaica is very dangerous for an inexperienced tourist. Aki came to the Caribbean from West Africa and is now distributed in Barbados, the Bahamas, Central America and some countries in South America.

The pear-shaped fruits of Aki are bright orange or red in color. It is believed that the fruits should open on their own, then they lose their poisonous properties. But in some countries, the fruit is still not recognized as edible.

Fresh fruit contains dangerous toxic substances, which, if used improperly and ineptly, can cause severe poisoning and even lead to death. But with proper heat treatment, the fruits lose their toxicity and become a real delicacy, with a characteristic nutty aroma and amazing taste.

So in Jamaica, the fruits are widely used in cooking, preparing unusual, but tasty side dishes. Tourists who have tried the exotic Aki find that it resembles an omelette and is eaten for breakfast.

But the Africans have found another use for Aki, they make soap from unripe fruits, and from the pulp - complementary foods, for fishing, using the poisonous properties of the fruit.

Ambarella

There are other exotic names for Ambarella (Spondias dulcis), among them Mombin sweet, a Polynesian plum. This is a fairly high 18 meters, with a beautiful spreading crown South American fruit tree.

The exotic Ambarella began its journey from Polynesia and spread to Jamaica, South America, the Caribbean, India and other tropical countries.

Ripe oval fruits of Ambarella, 6-9 cm in size, with a golden skin and the same color flesh will please the tourist with their juiciness and aroma. The fruit is sweet with a slight sourness, somewhat reminiscent of slightly crunchy pineapple with hints of mango. Inside the pulp of the fruit is not a small bone, with seeds covered with thorns. The ripening season for Ambarella is July-August.

Fruits are good not only fresh, the locals make delicious jellies, sauces, marmalades, squeeze juices from them.

A pineapple

Tropical pineapple "native" from Brazil. When Columbus discovered America, he showed the overseas fruit to the world. Since then, exotic pineapple has been a frequent guest on the table of residents of different countries, including those living in northern latitudes, because fruits are now sold in any supermarket.

However, in countries where exotic fruits grow, the quality of fruits is completely different. This becomes apparent when you taste sweet, juicy, aromatic pineapple in a tropical country.

Pineapple is a herbaceous, thorny plant, with juicy fruits that look like yellow-golden-brown cones. The size of the plant itself is usually not higher than 1 meter, but the size of the fruit depends on the variety. There are many varieties of fruits. If you arrived in the tropics and came to the market for a pineapple, you can be sure that they will not slip a bad product, no matter what exotic fruit you choose. In addition, do not refuse the merchant's offer to cut and peel the fruit.

Pineapple pulp is light yellow in color and contains 90% water. The fruit is rich in acids and nutrients. Moderately sweet, freshly squeezed pineapple juice will come in handy on a hot day. Cool juice will quench your thirst for a long time, and its fat-burning properties, thanks to bromelain, which is part of the fruit, will be relevant after a hearty lunch or a hearty dinner.

Bush-ripened, fully ripe pineapples, unlike those we eat at home in Russia, do not corrode or sting the tongue and mouth. Fruits can be eaten in large quantities without fear of discomfort in the mouth.

Some traders in the markets pluck fruits before they are ripe. Therefore, if you want 100% homemade, ripe, exotic pineapple, then you can buy it wherever you are, near the road or during an excursion near attractions, from local residents.

Taste and eat the perfect pineapples in the tropics, and the fruit is in season all year round.

Bail tree apple

The tropical high 15-18 meter fruit tree bail has other well-known names - Bengal quince, golden apple, matum, stone apple. Distribution area of ​​exotic bail Southeast Asia - India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia.

Round or slightly oblong exotic fruits about 10 cm in diameter have a yellowish strong peel, to break it you need a hammer or some kind of heavy object. The pulp of the fruit, consisting of triangular segments, is sweet, viscous like marmalade and moderately astringent, it tastes like an amateur, reminiscent of a multi-fruit mix with notes of citrus peel.

What is beautiful about exotic bail is its aroma. Flowers and extract from the plant are used in the perfume industry and cosmetology. The fruit is widely used in the preparation of teas and lemonades, as a tonic, as well as for medicinal purposes in traditional Indian medicine, Ayurvedic practice.

In cooking, exotic Bengal quince is used to make jams, jams, marmalades, used for baking and, of course, eaten fresh.

Unripe exotic rock apple fruit has a unique ability of long ripening. It will retain its healing properties in the refrigerator or a cool place for 3-4 months, so you can stock up on fruit.

The ripening season of exotic bail is all year round, but the peak lasts from June to October.

Banana

There are about 50 species of these most common exotic fruits in Southeast Asia alone. And although the banana is officially recognized by biologists as a berry, we are still accustomed to calling it a fruit. One way or another, no one will dispute that a banana is an exotic fruit.

Tropical countries amaze tourists with varieties of these exotic fruits - small from 5 cm, and large up to 40 cm in length, they can be green, yellow, red and even blue.

Producing countries that grow bananas on huge multicultural plantations are farms that cultivate fruits, after which they are exported to different countries. The leaders in the number of banana imports to Russia are: Ecuador, Costa Rica, the Philippines and Colombia.

It is no coincidence that among agricultural crops around the world, the banana occupies the 4th place of honor, after wheat, rice and corn.

It makes no sense to talk about the taste of an exotic fruit, there is no person in the world who has not tried a banana at least once in his life. Another thing in the tropics is a great opportunity to taste different varieties of this wonderful exotic fruit, and not only in its raw form. Here, in any cafe, they can offer fruit as a dessert with pastries or ice cream, as well as fried, steamed, baked, with cheese, meat, fish, seafood, or as a sauce, ketchup, syrup and many more options for a gastronomic banana variety .

And the options and combinations of exotic banana smoothies will impress so much that when you return home, you will certainly want to “get confused” and try to make the most healthy dessert yourself.

Eye of the Dragon

Longan (Lam Yai) is a tropical fruit common throughout Southeast Asia, but it is from Chinese that the name of the exotic fruit is translated as "dragon's eye".

If you peel the longan from the shell, exposing the white or slightly pinkish juicy flesh, and then bite it, you can see the "looking" dragon's eye - a dark, shiny bone. You should be careful, you can not swallow the bone.

The pulp of the fruit delights tourists with its refreshing taste, rather than reminiscent of a grape-melon mix.

You can buy an exotic fruit in a tropical country everywhere: in the market, in a supermarket or from street vendors, choosing the largest fruits. It does not matter if the fruit is slightly underripe, the dragon's eye will ripen in 2-3 days. If you want it to last longer, put the fruit in the refrigerator.

The sales season for exotic longan in Southeast Asia lasts all summer and autumn. In addition, here desserts, tonic drinks, sweet soups are prepared from fruits, or served with coconut milk for rice, all this can be tasted in any cafe or restaurant. It is best to just eat fresh fruits, because they are not only tasty, but also healthy.

Guava strawberry cattleya

Small, very juicy fruits of the exotic guava Kettli, 2.5-4 cm in diameter, come in red shades, less often yellow, have a rich strawberry flavor, which is why they got their name.

An exotic plant is found in Brazil, in the south of the USA, Africa, India, the Bahamas, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka.

Tourists prefer to taste fruits raw, and local chefs can offer unusually delicious exotic desserts based on strawberry guava.

The fruits are very useful, but it is worth mentioning the effect of an exotic fruit on the intestines. The pulp of the plant has an astringent effect, therefore, you should not get carried away with a delicious fruit in order to avoid constipation or problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Guanabana soursop

Another name for a healthy tropical fruit is needle anona, Brazilian papaya, Graviola. The habitat of the plant is the forests of Southeast Asia and South America, fruits are cultivated in India, Australia and South China.

The fruits of an exotic plant are green in color, oblong in shape with soft spines and white sweet sugar pulp. Fruit weight on average 3-7 kg. Fruit is consumed mainly in its raw form, used to make exotic drinks and various sweets, fruit goes well with ice cream and whipped cream.

It is believed that with the help of an exotic soursop, many diseases, including oncology, can be treated. At the same time, scientists in Latin America believe that excessive consumption of anona needle can lead to the development of Parkinson's disease.

Be that as it may, guanabana is very useful, the composition of an exotic fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals.

Jaboticaba

An evergreen exotic tree - Brazilian grape or Jaboticaba growing in the tropics, used to surprise tourists with its original and bizarre appearance. The trunk of an exotic plant is decorated with dark purple clusters of berries that look like large grapes. In addition to Brazil, a rare occurrence of caulifloria of this plant can be observed in Bolivia, Colombia, Argentina, the Caribbean and Latin America.

The taste of the Brazilian exotic has not gone far from the taste of the usual sweet and sour grapes. But fruits require cleaning the pulp from the bitter peel.

More often, exotic jaboticaba fruits are used in the production of alcoholic beverages, they are quickly fermented. Fruits are used to make jams, jams, sweet marmalade and sauces.

Of course, jaboticaba has many useful properties, but it is not transported fresh to distant countries due to its short shelf life. So you will meet an unusual exotic tree in the tropics - enjoy its fruits.

Jackfruit

Every self-respecting Asian is simply obliged to plant Jackfruit near his house. After all, this tradition is a guarantee of good luck, wealth, health. Many have already heard that the jackfruit is the largest exotic fruit in the world. Seeing a tree with huge, oval, green or yellowish-brown fruits, it immediately becomes clear that this is the world-famous Jackfruit - the breadfruit of the tropics.

The weight of some fruits reaches 50 kg, although on sale you can mainly see medium-sized fruits - 8-15 kg. Exotic fruits are pimply or with small, slightly sharp spines. The taste of jackfruit is difficult to compare with any fruit, more often it is compared with the taste of caramel or chewing gum. The pulp of the fruit is sweet with a pleasant aroma. The smell of the peel, on the contrary, scares away the tourist with its chemical "odor".

It makes no sense for a tourist to take an exotic fruit in its entirety, the fruit is very large. To enjoy the taste, you can buy a piece of exotic fruit cut into slices and with pleasure try the healthy pulp, which has already been peeled by the seller from the sticky and sticky latex peel. By the way, after which it will be possible to wash your hands with great difficulty.

Edible only slices of jackfruit - separate segments. In the center of the fruit is an inedible white, sticky part (core).

The main fruit harvest takes place from January to May, but you can try the exotic breadfruit in Southeast Asia at any time of the year.

durian

Of all the exotic fruits that exist on Earth, durian deserves special attention. This is an Asian fruit native to Southeast Asia. Most people have already heard about its incredible qualities. And it's true - you can love or hate the king of fruits. Here the mood with which the first meeting with an amazing exotic fruit covered with thorns will take place plays a big role.

Durian got its name from the Malaysian "duri", meaning "thorn".

The taste of exotic durian is unique, there is nothing to compare it with, those who have tried exotic will have their own exclusive impression after tasting the fruit. For example, some who have fallen in love with a tropical fruit similar to a hedgehog agree that the taste of the pulp of the fruit resembles the most delicate custard, or sweet whipped cream with strawberry-pineapple syrup.

Many people have heard about the smell of exotic durian. If the tourist does not want to experience the shock of tasting the fruit, then you need to take the whole fruit, not cut up by merchants and not laid out in advance in trays. It is better to ask the seller to cut the fruit in front of you, which he will gladly do, and then eat the fruit pieces right away. So contrary to popular belief that durian stinks terribly, there will be a desire to try the fruit again and again, and the smell will seem like the most pleasant magical fragrance. Well, or a little rotten, and it won’t drive you crazy, but it will have its own name, such a normal “durian spirit”.

The size of durians is different, it depends on the type of fruit (from half a kilogram to 12-13 kg). Ripening and sales season largely depend on the weather and the rainy season. For example, in some regions of Southeast Asia, durians grow all year round. In this regard, whenever a tourist comes to the tropics, it will always be possible to enjoy the exotic king of fruits. In addition, do not forget about the incredible benefits of exotic fruits containing all the vitamins, macro- and microelements that are found in nature. Local residents - Asians have only one cure for all diseases: a stomach ache, you need to eat durian, a bad mood - durian will help, you need to have a baby - all questions are for durian.

Even wild animals - monkeys, elephants, are very fond of feasting on these exotic fruits, waiting for the ripened durians to start falling from the trees, because the best ones are considered to be those that fell themselves.

Imbe African Mangosteen

The small fruit of Imbe, an exotic African mangosteen, is common in East and South Africa. Fruits are practically unfamiliar to residents of other countries due to their rapid deterioration and impossibility of transportation. Small yellow and red fruits (1-3 cm in diameter) are endowed with a thin, delicate skin, which is easily damaged during transportation.

The sweet, juicy pulp of exotic fruits has a pleasant apricot aroma, it is liked by tourists, it is loved by locals who use the fruits to make drinks, including alcoholic ones.

Some may not like the sticky latex properties of exotic fruit juice. But it is worth knowing that the Imbe plant is known for its healing qualities. It is believed that the fruits contain substances that have antitumor properties, and the bark and root of an exotic tree are used in the treatment of diseases such as tuberculosis and meningitis. In addition, for Africans, imbe is a popular aphrodisiac.

figs

The cultivation of the world-famous fig tree began in the 9th century BC. Today it is distributed in the Mediterranean countries, in Asia Minor, India, and in many other countries with a subtropical and tropical climate.

The beneficial properties of figs have been known since antiquity. There are numerous references to the fig tree in the Bible books. Even in the Old Testament, in the time of King Solomon, the fig tree was a symbol of prosperity and abundance.

The exotic fig tree is unique, it can grow in almost any soil. With a strong root system, the plant can easily withstand the dry and long Middle Eastern summer. This strong tree is able to bear fruit for 150-200 years.

Figs are also unusual in that they bear early fruits already in the month of June. The main harvest of fruits - they begin to be harvested in late summer, early autumn. Therefore, at the beginning of summer, you can enjoy the first, fresh figs, the second crop is dried, dried, and harvested for the whole year.

In countries where figs do not grow, you can most often see them in dried and pressed form. Fresh figs, juicy, soft, wonderful in taste, look completely different. It is known that exotic dried figs retain all their beneficial properties.

Fig fruits have always been valued. They are rich in fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals; Figs are believed to be good for the heart.

carambola

This exotic "stranger star" is actually familiar to many today. Carambola or ma-fuang can be found in the supermarket of almost any country. But the exotic star fruit is still more popular in the countries of its habitat, and these are Southeast Asia, India, Africa, Latin America and other tropical countries. The fruit gained fame due to its appearance - a cross-section in the shape of an asterisk (hence the name).

Bright yellow, sometimes orange, beautiful carambola is a very useful exotic fruit, rich in vitamins and minerals, especially the fruits are saturated with vitamin C. For example, in China, carambola is used as an antipyretic.

The fruits of the star fruit are juicy, crunchy, have a sweet refreshing taste with a slight sourness. It tastes like a fruit similar to an apple, kiwi and pineapple at the same time, but different people who have tried carambola have their own associations.

Most often, carambola is used to decorate drinks, exotic cocktails, desserts, salads, ice cream. And prepared sauces for fish and meat dishes will not leave indifferent the most fastidious tourist.

A tree can bear fruit more than once a year, so lovers of the exotic, for example in Thailand, can try an unusual exotic star fruit at any time of the year.

Kiwano

Tropical fruit kiwano or horned melon, or maybe African cucumber? To eat such an exotic, you need to make a trip to Africa to the homeland of an exotic fruit, or to South America. Interestingly, a yellow-orange fruit weighing 300 g and measuring 10 centimeters in diameter is considered a fruit in Africa, while in other countries it is cultivated as a vegetable. The plant is unpretentious in cultivation and brings good yields.

The yellow fruit grows like an ordinary cucumber with intertwining lashes, and even outwardly looks like an overripe cucumber with large pimples. But in terms of taste, most tourists agree that sweet and sour exotic fruits resemble a mixture of banana, melon, cucumber, and possibly kiwi.

It is convenient to eat the jelly-like pulp of the fruit with a dessert spoon, cutting the fruit in half. Numerous seeds inside are also edible. Local culinary specialists prepare salads, snacks, desserts, creams from kiwano, make fresh juices, mixing necks with other exotic fruits.

Kiwano is good, they are stored for a long time due to the dense peel, they are not afraid of transportation, so you can safely take a few things with you. In addition, these fruits are very healthy and low-calorie, only 44 kcal per 100 g.

Kiwi

Sun-loving tropical fruits Kiwi (Chinese actinidia), grow in clusters on tree-like vines. China gave the world many useful exotic plants, including this wonderful exotic fruit, which is also called the Chinese gooseberry. Today, kiwi is cultivated in many countries of the subtropical and tropical zones.

Outside, it is a completely nondescript fruit, with a brown skin, covered with thin small fluffy hairs. A unique resemblance to the very New Zealand bird (the symbol of the country), this is how the exotic berry got its name.

The fruit looks completely different inside. Attractive, juicy, refreshing, tasting sweet and sour kiwi flesh, bright green in color, dotted in the middle with small black seeds. Kiwi has a multifaceted combination of several flavors at once, reminiscent of strawberries and grapes, with the addition of fragrant gooseberries. Some distinguish notes of watermelon and peach, the ripe pulp is full of unexpected taste surprises, for everyone.

Kiwi is combined with many fruits and vegetables, so it is often added to various salads. It makes excellent meat marinades. Fruit will fill drinks and cocktails with its special refreshing taste, and ice cream, puddings, and other wonderful desserts based on exotic Chinese gooseberries will delight with their delicate slightly sweet aroma.

You can talk a lot about the benefits of fruit, because it is a storehouse of useful substances. For example, it contains more vitamin C than citrus fruits. Kiwi is rich in vitamins A, D, E, PP, group B, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese.

They sell kiwi in stores, in the markets of different countries all year round, the main thing is to choose the right ripe fruit. If an exotic fruit was chosen unripe, it’s not scary, kiwi berries are able to ripen at home, at room temperature.

Kumquat

Kumquat is a miniature oval-shaped orange, about the size of a medium-sized apricot. It is the smallest fruit among citrus fruits. The peel of an exotic fruit is so thin and tender that it is eaten with it. The taste of citrus is very pleasant and fragrant, reminiscent of a sweet tangerine with a slight sourness.

The birthplace of the exotic is Southeast Asia, but to be more precise, it was China that showed the world another exotic miracle “gam-gwat” - kumquat, which means “golden orange”.

Despite its mini size, kumquat has a maximum amount of useful substances - vitamins, macro- and microelements. Including the fruit contains essential oils and fatty acids, pectin, fiber.

In Thailand, the kumquat is called the fruit of wisdom, the Thais have long noticed that the “golden orange” improves memory and stimulates brain activity.

By the way, after excessive drinking, the exotic "little orange" is an excellent remedy for a hangover.

Fresh kumquat keeps well in a cool place; it will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Frozen, half a year will not lose its useful qualities in the freezer.

Dried or dried, the exotic fruit remains just as useful, but the calorie content of such a product is slightly higher than that of fresh citrus and is 284 kcal per 100 grams. Dried fruits will keep in the refrigerator for about 3 months. At room temperature - 2 months in sealed packaging.

The taste of dried kumquat practically does not differ from a fresh exotic orange, except that it does not have the signature citrus juiciness.

Cupuaçu

Incredible exotic cupuaçu is the most expensive fruit in Latin America. So for those who want to enjoy fruits that look like coconut and melon at the same time, there is a direct road to Brazil, where, as you know, there are many wild monkeys, and unusual capuasu too.

The oblong fruits of kapuasu, 25 cm long and about 12-15 cm wide, are covered with a thick peel, have very juicy, sweet and sour white flesh inside with seeds located in nests. The smell of an exotic fruit with a pronounced citrus aroma.

From the seeds of the fruit, white expensive oil is extracted, which is similar in composition to cocoa butter, only with a lower melting point and a lot of useful and medicinal properties.

In Latin America, Capuaçu is the most expensive exotic fruit, due to its difficult growing conditions. The plant is prone to sunburn, so trees are protected by covering exotic plants with special nets.

Healthy Kapuasu fruits quickly deteriorate, so they are not transported fresh. Fruits are frozen and sent for processing. Exotic juices, ice cream, various desserts, liqueurs are made from fruits. And fruit extracts are widely used in cosmetology. Exotic oil can be seen in the composition of masks, creams, lotions, shampoos and other cosmetics.

Kuruba

These exotic fruits are the "indigenous inhabitants" of South America. The tree-like liana, on which the fruits of curuba grow, feels great in the wild nature of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and other tropical countries. In connection with the love of the people for the fruit, it is widely cultivated. Even in New Zealand and India, they began to grow tasty and healthy kuruba.

Outwardly, exotic fruits have some resemblance to our large yellow-greenish overripe cucumbers, only larger. Inside, multi-seeded, jelly-like, pleasant to the taste, slightly sour and aromatic pulp. Fresh exotic kuruba is very tasty and refreshing in the heat, so it goes well with ice cream. They also prepare salads with fruit, cook jams, preserves, make juice and wine.

Kuruba is a useful exotic fruit, and contains many vitamins and minerals. Its mild, enveloping healing effect is known for stomach pains, the fruit helps with gastritis and ulcers.

Lychee

One of the most popular exotic fruits in Southeast Asia is also known as the "Chinese plum".

Small round or oval lychee fruits are the size of plums, rich pink and red. Loose bumpy peel, hides fragrant, very pleasant-tasting flesh. Inside the pulp is a large bone, which is easily separated during consumption.

The taste of lychee is somewhat reminiscent of a grape-strawberry mix, however, each has its own associations, largely dependent on the ripeness of the fruit, and on the region of cultivation. Fully ripe, sweet and very juicy fruit, with a slight sourness, a slightly noticeable astringency can be felt.

When choosing an exotic fruit, a tourist needs to look at the color of the peel, it should not be dark or brown, this is a sign of an already overripe and stale fruit. In the markets of tropical countries, this rarely happens, the fruit is not stale.

The fruits are well preserved on the branches in clusters, along with leaves, so the shelf life in a cool place is extended to two weeks. For the transportation of exotic fruits, they create a special temperature regime from 0 to -1 ° C, in a month and a half, they manage to breed lychee in different countries and sell it.

Asians use the fruits to make fruit salads, add them to exotic cocktails, desserts, ice cream, make sauces, marinades, syrups, etc.

In the exotic fruit - lychee, in the countries of Southeast Asia, tourists fall in love once and for all. Low-calorie and nutritious fruits refresh and cheer up, while the beneficial substances of fruits saturate the body with vitamins and essential elements.

Longkong

Malaysia is considered the birthplace of the exotic longkong (langsat), but fruit trees grow and bear fruit beautifully throughout Southeast Asia. So the inhabitants of Thailand, cultivating fruit trees, symbolized one of their regions, the image of fruits on the coat of arms of the province of Narathiwata.

Clusters of exotic berries that look like grapes develop on tall tropical trees. Longkong trees grow and develop for a very long time before they begin to bear fruit - almost 15 years, but then they produce a crop 2 times a year.

The appearance of the berries of an exotic longkong resembles a young light brown potato. Inside the fruit contains a translucent light pulp with a structure similar to garlic cloves. The taste of fruits is sweetish-sour, it is difficult to compare with anything. But tourists say - there is something in them - from grapes and bananas with a slight grapefruit bitterness.

Ripe fruits have a fairly dense peel, but it is easy to peel.

The peel of the fruit is sticky due to the juice contained on the surface. It is difficult to launder, so the locals carry out the process of cleaning fruits in rubber gloves.

The fruits of exotic langsat are low-calorie, very healthy, contain vitamins, macro- and microelements, amino acids. The inhabitants of Asia widely use the plant in folk medicine.

Fruit, however, spoils quickly, so it is best to eat them fresh. Asians cook a lot of dishes, desserts, exotic refreshing drinks with longkong.

magic fruit

Synsepalum dulcificum is a small (3 cm) drupe fruit of bright red color (similar to barberry). Fruit low trees are common in Africa, Florida, Ghana, Puerto Rico, Taiwan.

An exotic berry from West Africa, it was first introduced to the world by the Spaniards in 1725. The fruits owe their mysterious name to their unusual properties that can mislead human taste buds. So after tasting exotic fruits, sugar will become bitter, and sour lemon will seem incredibly sweet. These qualities of a magical fruit have become very popular and relevant among people with diabetes, because the love of sweets can now be compensated for by such a wonderful exotic fruit.

But science does not sleep, it turned out that the berry contains the substance merakulin (a glycoprotein molecule with a certain chain of carbohydrates). The effect of the reaction lasts about one hour until the receptors of the tongue are completely washed away by saliva.

The pulp of exotic fruits is sublimated, without heating, in order to preserve nutrients, it is produced in the form of granules or tablets (sugar substitute).

Exotic fruits themselves are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, many vitamins, minerals, fiber, while they contain little sugar, they are completely safe for diabetics.

Mango

One of the most common fruits of tropical latitudes is the exotic Mango, which is considered to be the birthplace of India. Fruits grow in almost all countries with a hot tropical climate, Southeast Asia, Africa, South America and others.

Ripe mango fruits weigh up to 2 kg, the color of the smooth peel can be green, yellow, orange or red, depending on the variety, the degree of maturity of the exotic fruit. Inside the fruit is a large flat, hard bone enveloping the fibrous pulp.

The sweet pulp melting in the mouth delights everyone who tastes the tropical fruit for the first time. The taste is unusually juicy exotic, it is difficult to compare with any fruit. Rather, it is a whole bunch of exotic flavors and aromas: apple, ripe pineapple, tender peach, melon, some other subtle fruit shades are possible. Everyone has their own flavor experience.

Arriving in an exotic country, tourists are amazed at the abundance of varieties and types of mangoes. One is tastier than the other, you can taste it right on the market, in any stall or shop, the sellers will be happy to offer, skillfully cut, pack juicy fresh fruits in a container with them.

Mango is a very nutritious exotic fruit, easily absorbed by the body and incredibly useful, with a high content of vitamins, micro-macroelements, dietary fiber, organic acids.

Fresh mangoes are delicious, the fruits are cooked and consumed in different stages of ripening. They are added to salads, make all kinds of exotic seasonings, marinades, sauces. Some varieties are good for canning - these are compotes, juices, jams, jams. Mango desserts, pastries, ice cream, smoothies, and cocktails are popular.

The name of the exotic fruit "mango" comes from Tamil (one of the languages ​​of India) - "mangkay" or "man-gay". Portuguese traders who lived in India adopted the name from the locals as "manga".

mangosteen

Exotic (mangosteen) are grown on extensive plantations in Southeast Asia. Delicious fruits ranging in size from 5 cm in diameter, with a skin of dark purple, almost black. The shell of a ripe fruit breaks easily, revealing a white pulp that looks like garlic cloves, inside of which there are inedible seeds.

Exotic mangosteen is a very sweet fruit, like many fruits of the tropics, it is characterized by a whole kaleidoscope of fruit flavors, there are notes of mango, strawberry, pineapple, orange mixed with a delicate vanilla aroma. Mangosteen is fully tasty only when ripe, unripe fruit will be hard, sour, such fruits can be taken home - they will ripen. Exotic fruits are chosen by touch, the peel seems to spring when pressed. Sellers are not indignant when tourists with a knowledgeable look choose exotics, on the contrary, they can offer a bag for selected fruits, so you can safely feel at least all the fruits.

Asians actively use exotic fruit for desserts, canned, dried, made jam. And the plant itself, its inedible parts: the bark and leaves of the tree, the peel is used in folk medicine. After all, useful mangosteen contains many vitamins, antioxidants, catechins, sterols, as well as micro and macro elements.

The price in Southeast Asia varies for mangosteen fruits, it depends on the ripening season, although you can eat exotic fruits all year round, in winter prices will be the highest.

passion fruit

Tropical passion fruit or (passiflora, granadilla), a native of hot, exotic Brazil. But today a miracle fruit is growing throughout the tropical zone of the Earth.

Exotic passion fruit is worth trying just once to fall in love with the sweetest, juiciest, unlike anything fruit. Oval, yellow or purple fruits 6-13 cm are the fruits of a liana plant. The elastic skin protects the jelly-like tasty pulp of the fruit, which is most convenient to eat with a spoon, cutting the exotic in half. There are small bones in the pulp, they are usually swallowed, they do not bring inconvenience and harm, but the peel itself is bitter and inedible.

If you buy unripe exotic fruits, they will quickly, in a couple of days, ripen at home at room temperature. Ripe fruits are not stored for a long time, a maximum of 6-7 days. Therefore, exotic passion fruit is actively used in the preparation of juices and cocktails. Desserts, pastries, various dishes, including meat and fish, are prepared with her participation.

Passion fruit is a fruit rich in useful acids, vitamins, minerals (potassium, iron). An exotic plant is actively used in cosmetology and dietology.

Marula

The exotic marula comes from the African continent and has been revered by the African people for many centuries.

Tropical fruits similar to plums have a yellowish thin peel, sweet white flesh. The plant contains a large amount of sugars, in connection with this, having fallen to the ground, fruits begin to ferment almost immediately.

They say that animals like to visit such hot places. During the period of mass maturation of marula, the animals arrange a feast, eat up exotic fruits and get drunk.

Locals use tropical fruits in the preparation of delicious dishes and alcoholic beverages. Branded liqueur Amarula is very popular in the world market.

Exotic marula is a very useful plant, rich in vitamins (especially a lot of vitamin C in fruits), minerals. It strengthens the body, increasing immunity, is a good prevention of cardiovascular diseases. A useful little is squeezed out of the seeds, which is used in cosmetology. And unusual drinks are made from the peel of fruits, with a spicy, tart aftertaste.

medlar

An exotic southern medlar, outwardly similar to a pear and an apricot at the same time, and according to the botanical description, a relative of the quince and pear (Pink family).

Subtropical plant has different varieties. The most common are Japanese and German medlar.

The juicy, friable pulp of the fruit can be sweet or sweet and sour, depending on the variety, slightly tart. The fruit tastes like pear and quince along with a slight apricot flavor. The peel can be cut off, but if it is completely soft, then exotic fruits are eaten with it.

Medlar is better to eat fresh, it is full of nutrients, besides it is low in calories (43-47 kcal). An exotic fruit is especially useful for diabetes and for strengthening the cardiovascular system. The plant is used in folk medicine, recipes for decoctions and tinctures from leaves, seeds and the fruits themselves are known.

Medlars make jam from exotic fruits, make delicious compotes, juices, sauces. Desserts are prepared and added to baked goods.

Noina sugar apple

Having cut this exotic fruit in half, and having tasted the most delicate, sweet, like melted ice cream pulp with a spoon, you understand that it is impossible to stop.

The homeland of this exotic fruit is Central America, but the plant has become widespread in almost all tropical countries: Southeast Asia, Africa, India, Australia and others.

The fruits of an exotic sugar apple are up to about 10 cm long, rounded in shape. The bumpy peel of the fruit is fraught with white pulp. The bones located inside the fetus should be discarded due to their toxicity. Noyna skin color is from bluish, green to pink. Tourists love to eat exotic noina, but the fruit is also good in desserts, soft drinks and cocktails.

Ripe noina is soft to the touch, but if you get a green, unripe one, you should know that after a while the exotic fruit will ripen, and you can enjoy its taste. Sugar exotic is satisfying, high-calorie (105 kcal / 100 gr.) And very healthy, saturated with many useful substances.

Noni

Morinda citrus is common in Southeast Asia, Australia, and on many exotic Pacific islands. Despite its pungent odor, the bitter and astringent taste of the noni fruit has many other benefits. And they are associated with its healing and beneficial properties.

Outwardly, exotic noni fruits are oval in shape and resemble potatoes or a green cone. Fruits are small, weighing about 100 grams. The white pulp contains numerous seeds from which valuable essential oil is produced.

The chemical composition of noni is unique, given that exotic fruits have a couple of tens of amino acids and a whole complex of vitamins, micro and macro elements.

Traditional and folk medicine have in their archives a huge number of recipes using the exotic noni fruit, describing hundreds of ways to combat various diseases.

Many scientists have been researching the beneficial properties of noni, so thanks to Dr. John Wadsworth, a unique processing method has been developed, as a result of which an industrial product in the form of a medicinal juice of an exotic plant is distributed for sale.

Natural noni juice can be bought at pharmacies and used for its intended purpose, after consulting with a doctor. In addition, a large number of cosmetic products for facial skin care based on exotic fruit are sold today. These are masks, creams, lotions, moisturizers and cleansers.

Papaya

Presumably - papaya comes from Mexico. One way or another, but today the fruits of this wonderful exotic plant are cultivated throughout the equatorial and tropical zones of the Earth. Numerous peoples joyfully grow fruit trees, which bear fruit abundantly all year round.

Ripe, bright, yellow-orange, exotic oval fruits, can be up to 0.5 m in length, weighing from 0.5 to 4.5 kg. The color of the pulp depends on the variety and maturity, it is red, carrot, yellow or green, the fruit has a pleasant delicate melon flavor.

When tasting a ripe exotic papaya moderately sweet, many compare it to taste with boiled carrots, zucchini or melon. Each variety has its own flavor notes. Ripe papaya has an interesting property - to decorate and improve the taste of other dishes, it can be: salads, juices, seafood, meat. So the famous Thai exotic Som Tam salad with pieces of fruit, shrimp, garlic, hot peppers is loved and known by all tourists. And grilled papaya is simply impossible to forget thanks to its unusual bready aroma.

Papaya fruits are very healthy, they are rich in vitamins A, C, E and also contain copper, magnesium, calcium, iron and many other substances.

Papaya is a dietary product that improves digestion due to the enzyme it contains called papain.

The papaya fruit is stored at home in refrigerators, no longer than 2 weeks. Dried, it can be stored for months.

Pepino

Melon pear is another name for the exotic pepino, which is native to South America. Outwardly, pepino looks like a melon, but the name speaks for itself in taste - a sweet fruit with a slight sourness resembles a melon and a pear at the same time.

Pepino is a very juicy fruit, consisting of 90% water.

Exotic fruits can be stored for 30-50 days in a cool place, so fresh fruits can be enjoyed for a long time, because all the benefits are concentrated in fresh fruits. But dried or dried fruits are just as healthy, although they are more high-calorie. Pepino is already a high-calorie product - 80 kcal per 100 g.

Residents of tropical and subtropical regions preserve the exotic melon pear, make jam from it, prepare desserts, add it to various dishes, the fruit goes well with other products.

Today you can grow cute exotic fruits in the countries of the middle zone, there are specially bred varieties. But it is still desirable to do this in greenhouses, on closed balconies, or at least on the windowsill, exotics will not survive the harsh winters.

Pitaya

Dragon fruit, pitahaya, dragon heart, dragon fruit - and this is not a complete list, exotic pitahaya has many names. The origin of the fruit is associated with an ancient legend about dragons, about the battles of people who mercilessly exterminated monsters for the sake of their hearts. Pitaya looks like a dragon's heart with its red or bright pink color and the presence of scales on a dense peel. Having eaten a tropical fruit, you may not feel a sudden surging feeling of courage and courage, but gastronomic satisfaction will surely come.

In fact, pitahaya is the fruit of a cactus (Hylocerius), exotics are grown in many tropical countries. So, having arrived in Southeast Asia, it is difficult to pass by bright fruits while in the market, in a supermarket or passing by street vendors. The hand itself will reach for an exotic fruit, the size of a weighty pear, in order to taste the juicy, sweet fruit.

The taste of pitaya depends on the variety, because the fruits can differ in the color of the skin and the color of the pulp. The yellow dragon fruit is considered the sweetest, it is the rarest and more expensive, but you definitely need to try it to compare it with red pitahaya with white and red flesh. Pitahaya with red pulp is incredibly fragrant, also very sweet. And exotic with white pulp, the most common of fruits, is moderately sweet, but also very tasty and low in calories. Exotic dragon fruit, nutritious and healthy.

Fruits are eaten simply, the peel is thrown away, the internal contents, that is, the pulp with small seeds, is eaten in any convenient way. Chilled exotic fruits are especially good.

The taste may resemble an exotic fruit mix of kiwi with banana, or figs, but in any case, it is better to try the pitahaya yourself in order to evaluate the taste and make your own comparisons. Ripe pitahaya will be slightly soft when pressed, so choosing it is not difficult, and fruit is sold all year round.

Platonia

The habitats of exotic platonia are the tropical rainforests of Colombia, Paraguay, Brazil and some other regions of South America. But it is possible to taste the fruit only where these wonderful, exotic, healthy fruits grow, during the ripening season, in any market in Latin America. Platonia is not stored for a long time, only a few days, the fruit quickly deteriorates, it can only be transported over short distances.

Round or oval fruits with a thick, sticky yellow-brown skin, inside contain white, aromatic flesh and a few black seeds. The taste of exotic pulp is very pleasant, sweet and sour. Platonium is eaten fresh, used in cooking, making various sweets from it - marmalades, exotic sherbets, jams, creams, mousses ...

The bark and peel of the exotic platonium tree contains a lot of latex, the plant serves as a prey for this substance, for the production of natural rubber.

Platonia seeds are very valuable, they are collected and processed to obtain a healthy nourishing oil, which is widely used in cosmetics and traditional medicine.

An interesting fact is that only yellow-headed white-bellied parrots, attracted by the nectar of flowers, pollinate platonium flowers in their natural habitat.

Having been in the tropics of Latin America, you should definitely try these overseas fruits, besides, exotic platonia is healthy and contains many vitamins and minerals, such as phosphorus, iron, calcium, etc.

pomelo

This exotic citrus is familiar to almost everyone, they love it, especially given the beneficial properties of the fruit. The pomelo comes from China. China is the main supplier of pomelo to most countries of the world. But trees are cultivated today in other tropical countries.

Pomelo is a separate independent species, it has never been a hybrid and is the largest citrus fruit in existence. The weight of exotic yellow-green fruits can reach several kilograms (from 1 to 10).

The taste of pomelo often depends on the variety. The pulp can be sweet and sour to a greater or lesser extent, juicy or not very, with or without bitterness, the flesh can be pink, white, yellow. But what unites exotic fruits is their bright citrus aroma - this delicious juicy smell cannot be confused with any citrus.

Pomelo is a low-calorie and satisfying product, saturated with many vitamins, micro- and macroelements, therefore it is suitable for lovers of all kinds of diets, and for all people without exception. Due to the low content of citric acid, the fruit in small quantities is allowed to be consumed by those suffering from gastritis and stomach ulcers; of all citrus fruits, it is the safest in this regard. But still, an exotic citrus pomelo, and this should be taken into account with a tendency to allergies and other contraindications.

Rambutan

If we talk about the exotic appearance of the fruit, then the hairy fruit - rambutan, deserves special attention. Even tourists arriving for the first time in Southeast Asia, where our “hero” comes from, carefully take exotic fruits for testing. But having tasted, they buy constantly, and willingly bring home a certain amount, not wanting to part with the wonderful taste of fruit.

The hairy peel of the fruit, of course, is not eaten, but the jelly-like, translucent pulp hiding under it can be enjoyed with pleasure. The pulp of an exotic fruit tastes like a grape-strawberry mix, very sweet, with a slight sourness.

When choosing exotic fruits in markets, shops, or street vendors, it is better to pay attention to bright red fruits with greenish hairs on the tips. Try to avoid dark-colored fruits, these are overripe, possibly already spoiled fruits, although this is rare in Asian markets. Merchants value their customers and do not slip stale goods. Unripe fruits may be caught, in which case they will be sour and will not bring gastronomic pleasure.

It is best to peel rambutans with a knife, carefully separating the skin and then the stone from the pulp of the fruit, but you can also do this with your fingers. The stone is not edible, so it can be thrown away, it is easily separated if the fruit is ripe.

Exotic rambutans are tasty and most useful when fresh, but locals cook seafood dishes, salads, and sweets using them.

Buddha hand citron

It is believed that this oldest exotic citrus representative began its distribution from Western Asia, India, then settled throughout Southeast Asia and other tropical countries.

Legends are attributed to the amazing fruit and used in religious ceremonies. Botanical scientists believe that the "Hand of the Buddha" is the result of a gene mutation of "ordinary" citrons. It is likely that ancient oriental breeders took part in the development of exotic fruits and empirically supported the direction of the unusual appearance of the citron.

Most often, an exotic tree is used for decorative purposes. Fruits literally attract attention with their unique appearance. At first, the fruit looks like an incompletely clenched fist, then in the process of growth, the “fingers” open up and can stick out in all directions. To some, the fruits resemble squid tentacles.

The unclenching of the fingers does not always occur, most often the fruits remain compressed into a “cam”.

On average, mature fruits weigh 300-400 grams. Thick bumpy fruit peel (characteristic of all citrons) is a bright yellow color. The fruits exude a strong but pleasant violet smell. If you start an exotic tree "Buddha's Hand" at home, then your home will almost always be filled with the fragrance of a unique fruit.

Raw citruses are not eaten directly, the fruits are dried and dried, and then used in cooking as a seasoning. Raw, in small quantities, they are sometimes added to flavor certain dishes, or to decorate the festive table.

In tropical countries, exotic fruits are used in folk medicine, for the treatment and prevention of various diseases.

Salak

In warm Southeast Asia, herring is a fairly common exotic fruit. It is loved and known by adults, children, and tourists.

Fruits grow on low palm trees, with a spreading crown, the trunk of which is covered with sharp thorns. You can enjoy inexpensive fruits all summer and early autumn, during the harvest. Salak is also called a snake fruit, and that's all, because the peel of exotic fruits resembles the outwardly iridescent brown skin of a snake. The fruits are not large, weighing about 100 grams. The internal contents of the Baltic herring are even more surprising, when peeled, it looks like garlic, but only in appearance.

It is difficult to compare the sweet and sour flesh of an exotic herring to taste with any fruit. For some, the taste resembles a nut-strawberry mixture, someone claims that the fruit combines notes of banana and pineapple at the same time. Most people notice a slight smell of perfume when eating the fruit, and a slight astringency.

The herring has a short shelf life, so fruits are usually sold fresh in the markets. The integrity of the skin is important, it should be smooth, not cracked, not wrinkled. It is believed that the larger the fruit, the tastier it is.

Any fruit is most useful fresh, exotic herring is no exception. There is a very simple salak, the skin is peeled off with hands or with a knife, it easily moves away from the skin, the bones are thrown away, the pulp is ready for use.

Like many exotic fruits, herring has found its way into local cuisine. Smoothies, drinks, salads are made with it, compotes and sauces are cooked from herring.

Santol

A tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia, santol, grows and ripens on tall trees reaching a height of 45 meters. The exotic fruits themselves are 5-7 cm in diameter, covered with a thick peel, the color of which, depending on the variety, will be from light yellow to brownish or red.

Inside the exotic santol, white, sweet and sour, juicy pulp, divided into segments, resembles mangosteen in its purified form. Inside the slices there are inedible seeds.

Despite the thickness of the peel, santol can be peeled with your hands, or it is convenient to do it with a knife, cut in half. In addition to fresh consumption, santol is widely used in local cuisine. For example, they soak it, like soaked apples. Many tourists, taught by locals, eat santol with spices and salt, assuring that it is much tastier this way. Maybe worth a try? Asians traditionally prepare drinks from exotic fruits, including alcoholic drinks, jams, marmalades and delicious desserts.

Santol is rich in vitamins, minerals, it is useful for strengthening bones, the heart, and also for improving immunity.

sapodilla

One of the most popular fruits of Southeast Asia is sapodilla or lamut (tree potato). Inconspicuous in appearance, but bright in taste, the exotic fruit is unusually sweet and juicy, reminiscent of milk caramel in taste. Many compare the smell of sapodilla with the aroma of dates and figs. Haute cuisine chefs in some countries consider sapodilla a godsend in the preparation of desserts.

The fruits of exotic sapodilla are not large, 5-10 cm in diameter and weigh about 100-160 gr. Despite the high content of sugars, the fruit is not too high in calories (80 kcal), this is due to its juiciness and high water content.

Sapodilla is very easy to eat, we remove the skin and seeds, it is convenient to eat an exotic fruit with a spoon, cut in half. The main thing is to choose ripe fruits - they will be moderately soft to the touch, but not hard (strongly astringent), but not too soft (clearly spoiled).

The sapodilla harvest season in Southeast Asian countries is from September to December, at which time the fruits will be very cheap and most delicious.

This exotic fruit is as useful as many tropical fruits, it contains vitamins and minerals, and for a change and replenishment of the body with useful substances, it is worth trying and enjoying the unique sapodilla.

Tamarillo

Latin America is the birthplace of a fruit-bearing exotic plant - tamarillo. The Spanish sailors, who first saw a small plant, called it a tomato tree. Surprisingly, outwardly, and to some extent in taste, tamarillo resembles ordinary tomatoes.

The exotic tamarillo has egg-shaped berries. The shiny skin can be yellow, red, orange, or purple. Inside, sweet and sour to taste, yellow-pink flesh with many seeds.

Tamarillo fruits keep well and for a long time in a cool place, so they must be transported. Today, the largest supplier of exotic fruits is New Zealand, where the plant is successfully grown.

The fruits are rich in minerals and vitamins, so tamarillos are eaten raw, like passion fruit, with a dessert spoon, after cutting the fruit in half. In cooking, the use of fruit is also very extensive. After removing the skin, the fruits can be cut into circles in a salad, or put as one of the ingredients in a sandwich with meat. Sauces, marinades, various dishes will become spicy with the addition of these exotic delicious fruits.

Tamarind

Indian date is another name for tamarind. Exotic fruit trees are common in many tropical countries, their spreading beautiful crowns are covered with many pods at the time of fruiting. Tamarind belongs to the legume family, today the trees are cultivated and rarely found in the wild.

The exotic Indian date is a very attractive plant, so many plant growers grow ornamental (dwarf) trees using the bonsai technique.

The popularity of exotic tamarind lies in its unusual fruits, which are used in cooking and cosmetology, due to their beneficial and gastronomic qualities.

Viscous dark burgundy flesh is inside fragile brown pods. Ripe fruit mass tastes like dried fruits, dried apricots and prunes combined. The pleasant aroma of exotic pods enhances the feeling that you are eating very viscous dried fruits.

During processing, most often tamarind is pressed into briquettes for further storage and use. In this form, it is stored for months in the refrigerator, while not losing its healing and beneficial properties, the concentration of which in the fruit is quite high.

Fresh or processed exotic tamarind is used in cooking, most often as a seasoning for soups and second courses, as well as an additive in desserts, ice cream, pastries. There is a lot of pectin in the fruits, so tamarind is an excellent natural thickener for jams, jellies, sweets, sauces, marinades.

In cosmetic products, tamarind is quite well known; masks, scrubs, lotions are made on its basis. Of particular importance is the essential 100% oil used in cosmetics, Ayurveda, folk medicine.

feijoa

For residents of the tropics and subtropics, feijoa is one of the most beloved exotic berries because it is tasty, low in calories, and very healthy.

The birthplace of berries is tropical Brazil, but for the inhabitants of Russia, feijoa has become much closer due to the cultivation of exotic woody shrubs in the Crimea, Krasnodar Territory and the Caucasus. The fruit ripening season is the end of October and the first half of November. So it's time to replenish your body with nutrients for the winter. Fruits can be eaten raw, ground with sugar and stored in the refrigerator, make jams and jams.

Small fruits weighing about 20-100 grams have a green, slightly bumpy peel, and juicy sweet and sour pulp to taste something reminiscent of a mixture of strawberries and pineapple.

If the feijoa is not ripe, the flesh inside will be white, ripe fruits have transparent flesh, dark brownish berries are evidence of corruption.

Exotic feijoa can ripen and store well without losing its usefulness, so it is usually harvested unripe for export.

The value of fruits is associated with their richest healing composition, and their use for preventive and therapeutic purposes.

Breadfruit

The birthplace of fruit, exotic trees is New Guinea, but after a long and difficult journey in the 17th century, the breadfruit settled on many oceanic islands. It has always been and is a necessary source of nutrition for the inhabitants of the tropics.

On tall and thick trees grow yellow-green, or light brownish exotic fruits, oblong in shape. Fruits are similar to melons, with a dense rough peel, sticky due to milky juice - latex. Fruit weight 3-4 kg.

The pulp of the fruit is sweet, pleasant to the taste, light yellow or cream in color, it contains many seeds. The fruits of the tree are not high in calories (103 kcal), but nutritious. Exotic fruits are eaten raw, and in cooking they have found a variety of uses, they are dried, turned into chips, boiled, stewed, baked, starch is made, processed for future use. The seeds of the plant are also edible and higher in calories (190 kcal), they are usually fried.

Exotic breadfruit is a useful product. It contains calcium, potassium and magnesium, vitamins A, B, C. The fruits and all parts of the plant are actively used in folk medicine.

Chrysophyllum star apple

Star apple, chrysophyllum, cainito, star plum are different names for one tropical fruit tree, which is native to the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean. Plants are cultivated today in many tropical countries.

The fruits of an exotic plant can be recognized by a pleasant fragrance and various shades of red, purple or green skin color. Fruit spherical shape 5-8 cm in diameter. Cutting the fruit, a star pattern is clearly visible (hence the name). It should be borne in mind that the peel of the fruit contains latex, and the juicy pulp itself is sweet and sticky. So, an inexperienced tourist will have to wash their hands for a long time.

Exotic Chrysophyllum is a source of many useful substances, in addition to vitamins and minerals, it is rich in dietary fiber, which contributes to a long feeling of satiety, which is good for people who control their weight.

Unforgettable tropical cocktails, including cainito, taste amazing, and exotic fruit salads, ice cream and various desserts are simply delicious in combination with these fragrant fruits.

Cherimoya

The exotic cherimoya is originally from Latin America, and today the fruit is also grown in other tropical and subtropical countries, although the plant prefers a mild temperate climate.

The fruits are bright green in color, have a rough surface in the form of conical protrusions. The fruits are about 10 cm in diameter and weigh an average of 200-600 grams. but there are also large 2-kilogram specimens.

The pulp of exotic fruits is fragrant, sweet, juicy, light creamy in color, may have a slight sourness. Cherimoya is called - "cream apple", and the taste of the fruit pulp is compared with mango, pineapple, banana, strawberries combined.

It is worth being careful: the pulp of an exotic fruit contains dark brown seeds that are poisonous and contain neurotoxins.

Cherimoya is so pleasant and delicate in taste that the fruit is often eaten like ice cream with a spoon, after freezing, smoothies, delicious exotic cocktails, sorbets, desserts and pastries are made from the pulp.

Cherimoya can only be eaten in countries where it grows. For a number of reasons, exotic fruits are not exported. Having tried once a delicious exotic, you will definitely want to eat it again, especially considering its beneficial properties, which are found in abundance in fruits.

Black sapota, chocolate pudding

Diospyros nigra - "divine black food" - one of the translations of the name of an exotic fruit. In fact, the "black sapota" is a kind of persimmon that is very familiar to us. Chocolate persimmon is a resident of the tropics, its habitat is South and Central America, Mauritius, the Philippines ... Many countries cultivate an exotic plant, but the fruits are not subject to export. Trying an unusual tasty fruit is possible only when traveling in an exotic country.

Exotic berries of the "black apple" are quite large, about 13 cm in diameter. By the time of ripening, the fruits acquire a dark dirty green color. When choosing fruits, a pleasant fruit and berry aroma is felt.

Jelly-like, tender, chocolate, almost black pulp is inside the fruit, along with small 2 cm seeds. Ripe exotic "black boot" will not leave gourmets indifferent. Most tourists compare the taste of the sweet fruit to chocolate custard or chocolate pudding (one of the names).

Exotic chocolate persimmon is a dessert in itself. It is also used in the preparation of puddings, creams, jellies, marmalades and jams. It is added to ice cream and cocktails, alcoholic drinks are made on its basis. Roasted fruit seeds are used to make a drink, something like coffee.

From the valuable breed of wood Diospyros, which belongs to the varieties of ebony rare wood, elite furniture and musical instruments are made.

The exotic "chocolate pudding" growing on the tree has many health benefits. Fruit is a source of valuable macro- and microelements, vitamins, and dietary fiber. Being in Mexico or another exotic country, you should definitely try the delicious “black sapote” in order to get gastronomic pleasure and be filled with energy and vivacity, thanks to the vitamin complex contained in incredible fruits.

Chompoo

The rose apple or chompu is an exotic fruit native to East India. The fruit spread throughout Southeast Asia, Africa, was brought to the Caribbean, Central and South America.

The exotic chompoo has an attractive pear-shaped shape, a delicate pink color and a glossy surface. The pulp of a tropical fruit is similar in texture to an apple, it is usually white in color, sweet, juicy, slightly crunchy. Chompa is very pleasant to eat in the heat, it easily quenches thirst, it has no seeds, the fruit does not require peeling - washed and eaten, enjoying the delicate pleasant aroma of the fruit.

Residents of the tropics use the exotic rose apple in local cuisine: they cook dishes with rice and meat, make jams, syrups, sauces, or canned with other fruits.

Harvesting of exotic fruits depends on the country of growth, in some countries chompa is harvested all year round, in some regions at the end of summer.

Pink exotic apple, a useful low-calorie fruit, and suitable for those who decide to lose weight or keep fit.

Jujube

Unabi, "Chinese date", jujube is one fruit with many names. The fruit was given to the world by China, where the plant was known and cultivated more than 4000 years ago. Nowadays, these exotic fruits grow even in the Caucasus and Crimea, not to mention other tropical and subtropical countries such as Japan, Brazil, Australia, Southeast Asia and others.

By the way: "zizifus" from the Persian "zizafun" - means any edible fruit.

Jujube fruits are mostly red-brown in color, small in size (2.5-3 cm in diameter). To taste, exotic fruits resemble a sweet apple with a delicate juicy texture, with a slightly astringent effect and a slight sourness (depending on the variety). Inside the pulp is a large bone.

Whole, undamaged exotic fruits are well and long (about a month) stored fresh in the refrigerator. As dried fruits, jujube feels great at room temperature and will lie on the kitchen shelf for more than one month.

Exotic Chinese dates contain many vitamins and minerals, including substances that are not found in all fruits - these are flavonoids, glycosides, tannins. In traditional Chinese medicine, all parts of the exotic unabi tree are used in the treatment and prevention of certain diseases. The Chinese generally consider jujube a tree of longevity.

Conclusion

As they say, all good things in moderation, in order to feel the full benefits of exotic fruits, you should not get too carried away with amazing fruits. Even if the fruits lead to indescribable delight. The main thing is to pause in time and make sure that this or that exotic fruit suits you and is not the cause of an allergy or a problem with the stomach, intestines, and whatever else.

It should also be remembered about the careful processing of fruits before use, simply speaking, do not forget to wash them. It is best to eat fruits fresh, as early as possible: bought, washed, eaten, or observe storage conditions.

Fruits are essential for a balanced diet. Exotic fruits are very rich in useful substances. In order for the use of fruits to be as useful as possible, one should not forget about simple rules. Then a trip to the tropics or just a pleasant pastime at home with a plate of exotic fruits on the table will bring pleasure, give joy and satisfaction.

The countries of Southeast Asia are simply a paradise for lovers of tropical fruits. Dragon fruit, mangosteen, tomarillo, durian, snake fruit, and many other exotic names cease to amaze here and become the norm.

Surely in Russia, in large supermarkets, there are many of these tropical fruits, only, firstly, their prices can differ by an order of magnitude, and secondly, in order for them to appear on the shelves in a nice way, they are fairly stuffed with chemicals or sent unripe, which cannot but affect the taste and useful qualities.

But in Southeast Asia, at home, many of these tropical fruits are cheap - for example, ripe and juicy mango in season can be bought for 40 rubles, and sweet papaya for 50-60 rubles. As for the usual apples and pears, here, on the contrary, they are one of the most expensive fruits. In addition, there are almost no berries here, with the exception of strawberries, which sometimes make us happy.

Every day we enjoy a variety of fruit flavors. There are several dozen tropical fruits here, and if you consider that each of them, as a rule, has several varieties, and the taste of each variety is unique and inimitable, it becomes clear how good life is for fruit lovers here 🙂

The same tropical fruits that we tried in, and often differ not only in taste, but also in name and shape. The eyes in the market or in the store run up, it’s difficult to choose a particular fruit, so we buy huge boxes that can hardly fit on a bike 🙂

We deliberately do not write about prices, since they are different everywhere, depending on the country, seasonality, variety and ability to bargain. In general, most tropical fruits are cheaper than our usual ones in St. Petersburg, even seasonal ones.

So, we begin our acquaintance with tropical exotics.

snake fruit ( snake fruit), the Balinese call it salak

The fruits are round or pear-shaped, tapering to a wedge at the top, covered with a scaly brown peel resembling snake skin, from which the name of the fruit comes.

The peel is thin and easily removed, it is enough to cut it or tear it at the edge, and then remove it like an egg shell. The flesh is white or beige in color and consists mainly of three segments. If the fruit is unripe, then due to the high content of tannin it knits the mouth, this is how we first tried it in Malaysia in the spring - we did not like it, and we safely forgot about it.

Here in Bali, salak, as one of the most common tropical fruits, quickly became familiar, we tried it again, and, one might say, fell in love 🙂

In Bali, 2 varieties are common. One, more elongated, consists of 3 identical segments, has a pleasant refreshing sweet taste, reminiscent of pineapple and banana with a slight nutty flavor. The second, more rounded, with two large segments and a third small pitted, tastes similar to gooseberries and pineapples. Both varieties are quite interesting, we buy different ones with the same success 🙂

Salak contains tannin, which removes harmful substances from the body, has astringent, hemostatic and antidiarrheal properties.

In the north of Bali, in the forests, we somehow found a wild herring. Unlike the garden one, its peel is prickly in small needles, no more than 1 mm long, and the fruits themselves are smaller in size. They taste sweet, but peeling because of the thorns is not very pleasant, so we fed them to the monkeys, who were not a hindrance to the thorns and they coped with cleaning as quickly as they do with bananas 🙂

Mango ( mango)

Of the many tropical fruits, mango still remains one of our favorites - it seems that you can eat it as much as you like and never get bored 🙂 In St. Petersburg, we sometimes bought them in the store and the concept of different varieties did not exist for us - there is just mango and that's all, what was our surprise that, it turns out, there are several dozen species of them.

India harvests about 13.5 million tons of mangoes per year (just think about the number!) and is thus the main producer (the most famous variety is mangifera indica 'Alphonso'), China is in second place in terms of productivity (just over 4 million tons) , on the third - Thailand (2.5 million tons), Indonesia 2.1 million tons.

Ripe fruits of different varieties taste very different, most often they are sweet and have pleasant aromas of different shades from honey even to ginger.

Arriving in India in early November, we were very surprised not to find mangoes on sale - it turned out that the season begins in April. We flew away at the end of March, and literally in the last week the first crop appeared on sale - these were small red mangoes, very fragrant and sweet, for several days we could not tear ourselves away from them.

We really liked the variety of mangoes in Malaysia - from Thai light yellow, with beige flesh inside, to green thick-skinned, unripe in appearance, but with bright orange, sweet flesh.

But for real, we overeat mangoes in Bali. In May and June, the choice was not very large, but in August, September and, especially, in October, the variety of varieties and prices do not cease to please us. Our favorite Harumanis are green mangoes with orange, sweet, honey-colored flesh.

Mango has a lot of vitamins and fructose, and few acids. Vitamin A has a beneficial effect on the organs of vision, helps with "night blindness" and other eye diseases. Regular consumption of mango improves immunity and protects against colds. Green mango is also rich in vitamin C.

Mango fruits are often used in home medicine, for example, in India, mangoes are used to stop bleeding, to strengthen the heart muscle, and also to improve brain function.

Dragon fruit or dragon fruit ( dragon fruit), aka pitahaya or pitahaya

Belongs to the cactus family. Due to its interesting and unusual shape, as well as bright pink color, the fruit cannot go unnoticed. The fruit has a white or red (depending on the variety), creamy flesh and a delicate, slightly perceptible aroma. The pulp is eaten raw, the taste is sweet. It is convenient to eat, cut into 2 halves, scooping out the pulp with a spoon. To some, dragon fruit may seem bland and not very tasty, but if you taste it properly, you will definitely like this unusual tropical fruit (like Mozzarella cheese, for example, which also does not have a very pronounced taste).

The fruit grows on cacti and blooms only at night. The flowers are also edible and can also be made into tea. The fruit is low in calories, helps with stomach pain and has a beneficial effect on the quality of vision.

Mangosteen ( mangostin), aka mangosteen, mangosteen, garcinia, mangkut

The fruit is round, 4-8 cm in diameter, covered with a thick (1 cm) maroon-violet inedible peel, under which there are 5-8 segments of white, very juicy pulp, with large seeds inside each segment. We met mangosteens on - when we saw them for the first time, we thought that some kind of strange persimmon was here))

We were not going to buy them, but the seller stopped us at the last moment, showing a clever trick, opening this fruit in a second. Seeing the juicy pulp, we could not resist the desire and tried it, and then of course we bought it. The taste of the fruit is very pleasant, creamy-sweet and slightly tart.

In hot weather, this is a great fruit to quench your thirst.

papaya ( papaya)

The fruits have pink-orange or golden flesh with seeds in the middle - they are removed when cut. Sweet juicy papaya pieces melt in your mouth. The fruit is extremely nutritious, and what is most interesting, papaya is not boring at all, we were happy to eat it very often in India, Bali and Thailand - this is our traditional breakfast dish for the sixth month. In and in Bali, papaya is very sweet, we especially like the "California" variety, and in Thailand, as our friends say, it is more watery. In Mexico, we liked it only in combination with yogurt or honey - there it is more customary to eat it slightly unripe and even with salt and chili pepper :).

Papaya is a valuable source of beta-carotene, a third of a medium-sized fruit satisfies the daily requirement of an adult for vitamin C, and also provides the necessary amount of calcium and iron.

Papaya fruits not only in appearance, but also in chemical composition are close to melons, contain glucose and fructose, organic acids, proteins, fiber, vitamins and minerals, so papaya is sometimes called the "melon tree".

They say that when roasted on a fire, papaya fruits smell like fresh bread, which gave this plant another interesting name - "breadfruit".

Green papaya has contraceptive and abortifacient properties - Asian women who wish to terminate their pregnancy ate the unripe fruit in large quantities.

In tropical countries, papaya juice is used for diseases of the spine, as it contains an enzyme that regenerates the connective tissue of the intervertebral discs. Perhaps it is precisely because of the frequent use of papaya that Asians are less prone to diseases of the locomotor system, even despite the tradition of wearing heavy things on their heads.

Other fruits

We talk about other fruits in our book " Asian exotic. 30 Must-Try Fruits in Asia". In order to get it (for free), just follow this link, enter your e-mail, and in a few minutes a link to download the book will come to your mail.

From the book you will learn about the following tropical fruits:

Jackfruit	Rambutan
	Cocoa
Coconut	A pineapple
durian
		Bananas

Fruits and vegetables in Thailand are very diverse. Below we have collected for you what you should definitely try while in the land of smiles.

Fruit in Thailand

1. Durian

Durian (Thai name - durian) is the undisputed leader of our list. The fruit is pale green-yellow in color with a shell-like skin. Weight from 2 to 5 kg. Durian has a very unpleasant smell and an excellent sweet-creamy taste. Durian is eaten raw, while the seeds are roasted and eaten instead of nuts. Keeping at home or in a hotel, as well as transporting, is not recommended due to the smell. In many hotels, hospitals, shopping centers and other public places, you can find special signs reminding you that it is forbidden to bring durian into the room. The Thais themselves speak of durian as "a fruit with the taste of heaven and the smell of hell."

Do not try durian - vacation in vain))

2. Mango

Mango (Thai name - mamuang) - outwardly yellow, green or reddish oblong fruit, outwardly a bit like a melon. Inside, juicy yellow-orange or green flesh with a sweet and sour taste.

In my opinion, the most delicious mango is green on the outside and yellow on the inside.

3. Dragon fruit

Pitaya or pitahaya ("dragon fruit", dragon's eye) (Thai name - geow mangon). Bright pink or yellow fruits with sparse green scales. Inside, white or red flesh with small black seeds.

4. Guava

Guava (Thai name - farang) - fruits of light green color, outwardly resemble an apple. Rough skin outside. The flesh is white or red, crisp like an apple, with many small seeds.

5. Papaya

Papaya (papaya) (Thai name - malakor) - pear-shaped fruits, green or yellow. The flesh is orange or bright pink. Papaya is eaten both as a vegetable and as a fruit, depending on the degree of ripeness. Thais love to cook their famous “papaya salad” from papaya.

6. Mangosteen

Mangosteen (mangosteen) (Thai name - mangkhud) - a small fruit that looks like an apple with a brown or purple skin. Sweet. Tastes like grapefruit.

7. Lychee

Lychee (Thai name - linchi) - fruits the size of a small plum, with a scaly pink peel. Inside is a white pulp that is eaten and an inedible pit. It tastes like grapes.

8. Sapodilla

Sapodilla (Thai name - la moot) - a yellow-brown fruit, similar to kiwi. Crispy flesh with a creamy caramel flavor and a few hard pits. It tastes like persimmon.

9. Passion fruit

Passion fruit is a purplish-purple or golden fruit, about the size of a small grapefruit. Under the peel are the bones in a juicy sweet shell. It turns out a very tasty cocktail: soda, passion fruit and sugar syrup.))

10. Longan

Longan (Thai name - lamyai) - small fruits of light brown color, resembling walnuts in appearance. Inside is a transparent white pulp and a hard bone.

11. Jackfruit

Jackfruit (Indian breadfruit, eve) is a large fruit with thick, spiky, yellow-green skin. It looks like a durian, but its "thorns" are smaller. The pulp is yellow, sweet, with an unusual smell and taste of a Duchesse pear. The segments are separated from each other and sold in bags. The ripened pulp is eaten fresh, the unripened is cooked. Jackfruit is mixed with other fruits, added to ice cream, coconut milk. The seeds are edible when boiled.

12. Pineapple

Pineapple (Thai name - sapa rot). Thailand's pineapples are considered among the best in the world. There are about 80 varieties of this fruit. Its taste is rich - from sweet and sour to honey. The smell of ripe pineapple is pleasant and slightly sweet. When choosing a pineapple, pay attention to its texture: it should be slightly crumpled under your fingers, but not too soft or, conversely, too hard. In Thailand, mini pineapple, or as it is called "royal pineapple", is also very popular.

13. Coconut

Coconut (Thai name - ma phrao). Season: all year round. If not for these fruits, Thai cuisine would be just a combination of Chinese and Indian. They are added to rice and eaten fresh. Most soups are cooked with coconut milk. Coconuts in syrup are offered as a dessert. The markets sell coconut milk right in the fruit. Be prepared for the fact that coconuts in Thailand are not the coconuts we are used to seeing in bounty ads. They are green and big. But, there is another type - small light brown.

14. Langsat

Langsat (Thai name - lang sat). Season: July to October. This fruit is almost unknown outside the country, but is very popular in Thailand itself. Its grayish flesh has both a sweet and sour taste. Langsat seeds are bitter, so the fruit should be eaten with care. Do not confuse with longan.

15. Pomelo

Pomelo (Thai name - som oh). Season: from August to November. It tastes like grapefruit, but more sweet than sour. In addition, the pomelo is much larger in size. The flesh is reddish, pale yellow and orange.

16. Rambutan

Rambutan (Thai name - ngaw). Season: all year round, peak - from May to September. One of the most noticeable and delicious exclusively Thai fruits. Bright red fruits with pale green bristles taste vaguely reminiscent of grapes, only sweeter. Rambutan grows in the central and southern provinces (Chanthaburi, Pattaya region, Suratthani).

17. Rose apple

Rose apple (Thai name - chom poo). Season: all year round. There are two varieties of this fruit: one is really pink, the other is green. To taste, the fruits are similar to ordinary apples, only a little more sour. The most beautiful rose apples appear on the markets during the cool season - from November to March.

18. Salak

Salak, snake fruit (Thai name - la kham). The scaly fruits are burgundy-brown in color, the shape is oval and slightly elongated, reminiscent of a drop of water. The peel is thin and fairly easy to remove, but when peeling the fruit, you need to be careful: it is covered with small soft spikes. The flesh of the herring is yellowish-white.

19. Sugar apple

Sugar apple (Thai name - noi naa). Season: June to September. Under the bumpy green skin lies a sweet and fragrant milky flesh. If the fruit is ripe enough, you can eat it with a spoon. By the way, the basis of the special ice cream served in Thai restaurants is the sugar apple. The fruit loves a hot and humid climate, so it is grown mainly in the south of the country.

20. Carambola

Carambola (Thai name - ma feung). Season: October to December. Fruits are yellow or green, oblong. Cut across have the shape of a five-pointed star. Because of this, they have a second name - star fruit, or "star fruit". Ripe fruits are very juicy. The taste is pleasant, with floral notes, not very sweet. Unripe fruits are quite sour. They contain a lot of vitamin C. The fruit is mainly used for making salads, sauces, juices and soft drinks.

21. Tamarind

Tamarind (Thai name - makham thad). Season: December to March. Tamarind is a sour fruit, but a sweet variety grows in Thailand. Thais usually boil the fruit in water to get a refreshing drink.

22. Watermelon

Watermelon (Thai name - Taeng Mo). Season: all year round. Peak season: October-March. Appearance: Watermelons are small in size, with red or yellow flesh. Yellow ones are more expensive, because in Thailand it is the color of wealth. Taste: Sugar-sweet common to watermelon, refreshing in both varieties. Significantly sweeter than Astrakhan. Consumption: Necks, smoothies and fresh watermelon juice are popular. Used for figured fruit carving.

23. Banana

Banana - (Thai name - Kluai). Season: all year round. Appearance: yellow or green. Taste: very sweet, the smaller the size and thinner the skin, the tastier, but these are not stored. Long ones are stored better, they cost more. Very nutritious, they are eaten unripe with spices, semi-ripe dried in the sun, ripened deep-fried, boiled in coconut milk or syrup, the flowers are used in cooking various dishes.

24. Mandarin

Mandarin (Thai name - Som). Season: all year round. Peak season September-February. Appearance. Smaller than European varieties, with a thinner, greenish-yellow skin. Taste: sweet with slight sourness, very juicy. Compared to European varieties, not so bright taste. Consumption: In Thailand, they are mainly juiced and sold everywhere on stalls on the streets.

Fruits in Thailand by seasons.

Dragon fruit (geow mangon) or pitaya - covered with bright pink scales with bright green edges. White, red or purple flesh with many small seeds is especially delicious with yogurt.

The translucent pulp of rambutan is very sweet and contains vitamins C, B1 and B2, carbohydrates, proteins, calcium, phosphorus. Canned rambutans are often stuffed with pineapple and served over ice. In Asia they say: "Eat at least one rambutan - lengthen your life."

Guava fruits at first glance can be mistaken for an unripe watermelon. This tropical fruit has a dense green skin and a pale pink content with a pleasant smell. In the distant past, the aroma of guava trees made the Spaniards think they were in heaven on earth.

The mangosteen is a small, round fruit with a thick dark purple skin and large green leaves. The mangosteen is considered one of the most exquisite fruits in the world. The aroma of mangosteen fruits combines the aromas of apricot, melon, rose, lemon and something else elusive.

Jackfruit is a fruit the size of a large melon with a huge number of seeds inside. The taste of jackfruit is somewhat reminiscent of a pear. All parts of the plant, including the peel, contain sticky latex, so you need to butcher this beauty by lubricating your hands with sunflower oil or wearing rubber gloves.

Longkong grows in clusters and is very similar to petrified grapes: each fruit has a hard rind. But it is easy to eat: press on the skin, and a small yellow ball of translucent white pulp with a delicate pleasant taste will pop out from there.

Carambola is one of the most beautiful fruits because carambola fruits are star shaped. Carambola has a pleasant floral taste, but is not sweet. Carambola is used to make salads, sauces and soft drinks. You do not need to peel the fruit, you can just cut into pieces.

Durian (thurien) is a large green prickly fruit that smells monstrous but has a delicate and pleasant taste. You need to eat it, like drinking vodka: exhale and put the pulp in your mouth without breathing. With durian, you will not be allowed into a hotel, or on a plane, or in a restaurant.

Sapodilla is a fruit that is light brown in color and shaped like an egg. The pulp of sapodilla has a pronounced milky-caramel taste.

Salakka is not a fish. These are scaly, dark brown bulb-like fruits. They have orange flesh inside. The taste of herring is, as usual, specific.

Lychee is a small, round fruit with a hard, thin red shell that hides a sweet, juicy white flesh that is slightly tart in taste. Lychee fruits are used fresh for food, various sweet dishes are prepared from them (ice cream, jelly, creams, etc.).

Sugar apple. Under the bumpy marsh-green skin of this fruit, sweet, fragrant milky flesh is hidden. Before consumption, the rough skin of the fruit is usually opened, then the segments of the pulp are eaten, and the seeds are spit out. If the fruit is ripe enough, that is, it can be spooned. The pulp is also used to make desserts and soft drinks. Ripe fruits are soft to the touch, unripe - hard.

Rose apples taste very similar to ordinary apples, only Thai ones are somewhat sourer.

Tomarillo. Woody tomato with a touch of wild rose ripens on evergreen bushes 2-3 meters high. The fruits are usually orange, red or purple, similar in shape and size to a chicken egg. The sweet and sour taste of tomarillo - somewhere between tomato, melon and rosehip - is very good for drinks and salads. The skin must be removed before use.

Nispero. It is similar in shape to a large plum, with two or three dark seeds inside and sweet-sour juicy pulp. Nispero is low in calories and rich in vitamins A, B2, C, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.

Physalis (aka Peruvian gooseberries, (so named for the taste slightly reminiscent of gooseberries), aka earth cherry, aka strawberry tomato, Physalis, cape gooseberries) is the closest relative of the tomato and potato. This light fruit is mainly grown in South and Central America and is available almost all year round. It is nothing more than an edible version of decorative "Chinese lanterns". A winged crinoline of withered petals rises to reveal a matte golden berry underneath. Sweet and sour, with a slight bitterness and slightly reminiscent of strawberries in taste, the pulp is full of tiny grains. The main advantage of physalis is that it is a wonderful source of vitamin C.

Cherimoya. This fruit often grows in the shape of a heart, with a smooth green surface similar to a closed pinecone. If you break such a cone in half, then inside you will find a white pulp with a pear flavor and inedible black seeds. It is most convenient to eat this pulp with a spoon directly from the shell, or you can cut it into a punch of sweet white wine.

The term "fruit" appeared in 1705 and since then means edible or inedible fruits of trees, shrubs (earlier, all plant fruits were called vegetables). The product is one of the main components of the human diet, since, depending on the variety, it contains many vitamins and microelements. According to rough estimates, there are a little more than 2,000 fruits on the planet.

Apricot

A small tree or large shrub with a wide round crown. Very elegant are its reddish-brown or brown-olive, shiny, bare shoots, often in places (but not entirely) covered with a grayish film, 2-3 buds nearby. Very decorative at the time of flowering, decorated with numerous large white or pale pink flowers, with dark red recurved sepals. No less beautiful is the apricot at the time of fruiting, decorated with velvety-pubescent, often with a blush, sweet, rounded fruits with a longitudinal groove up to 3 cm in diameter. The tree loves light and tolerates drought well, living up to 50 years or more.

Avocado

Interest in avocados has been steadily growing in recent years, but still few people know that there are varieties whose fruits are more like a bottle gourd, there are black, pimply, oval and huge spherical avocados. Moreover, some of these varieties differ three times from each other in a number of important indicators of chemical composition. Nevertheless, with the help of properly selected varieties, people in different parts of the world take care of their skin condition, hair health, treat atherosclerosis, relieve arthritis symptoms and normalize the functioning of the nervous system.

cherry plum

Strongly prickly branched multi-stem trees, sometimes a shrub, with thin brownish-green shoots, 3-10 meters high. Cherry plum flowers are white or pink, solitary. Blooms in early May. Cherry plum fruits ripen in August-September. Excellent honey plant and rootstock for plums.

A pineapple

Everyone knows that sweet ripe pineapple is added to salads, yogurts and pies. Fewer people know that pineapples can be fermented and boiled as cabbage soup. Even fewer have heard that pineapple leaves are used to produce a light and durable leather substitute, new types of fabric, nanofiber, which has become an alternative to plastic. And very few people know that scientists today, with the help of the bromelain enzyme contained in pineapple, are finding new ways to treat respiratory diseases, angina pectoris, ischemia, and are also actively exploring the potential of the enzyme in the fight against cancer cells.

Annona (guanabana)

The tree in natural conditions reaches 6 m in height, in the room it is much lower. Unlike some other annonas, this is an evergreen tree. The leaves are oval or oblong, glossy, leathery, dark green, up to 15 cm long. They have a slightly spicy smell, especially noticeable when rubbed. The flowers are fragrant, large (up to 4.5 cm in diameter), consist of three yellow-green fleshy outer petals and three pale yellow inner petals, can appear in different places - on the trunk, branches and small twigs. Flowers never fully open. Guanabana fruits are oval or heart-shaped, often irregular in shape, up to 30 cm in length, 15 cm in diameter and weighing up to 3 kg, dark green, turning yellow-green when ripe.

Orange

There are many legends about the beneficial properties of an orange, some of which, however, are not confirmed by anything. For example, some believe that an orange breaks all records for the content of vitamin C, although in fact it does not stand out among other citrus fruits in this parameter. Others believe that orange fruits (or freshly squeezed juice) can effectively burn fat and provide relief from extra pounds in diets. This is also not entirely true.

Banana

Bananas have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-allergic properties. With the help of banana components (dopamine, serotonin, adrenaline and noradrenaline), atherosclerosis, hypertension are treated, liver enzyme activity is increased, convulsions are relieved, and small doses of banana increase the quality and quantity of sperm. The main thing is not to abuse the banana diet, so as not to get the opposite effect, and also not to provoke problems with excess weight and varicose veins.

Bergamot

Bergamot is a hybrid species of an artificially bred plant of the genus Citrus. The plant was obtained by crossing orange and citron. The skin of bergamot contains valuable essential oils used in the cosmetic and perfume industries, as well as in medicine.

Grapefruit

grapefruit (English) grape and fruits- grapes and fruit) - a citrus yellow-orange fruit that grows in subtropical climatic latitudes. Grapefruit grows on an evergreen tree of the same name, reaching a height of 13-15 m. A ripe fruit in diameter is no more than 15 cm. In appearance, grapefruit is most similar to an orange, but its flesh is more acidic, and the inner white veins are bitter. Many scientists believe that the grapefruit originated in India as a natural hybridization of the pomelo and the orange.

Pear

This is a fruit plant with a multi-thousand-year history of cultivation, which almost all this time is fighting for the right to be no worse than its close relative - an apple. And the pear is really no worse. Potassium, antioxidants, coarse dietary fiber, less fruit acids, fiber-related “light” sugars and other beneficial substances make this fruit both tasty and healthy, and in some cases medicinal. Experimentally proven, for example, the ability of pears to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and prevent strokes.

Guava

A small evergreen tree up to 3-4 m high, belongs to the myrtle family, tolerates drought well. Blooms once or twice a year. It gives one main crop - up to 100 kg per tree and 2-4 additional, much smaller crops. Guava matures ninety to one hundred and fifty days after flowering. The shape and size of the fruit is extremely variable. In appearance, the guava looks like a bumpy green or yellow apple. Guava fruits are round and pear-shaped, with a bright yellow, reddish or green thin skin. The mass of fruits of cultivated varieties is from 70 to 160 g, the length of the fruit is from 4 to 6.5 cm, the diameter is 4.8-7.2 cm. which disappears in mature fruit.

Jackfruit

A plant of the mulberry family, a close relative of the breadfruit tree. Jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh. Jackfruit fruits are the largest edible fruits growing on trees: 20-90 cm long and up to 20 cm in diameter, they weigh up to 34 kg. Their thick skin is covered with numerous cone-shaped protrusions. Young fruits are green, when ripe they become green-yellow or brown-yellow and when tapped they make a hollow sound (immature fruits are deaf). Inside, the fruit is divided into large lobes containing yellow, fragrant, sweet pulp, consisting of juicy soft fibers. Each slice contains one fairly large oblong white seed 2-3 cm long. The cut jackfruit fruit has a pleasant specific smell, slightly reminiscent of a banana and pineapple.

dragon fruit (pitahaya)

An extraordinary fruit. Currently, it is grown in southern Mexico, in some countries of Central and South America, in Vietnam, as well as in Israel (in the Negev desert). Depending on the species, the size of the pitahaya fruit, the color of the pulp (white, pink, purple), the color of the skin (from yellow to orange, from red to purple) and the surface texture of the fruit (with small outgrowths, with thin colored scales) vary. The pulp of the dragon fruit fruit is always filled with small black seeds, which are customary to clean out.

durian

Durian has such a disgusting smell that you are unlikely to be allowed into a public place with it. However, if you overcome disgust or just close your nose and taste the juicy pulp, you will immediately understand where the concept of the king of fruits came from.

carambola

Evergreen, slow-growing tree 5 m high with drooping branches and a dense, highly branched, rounded crown or shrub. The leaves are soft, dark green, smooth on top and covered with whitish pubescence below. The leaves are sensitive to light and cluster together at night. The flowers are small pink or purple-red. Carambola fruits are fleshy, crispy and juicy, slightly spicy, with massive ribbed outgrowths, ranging in size from a chicken egg to a large orange. Ripe fruits of carambola are amber-yellow or golden-yellow. They are unusual in shape - they look like a ribbed airship.

Kiwi

The herbaceous vine Actinidia sinensis and its fruits are berries with green flesh and brown skin covered with small hairs. The history of kiwi is very unusual. The birthplace of the creeper with the name mihutao, which became the progenitor of kiwi, is China.

clementines

clementine or Citrus clementina is one of the varieties of tangero. It is a hybrid of orange and tangerine. It was created back in 1902 by Father Klemen, who was not only a priest, but also a wonderful breeder. The shape of the fruit is the same as that of the mandarin, but they are much sweeter.

Kumquat

whale. golden orange
Yellow-orange tropical fruit of the citrus family of an evergreen plant. This fruit has other names - kinkan and fortunella. Outwardly, the kumquat looks like a very small oval orange. In length, it reaches a maximum of 5 cm, and in width - 4 cm. The fruit is consumed completely with the peel. The taste of the fruit is very close to sour tangerine, but the peel has a sweet-tart taste. The kumquat is native to southern China.

Lime

Lime is the fruit of a plant in the citrus family native to India, genetically similar to lemon.
Lime is a small tree or bush from 1.5 to 5.0 m high. The crown is dense, the branches are covered with short spines. Inflorescences are axillary, with 1-7 flowers, remontant flowering. Lime fruits are small - 3.5-6 cm in diameter, ovoid, lime flesh is greenish, juicy, very sour. The peel is green, yellowish-green or yellow, very thin when fully ripe.

Lemon

Although lemon is popularly considered the champion in the amount of vitamin C, in fact, in terms of the content of ascorbic acid, it does not stand out among other citrus fruits and even lags behind some of its “brothers”. But that doesn't make it useless. Traditional medicine includes lemon in prescriptions for "thousands of diseases": from seborrhea and arthritis, to constipation and tuberculosis. And scientific research is aimed at using lemon potential in therapy to restore liver function, reduce "bad" cholesterol and blood pressure.

Lychee

lat. Litchi chinensis- Chinese plum
A small sweet and sour fruit covered with a crusty skin. The fruit grows on evergreen tropical trees, the height of which reaches 10-30 meters. Homeland is China. The fruit has an oval or round shape with a diameter of 2.5-4 cm. The ripened fruit has a dense red skin with a large number of sharp tubercles. Only the pulp of the fruit is used for food, which has a jelly-like structure, and in color and taste resembles peeled white grapes. Inside the pulp is an oval brown bone. The main harvest of lychee occurs in May-June.

Longan (Lam Yai)

The fruit of an evergreen longan tree native to China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia.
The juicy flesh of the longan has a sweet, very fragrant, nephelium-like taste with a peculiar tinge. The color of the hard, inedible outer shell of the fruit varies from mottled yellowish to reddish. Like the Chinese lychee, the longan fruit contains a hard, dark red or black seed.

Mango

The evergreen mango tree has a height of 10 - 45 m, the crown of the tree reaches a radius of 10 m.
New leaves grow yellowish-pink, but quickly turn dark green. The flowers are white to pink, after opening they have an aroma similar to that of lilies. Ripe mango fruits hang on long stems and weigh up to 2 kg. The skin of a mango is thin, smooth, green, yellow or red depending on the degree of maturity (combination of all three colors is often found). The pulp of a mango can be soft or fibrous, also depending on the maturity of the fruit, it surrounds a large, hard, flat bone.

Mangosteen

Tall evergreen tree up to 25 m high with a pyramidal crown and black-brown bark. The leaves are oval-oblong, dark green above and yellow-green below, 9 - 25 cm long and 4.5 - 10 cm wide. Young leaves are pink. Flowers with fleshy green petals with red spots. The mangosteen fruit is round, 3.4 - 7.5 cm in diameter, covered on top with a thick (up to 1 cm) burgundy-violet inedible skin containing sticky coloring latex, under which there are 4-8 segments of white edible pulp with seeds tightly adjacent to it . Mangosteen bears fruit late - the first fruits on trees for 9-20 years of life.

Mandarin

There are many myths about mandarin. Many have probably heard that more than 4 fruits a day cannot be eaten? This is an exaggeration - there is no common table for all indicating the dangerous amount of this citrus. They also say that green leaves on a tangerine are a sign of its special freshness, that the oranger the peel, the sweeter the fruit, that the naringin contained in the zest directly burns fats, and that citruses in general and tangerines in particular are hardly the best source of vitamin C. All this is also not entirely true. But mandarin has properties that have long been in demand in folk medicine, which make it a promising product in the fight against some serious diseases.

passion fruit

An ancient tropical crop of the genus Passiflora that produces yellow or dark purple oval fruits (when ripe) growing on vines. Passion fruit is grown for its juice, which is often added to other fruit juices for flavor. Passionfruit fruits are yellow-orange or dark purple fruits, oval in shape and about 6-12 cm in size. Fruits with smooth, shiny skin are preferred, but sweeter with rough, cracked skin.

medlar

tour. musmula
This is a whole genus of plants, which includes almost 30 species. However, there are two main cultivated types of medlar: German and Japanese. The German medlar has been known to mankind for more than 1000 years BC. In the territories of Ancient Babylon, Mesopotamia, it was freely traded, it was taken on ships to the west to Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. It was from here that the medlar came to European lands. To date, the German medlar grows in the Balkans, Asia Minor, the Crimean Mountains, Transcaucasia, Armenia, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Greece and northern Iran. The tree is quite finicky and grows well only in dry, sunny places and on slightly acidic soil.

Nectarine

A fruit that is a peach with a smooth skin. Despite the widespread myth, nectarine is obtained by selection or simple mutation of peaches and is not a peach-plum hybrid.
This classic example of a bud mutation occurs when peach trees self-pollinate. Nectarines sometimes appear on peach trees, and peaches on nectarine trees. Nectarines are first mentioned in 1616 in England.

Papaya

A low, slender tree with a thin, branchless trunk 5-10 meters high, crowned with an umbrella of palmately dissected leaves on long petioles. Papaya leaves are large, 50-70 centimeters in diameter. The flowers develop in the axils of the petioles, turning into large fruits, 10-30 cm in diameter and 15-45 cm long. Ripe papaya fruits are soft and have a color from amber to yellow.

Peach

A tree of the Rosaceae family, has a subgenus of almonds. It differs from almonds only in fruits. The leaves are lanceolate with a serrated edge and almost sessile, appearing before the development of the leaves, pink flowers. The fruit is a peach, spherical, with a groove on one side, usually velvety. The peach pit is wrinkly furrowed and punctately dimpled.

pomelo

English pomelo
Citrus fruits of the evergreen tree of the same name. The peel of the fruit is quite thick, and the slices are large, separated by hard white partitions, bitter in taste. The color of a ripe pomelo can vary from light green to yellow-pink. The pink color usually acquires only one side, which during ripening was turned to the sun. The fruit is the champion among citrus fruits. Its diameter can be 30 cm, and its weight can reach 10 kg. The taste of pomelo is very close to grapefruit, but the pulp is not so juicy and when peeled, the inner membranes are more easily separated from the edible part.

Pomeranian

It is also called Chinotto or Bigaradia - it is a woody evergreen plant belonging to the Rut family, a species of the genus Citrus. It is considered a hybrid of pomelo and mandarin. When fresh, the orange is considered inedible, and it is valued mainly because of the zest. The peel is quite easily separated from the fruit, you just need to cut it into 4 parts. The zest of oranges is used to make desserts. It is also often added to ice cream. For such a dessert, you need to take orange zest and juice, cream and sugar. All this must be beaten with a mixer and sent to freeze.