There's a shocking number of unusual tropical fruits you've probably never even heard of,
much less tried.
But you absolutely should.
Whether you're browsing a specialty grocery store or planning a trip abroad, these are
the unusual tropical fruits you need to try before you die.
Just for a moment, imagine drinking a glass of champagne or sparkling wine.
You know that bubbly, effervescent quality, the one that tickles your nose and tongue?
That's actually what you'll taste if you try a babaco.
It's so well-known for that fizz that it's also called the champagne fruit.
Pretty cool, right?
Sadly, this one might be tough to find.
The Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity says that even though it's a versatile fruit
that's brilliant in drinks, jams, and sweets, it's susceptible to pests and disease.
That means a lot of farmers in the babaco's native region, high in the Andes and in Ecuador,
have given up farming it.
Lack of transportation in the Amazon forests where it grows best is also a problem, but
if you happen to be in the area during Corpus Christi festivals, be sure to seek out the
pastries traditionally made with this native fruit.
It's probably safe to call durian the most polarizing fruit on the planet.
Here's the thing, while the Smithsonian says that scientists have only recently discovered
what chemicals the fruit contains that give it that distinctive smell, which writer Richard
Sterling describes as, quote, "turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock", it's
still been incredibly popular for ages.
It's even rumored to be an aphrodisiac.
But that's not why you should try it, you should try it because some people love the
taste of it.
One 17th century missionary claimed,
"[It] exceeds in delicacy of taste of all our best European fruits, and none of ours
can approach it."
while at the same time, The Oxford Companion to Food described it more with words like
"sewage" and "stale vomit."
Others claim that it's one of those things that you come to like, but let's be honest:
you're intrigued, right?
And that's why you need to try it, next time you find yourself in South Asia, or when you
spot it in any of the places it's actually allowed.
Ackee is native to West Africa, but you don't have to go that far to try it.
In fact, you just have to go a stone's throw from the continental U.S. to visit the place
that does it best: Jamaica.
And this is one fruit that you definitely need to try after someone knowledgeable has
made it for you.
The pulp of the ackee fruit contains a poison that disappears only when the fruit is completely
ripe.
It's so dangerous that the FDA banned it outright for a long time, and even now, the only ackee
you can get in the States is canned or frozen.
But if you want the real thing, head south and try Jamaica's national dish.
You can get ackee and saltfish across the country, and while there are a number of variations,
the idea is the same no matter where you're ordering.
It's the very embodiment of an entire culture, and that's why you need to try it, just don't
pick one off a tree.
"Hi, I'm Hank.
I will take you to the one tree that's working this year."
If you're planning that Hawaiian vacation you've been dreaming of for years, here's
something to add to your must-see, must-try list: breadfruit.
It's been a longtime staple on menus and in Hawaiian diets, and it's a weird thing that
you can eat while it's unripe (and tastes a bit like an artichoke) or when it's ripe
(when it's sort of like a potato).
Once it gets a little softer, then it turns into something you'd have for dessert.
No matter how it's prepared, it's high in protein and nutrients, and that means it's
perfect for spreading to tropical areas where food is scarce.
Trees are productive for generations, and bear up to 250 fruits each and every year.
So try one, an increase in demand can only be a good thing, and who knows: when you head
off island-hopping across the Pacific, you might just come across some new varieties
to try.
Now let's hop over to Indonesia.
If you happen to be lucky enough to vacation in Bali, you'll need to sample one of the
favorite snacks of the local people.
It's called salak, or snakefruit, and don't let that other name discourage you.
While it's a frequent ingredient in things like spreads or jams, it's often just eaten
raw, too.
It'll take some work, you'll have to crack it open and peel off the skin that surrounds
the center, but once you get the hang of it, you'll find yourself enjoying a spongy bite
of fruit that's highly acidic, very citrusy, and dry in the same way a fine wine can be
dry.
The spiky salak bushes might look like something out of a bygone, prehistoric era, but competitions
between the islands, each claiming they grow the best salak, are very much the stuff of
the 21st century.
Rambutans are another tropical fruit that not only thrive in the hot climates of Indonesia
and Malaysia, but they also look like something out of a sci-fi movie, or something you'd
be more likely to find crawling across the sea floor.
But they're not only delicious, they're easy to eat, too, you can peel the skin off with
your bare hands, and dig in to the sweet, creamy middle.
Healthline says they're also packed with nutritional benefits, and that's reason enough to give
this one a try, you might just find it's your new go-to when you're suffering from a little
indigestion or constipation.
Because around half of the fiber in a rambutan is insoluble, it can't be digested, and that
means it not only passes right through your system, but it keeps everything else moving
on through, too.
So, if you're heading into Southeast Asia on vacation and having a touch of trouble
adjusting to a different diet, grab a rambutan, it won't do you wrong.
Soursop is a funny-sounding fruit that you'll love, especially if you already know you like
mango and pineapple, because it's got a bit of both of those flavors to it.
You can definitely just crack one open and grab a spoon.
An easy-to-eat, delicious tropical fruit?
Count us in!
Even better, you'll also find that it gets turned into frozen drinks and ice cream a
lot, so if you happen to be in the hot, tropical areas of the Americas, well, definitely go
for the ice cream.
"Wow, it's a little early for ice cream, don't you think?"
"It's never too early for ice cream, Jim.
But we didn't have any ice cream, so this is mayonnaise and black olives."
"Oh!"
And keep an eye out for this one domestically, too.
According to Healthline, it's already been confirmed that this is high in antioxidants
and has antibacterial properties, and some studies suggest that it might just be a powerful
tool in the fight against cancer, although much, much more needs to be done in that area
of study.
If you've never been outside of the U.S., there's a good chance you've never had a mangosteen.
That's because it's not just nearly impossible to grow in the States, but it's also almost
impossible to get them here for a whole bunch of reasons.
According to National Geographic, the laundry list of problems is a long one: crop yield
is uncertain, a cold snap will ruin an entire harvest, and they only ripen on the tree,
so they need to be picked ripe, and that poses a massive headache for anyone trying to ship
them.
Oh, and when they do get imported from areas like Southeast Asia, they need to be irradiated
first to make sure they're not carrying pests.
That all impacts the taste and the price, and that means finding them in the States
is a challenge.
Although Whole Foods might come through for you, as they've started working with growers
in Puerto Rico.
But if you happen to be in a place where you can pluck one off the tree and try it, do
it!
It's the fruit they say caused Queen Victoria to offer a knighthood to anyone who brought
her one, after all.
And while that's not precisely true, the rumor's enough to illustrate just how delicious these
are.
If you're lucky enough to take everyone's dream vacation and head to Hawaii or the Pacific
islands, you'll need to pick up a hala fruit.
You'll definitely know it when you see it: it's weird and spiky on the outside, and when
you open it, it looks sort of like an exploding star.
It's delicious, too, the freshly-squeezed juice has a strangely thick consistency, but
tastes a bit like mango mixed with sugar cane.
Yes, please.
By picking up these fruits, you're not just trying something neat, you're helping support
a massive industry.
The hala trees are used for everything from dye to medicine, and it's even used to make
leis.
Lanzones are a tropical fruit native to the Philippines, and they have a sweet-and-sour
taste that, well, if you love Sour Patch Kids, you'll love these.
They're not just a native fruit, either, they're so important that they've made it into Filipino
folklore.
According to the oft-told tales, it's said that lanzones were originally poisonous.
Drought and famine came, and even as the people starved, they were still afraid to eat the
fruit.
Until, that is, a dancing lady came to town.
She danced and sang, and ate the fruit, and didn't die.
The once-forbidden fruit saved the town, and entered into lore and legend.
There's still an annual lanzones festival held every October on the island of Camiguin,
and if you truly want to experience a country and its people, you'll have to experience
their food.
In its native habitat, the jackfruit can be found across India, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean,
South America, and into Mexico.
But you might not have to go that far to find it, check your favorite Asian import shop,
or it might even be on the shelves of your local, trendy grocery store.
Why?
Because more and more people are discovering that it's an almost eerie substitute for chicken
and pork.
For real!
Once the jackfruit is ripe, it gets much sweeter and it's more suitable for desserts.
But while it's still unripe, it's firm and can be chopped, shredded, and used in recipes
from tacos and quesadillas to pulled "pork"-style sandwiches.
You're going to be seeing more and more jackfruit in the future, so it's definitely something
you're going to want to try, even if you're not a vegetarian.
There are a lot of tropical fruits that look pretty weird, and Buddha's hand, which is
also hilariously named "fingered citron", definitely looks weird, but you need to try
it.
It's grown in China and Japan, and you'll find it during the celebrations that welcome
in the new year.
It's been long believed to symbolize things like wealth, happiness, and longevity, and
we could all do with a little bit of good luck at the start of every year.
You'll commonly find it candied, turned into marmalade, flavoring drinks, and even zested
onto pretty much anything that calls for zest!
Plus, it smells divine, you can even use it to dab on your skin in lieu of perfume or
cologne, and hey, maybe that'll help you carry some of that good fortune with you!
This particular fruit native to the tropical regions in Central America, the Caribbean,
and Southeast Asia gets its name from the distinctive, star-like shape it takes when
it's sliced.
It's otherwise known as the carambola and either way, it's pretty darn tasty.
The yellow ones, that is, the green ones are super sour.
And this is one that you might just find popping up in your grocery store, when you do, pick
it up!
It comes with a ton of health benefits: it's an anti-inflammatory, high in things like
potassium and vitamin C, and helps regulate digestion and blood sugar, all while being
low in calories.
There's a word of warning that comes with this one, though.
If you or anyone in your family suffers from kidney disease, give this a miss, the National
Kidney Foundation notes that it contains a toxin that those with kidney issues can't
process.
The cherimoya doesn't look like much, but that just goes to show that looks can be deceiving.
Inside that weird, scaly exterior, a skin that looks more like a dragon's egg than a
tropical fruit, is a super creamy, super sweet-tasting, almost custardy flesh.
"Custardy" is actually pretty accurate, it's often served just chilled then sliced open,
and in some places, it's called the custard apple.
As if the prospect of trying a bit of delicious, all-natural, tropical custard isn't enough,
you should also know they're loaded with all kinds of other goodness, like antioxidants,
mood-boosting vitamins, and nutrients that help regulate blood pressure and digestion.
All in a tasty dessert.
Best of all, you might not even have to leave the country for this one.
If you're on the West Coast, the LA Times says you may have seen these occasionally
popping up in a grocery store or on restaurant menus.
They're thought to have originated in South America, and they're a little weird in that
they're a tropical fruit that thrives at high altitudes, so at the very least, keep an eye
out when you take your dream holiday to Peru.
"You ate that whole thing?"
"A dog took it."
Off to Australia, the Amazon rainforests, or South America?
Be sure to try an achacha, and not just because it's fun to say!
The name is taken from a Guarani word that means "honey kiss," and when you try it, you'll
know why.
And here's a bonus: it's not just easy to eat, just slice the skin and squeeze out the
edible part, it's also much lower in sugar than other fruits.
You wouldn't know it, though.
You'll probably find restaurants serving this as a palate cleanser between courses, but
it's also sweet enough to be a dessert all on its own.
And if you happen to see sparkling wine offered with a flavoring of achacha, definitely try
that!
It's not just delicious, but you'll get your sweet fix without the guilt of eating a ton
of sugar, and that's a win.
The jabuticaba is also called the Brazilian grape tree, and it's really weird.
You know how most fruits hang from branches?
Not so much with this one; the "grapes" on this tree grow on the trunk, and look like
some kind of weird, unnatural...things.
They're so weird, that alone makes them worth trying.
It's thought these trees evolved in this particular way to make their fruits more accessible to
animals who aren't great at climbing, tortoises in particular like munching on these strange
little things.
You'll be able to find them across Brazil, Peru, Chile, and Argentina, and you'll also
be able to pick up some in jam form to bring home.
Bonus?
Anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, and anti-cancer compounds have been found in the fruit, so
you just might want to stock up!
There's a good chance that if you haven't had lychee, you've had something flavored
by it.
Longan is very similar, and there's a long-running debate over which is better.
Longan is native to the tropical regions of Asia, and you'll be able to find them in forms
from fresh and canned to dried.
They're described as tasting slightly musky, and while that might not seem like a word
you'd want associated with your fruit, give them a try.
At least you'll be able to weigh in on the lychee versus longan debate.
There's another bonus to this one, too, it's high in folate, which is essential for women
who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
It's also popular as a natural remedy for things like depression and fatigue, and it's
also thought to boost the immune system..."musky" or not.
Gac is a fruit native to Vietnam, and while it looks pretty cool, the taste is, well,
rather disappointing.
You should still try it, though, although not entirely in its original form.
The idea of a very...intestinal-looking inner pulp and slimy seed-sack...yeah, it's better
not to even think about that.
The gac is bright red, and while that's the same color that makes it a little unappetizing,
it's also the reason it's used in making the red sticky rice often served during special
occasions.
It's thought to be good luck, and we could all use a little more of that.
It's also high in beta carotene, but if you're even the least bit squeamish, you'll just
be better off if you let someone else do all the prep work on this one.
The pods of a tamarind might look like the cross between a peanut and some kind of bean,
but they really are a fruit, one that's native to Africa, and now found in tropical regions
across Asia and Mexico.
It's technically a leguminous tree, and the fruit matures inside pods.
They can be eaten fresh or dried, and it's very, very strong, so if you order some tamarind
sauce or chutney along with your meal, give it a taste before you put it on anything.
And here's good news for anyone who's traveling to any of those aforementioned areas and might
have trouble adjusting to a completely different sort of diet, order a drink made from tamarind,
and you'll have yourself an age-old remedy for whatever gastrointestinal distress ails
you.
Are you a sci-fi fan?
More specifically, are you a Trekkie?
That's reason enough to give a kiwano a try, or, better yet, serve it at your next sci-fi-inspired
party.
The kiwano looks weird, so weird, in fact, that it doubled as a "Golana melon" on an
episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Fortunately for anyone looking to add an incredibly weird fruit to the list of things they've
tried, they come from a little closer to home, across Africa, in fact, although you don't
want to try the wild ones.
They can sometimes contain bitter toxins, but pick up a commercially grown one, and
well, while it's not going to be bitter, it's still pretty alien inside.
It's...there's no great way to say this, so we'll call it "gelatinous."
While it starts out tasting a bit like a cucumber, it gets more citrusy as it ripens.
It's also called an African horned cucumber or a melano, but either way, you need to try
it!
For science!
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