Exotic fruits often come from distant countries or from a climate that’s very different than the one we’re used to. For that reason, tasting the sort of fruit is a solution to travel through taste, smell, and color.
Some are already well-known all over the world, equivalent to pineapple, coconut, or avocado. Alternatively, there are other more local varieties with curious shapes and textures.
Do you need to know a few of them, learn how to eat them, and what properties or nutrients they supply? We inform you more about them below!
10 curious and exotic fruits
As we have now just seen, the term exotic fruits is used to designate all those fruits that usually are not often common within the countries where we live.
Many come from tropical and subtropical countries, since the sort of climate favors the expansion of a lot of different species and varieties.
A number of a long time ago, they might only be consumed locally. For that reason, it was the local population and travelers who were delighted with all of the nuances and surprises that exotic fruits can offer.
Today, nevertheless, because of increased demand and the expansion of trade, it’s more common to seek out them in markets in additional countries. So possibly you may have the chance to acknowledge and taste a number of the 10 specimens that we’re going to inform you about below!
1. Carambola
Native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, it’s one of the vital beautiful exotic fruits we are able to find. Its fruit is small, oval-shaped, and yellow in color.
It has a sour to sweet taste and a firm, crunchy texture. It may well be eaten whole, although, once cut, it has a pleasant star shape. This makes it an ideal decorative element in green salads, garnishes, or fruit salads.
Because of its carotene content, it’s a really suitable fruit for skin health. As suggested by Zerres and Stahl, this compound has the flexibility to care for its moisture content, elasticity, and texture.
Like this text? We expect you might also wish to read: Advantages of Yuzu: A Japanese Citrus Fruit Packed With Vitamin C
2. Exotic fruits: Jackfruit
Also generally known as jackfruit, it comes from Malaysia and India. In other Asian countries, equivalent to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, it’s consumed in abundance and has been a very important source of nutrition in times of scarcity.
The jackfruit tree produces very large fruits, which may weigh greater than 20 kilos.
The edible part is the pulp, which changes from white to orange because it ripens. It also acquires a sweeter flavor, which some relate to banana or mango.
However it’s because of its texture that the consumption of this specimen is booming. It has a consistent pulp and frays easily, so it’s been used lately as a meat substitute in vegetarian dishes.
3. Soursop
Soursop is a tree native to the Caribbean and Central America, but today, its cultivation has spread to other territories.
Its fruits are dark green, oval-shaped and have an acidic and fragrant pulp. It may well be consumed alone or utilized in preparations equivalent to smoothies, desserts, and ice cream.
In keeping with data published in Molecules, this fruit may also help to enhance diarrhea episodes. As well as, it’s also suitable for those affected by gastritis and gastric ulcers.
4. Mangosteen
Born from the Garcinia mangostana tree, that is one of the vital marketed exotic fruits as a dietary complement. It may well be present in the shape of juices and other sorts of beverages.
The presence of xanthones has put it within the highlight of scientists with the intention to develop latest drugs for chronic and degenerative diseases. This could be read in an article published in Food and Chemical Technology.
The fresh fruit has a medium size and its skin is purple. On the time of selecting it, the latter ought to be shiny, firm, and without many bruises.
To eat it, it’s cut in half with a serrated knife without splitting it completely. Thus, the skin could be removed and the white interior is exposed. Its segments separate like those of an orange and could be eaten alone or added to juices and smoothies.
5. Kiwano
This fruit comes from Africa and belongs to the identical family as cucumber and melon. In reality, it’s known by the names of horned cucumber or African melon.
When ripe it has green flesh with white seeds and its appearance is somewhat gelatinous. All parts of the melon are edible, although most individuals only eat the within.
As reported in Processes, the kiwano is interesting for the variety of minerals it provides: potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc (amongst others).
It may well be utilized in salads, fruit salads, or with yogurt. As well as, it’s also common to season it with a bit of sugar. Thus prepared, its flavor is paying homage to a mix of banana and kiwi. Care have to be taken when peeling it, as its exterior is roofed with small thorns.
Chances are you’ll also wish to read this text: Acidic and Semi-acidic Fruits: What Are They and What Are Their Effects?
6. Buddha’s hand
Certainly, Buddha’s hand is one of the vital curious exotic fruits in the marketplace. It’s quite a lot of citrus fruit that has the fruit separated into sections resembling the fingers of a hand.
Its use can also be different from that of most fruits, because it has almost no pulp. In China and Japan, it’s used to scent clothes or houses and is considered one of the standard offerings to Buddha.
It shares the dietary composition of other plants of the identical genus. As could be read within the Journal of Epidemiology, it could be helpful for our health, because it has been linked to a lower incidence of heart problems.
7. Pitaya
Known by the names dragon fruit or strawberry pear, this can be a very striking fruit, attributable to its vibrant red color. Nowadays, it’s quite easy to seek out it fresh or frozen in markets in several countries.
Its dietary composition stands out for the contribution of various antioxidant compounds, equivalent to vitamin C and polyphenols.
In keeping with the authors of an article published in Frontiers in Pharmacology diets wealthy in polyphenols may also help to scale back the chance of affected by certain diseases. These include cardiovascular problems, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, diabetes, and inflammatory pathologies.
The skin of the pitaya is kind of tough, but inside it hides a soft, sweet pulp filled with edible seeds. That is eaten with the assistance of a spoon (like kiwi or avocado), even though it’s also added to smoothies, fruit salads, and salads.
8. Rambutan
Native to Malaysia and Indonesia, it’s abundant in markets throughout Southeast Asia. It belongs to the identical family because the lychee, one other exotic fruit that’s somewhat higher known and in addition very healthy.
The rambutan is small, with a red, spiky outer skin and a white, creamy interior. It’s prepared in the identical way because the mangosteen and is eaten as a table fruit or in fruit salads. On this case, the seeds have to be removed.
It has a striking amount of antioxidants and could be considered a superb source of vitamin C (much like kiwi or orange).
As could be read within the page of the National Institutes of Health, this vitamin is vital to provide collagen, to enhance the absorption of iron, and for the conventional functioning of the immune system.
9. Exotic fruits: Kumquat
Hailing from China, the kumquat is a small fruit also generally known as a Chinese orange.
It could be enjoyed whole, because it’s the identical size as grapes and its skin is edible. Unlike other citrus fruits (a gaggle to which the kumquat also belongs ), the skin is relatively sweet, in contrast to the acidic interior.
At a dietary level, it stands out for its vitamin C, carotenes, pectins, and polyphenols. Because of all of those, it has a series of effects on the organism which might be helpful for cardiovascular health. In keeping with the authors Liu, Lou, et al:
- Regulation of the expression of anti-inflammatory markers.
- Protection of the artery wall.
- Decrease in blood pressure.
Chances are you’ll also like reading: Different Stages of Fruit: Characteristics and Advantages
10. Durian
In last place, we have now left this fruit that has earned the popularity of being considered one of the smelliest on the earth. It’s quite difficult to seek out outside of its region of origin, but a visit to Thailand, Malaysia, or Singapore is maybe price a bit of tasting.
This, yes, the experience may only be suitable for probably the most daring. Although there are numerous varieties with different nuances (from the sweetest to probably the most bitter) its smell is nearly unmistakable. A lot so, that it’s becoming common to ban their entry in public transport and a few hotels.
Did you understand any of those 10 exotic fruits?
It’s possible that you might have, since a few of them could be present in very distant points of their country of origin.
Consuming fruits every day has many health advantages. They’re light, diuretic, provide fiber and a fantastic amount of vitamins and minerals, amongst other nutrients.
Exotic fruits could be included among the many really helpful every day servings of this group. Nevertheless, it ought to be remembered that it’s advisable to decide on fruits which might be in season and grown locally or as near season as possible.
This doesn’t mean that you just cannot try kumquat, pitaya, jackfruit, or soursop. However it’s best to achieve this now and again and benefit from trips to taste them.
It would interest you…
