Walk on the wild side with funky fruits
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The saying goes “variety is the spice of life” and boy, are they not kidding when it comes to fruits. When we look beyond bananas, apples, and oranges, we’ll find there is a wide world of weird and wonderful fruit just waiting to be discovered. These exotic and unique-looking produce may not be found in all grocery stores but they often are more widely available at Asian, Latin and gourmet supermarkets or from online specialty produce purveyors.
Most of these exclusive fruits are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world such as Southeast Asia, New Zealand and South America but some are now grown in warm regions of other countries, including the United States.
The curious appearance of these specialty fruits may be one reason why they have taken off in sales recently. Exotic fruit is among six of the top 10 fastest growing categories in grocery stores, according to a 2015 Nielson study. There is a desire to not only eat healthier among consumers but also to try out something different. Restaurant chefs have been working on ways to infuse unexpected and unique flavors into dishes and apparently, consumers love it.
So, if you dare, take a walk on the wild side and try out an exotic fruit – it’ll bring more gusto and nutritional value into your everyday choices.
Get started with these 10 exotic and unique fruits:
1. Lulo – Resembling an orange and also known as “Naranjilla” or “little orange”, this fruit tastes between a pineapple and a lemon but looks like a green tomato on the inside. It’s native to Colombia and to the Andes mountains in South America and can be eaten raw or cooked. Lulo fruit is loaded with vitamins C, B, and A along with iron, phosphorus, beta carotene, magnesium and calcium. Use it alone or add to pies, jams, jelly or turn into juice or fruit wine.
2. Cactus Fig – You may think you just picked up an avocado due to its shape but it’s bright green exterior and creamy yellow interior will give it away. Low in calories (only 40!), sodium and cholesterol free, this exotic fruit has been studied for possibly helping to control blood sugar and symptoms associated with hangovers. Historically, the cactus fig was used by the Spanish to treat sailors with scurvy due to its high vitamin C content. Originating from Colombia, the juice of the cactus fig has been made into alcoholic beverages in Mexico and Malta.
3. Cherimoya – Here is another tropical fruit from the forests of the Central Andean Mountains. A small tree called Annona produces this irregularly shaped oval fruit with a leathery dark-green exterior. This sweet tasting fruit offers a host of nutritional gems. It contains no saturated fat or cholesterol, has 3 grams of fiber and boasts anitoxidants that may have anti-cancer properties. It’s high in vitamin C and is a good source of B-complex vitamins, potassium and is low in sodium.
4. Physalis – Like tomatoes, physalis are from the nightshade family with many species called groundcherries. They have a flavor similar to strawberries or pineapple but the texture is like a firm tomato. Native to subtropical regions of the world, this fruit is predominately found in Mexico. Physalis are abundant in Vitamin C having two times the amount as lemons and vitamin A important for a strong immune system, healthy eyes and skin. The fiber content will provide a full feeling helping to satisfy hunger. Physalis can be eaten raw, used in salads, made into fruit preserves or dried.
5. Jaboticaba – This unusual fruit grows directly on the trunk of the Brazilian Grape tree –large clusters of purple colored grape-like looking fruit. Native to South America, this fruit was introduced to California in 1904. Low in calories, fat and carbohydrate, it is rich in vitamin C, E, niacin, folic acid and high in the minerals calcium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc. Its high fiber content can prevent constipation and this fruit is a rich source of many antioxidants such as anthocyanins and ellagic acid. These powerful antioxidants can help prevent early aging by decreasing wrinkles and dark spots, increases the production of collagen, promotes healthy hair by decreasing hair loss, has anti-cancer properties, reduces risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes and its high content of calcium is good for bones and teeth.
6. Rambutan – This fruit comes from the southeast Asian countries of Indonesia and Malaysia. The Rambutan tree produces this hairy like fruit grown in clusters and is usually red in color but can also be yellow or orange. The seeds inside the fruit are poisonous but once cooked, they are safe to eat. Tasting similar to a grape, a 100 gram serving provides about 40 percent of the daily recommendation of vitamin C and it’s also a good source of the mineral iron with anywhere from 13.8 to 31.2 percent of the daily recommendation.
7. Dragon Fruit – Also known as pitaya fruit, this colorful plant is a type of cactus and is grown in Southeast Asia, Mexico, Central and South America and Israel. It’s leathery skin can come in three types: red-skinned fruit with white flesh, red-skinned fruit with red flesh, and yellow-skinned fruit with white flesh. It’s sweet, crunchy taste resembles a cross between a kiwi and a pear. This fruit provides plenty of vitamin C, fiber, phosphorus, calcium and antioxidants and has been known to help control levels of blood glucose in type 2 diabetes.
8. Horned Melon – This exotic oval-shaped fruit, native to southern Africa, literally has little horns protruding from its bright yellow exterior. Inside, the flesh is lime green with a jelly like texture and a grassy smell. Rich in the anti-oxidant, a-tocopherol, also known as Vitamin E, this fruit is beneficial for skin, heart, muscles, nerves and red blood cells. The lime green pigment found inside contains beta carotene which supports a strong immune system and increases skin and eye health. Biting into a horned melon will give a refreshing taste combination of lime, banana and cucumber.
9. Mangosteen – Not to be confused with a mango (no relation) this fruit with a white, juicy, segmented flesh is more similar to a tangerine. It’s sweet tart flavor will melt in your mouth but it will take some effort getting to the inside due to its hard, tough rind that is difficult to open. But it is well worth the effort as mangosteens are low in calories with no fat or cholesterol and is a valuable source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant.
10. Jackfruit – A relative of the breadfruit and fig, jackfruit is the world’s largest fruit – it can weigh up to 100 pounds. Open up the inside and you’ll find many edible starchy seeds encased in irregular clumps of yellow flesh that can be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or pickled. This fruit has even been used as a meat replacement for vegetarian versions of foods such as tacos and pulled pork. It is one of the rare fruits rich in B-vitamins containing outstanding amounts of vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), niacin, riboflavin, and folic acid. It is also a good source of potassium, magnesium, and manganese.