20 exotic fruits from around the world that you haven't heard of

Our world is full of unusual fruits that you may not even have known about. No matter how good your supermarket is, you will still find there only a small fraction of the selection of fruits that Mother Nature can offer you. After all, in different parts of the world you can find the strangest and most exotic delicacies, most of which you have probably never even heard of. They look extraordinary, and to try them is a real adventure.

"The Hand of the Buddha"

The palm citron, or, as it is also called, the "Buddha's hand", grows in China, India and Japan. This fruit is more sweet than sour, and it is often candied, canned, infused and used instead of lemon zest.

The fruit is often offered in temples in China as a symbol of good luck and longevity. In Japan, it is used as a decorative element and for scenting rooms and clothes.

Durian

This South Asian fruit is prickly on the outside, but soft and sweet on the inside, known for its unbearable smell, which is why it is banned in many public places in Singapore.

Longan

It is also called the "eye of the dragon". A small juicy fruit is eaten in China and is often added to soups, snacks, desserts and sweet and sour dishes. In Chinese medicine, longan has sedative properties.

Mangosteen

Mangosteen, another South Asian treat, is a favorite fresh dessert in the Malaysian archipelago. The pulp is often canned, although this fruit is still preferred to be eaten fresh.

Palmyra

Palmyra grows on palmyra palm, and it can often be seen in summer in India, Southeast Asia and Malaysia. The fruit is known for having small white grains inside it, soft and jelly-like when the fruits are still young.

Lukuma

This South American fruit is loved in Peru and Costa Rica. It is often eaten raw or used in desserts. Lukuma powder is often used as an additive and sweetener. Although the fruit itself is quite tasty, some consider it unpleasant, as it leaves a specific aftertaste.

Marang

Under the prickly peel of the marang there are sweet small seeds the size of grapes. If the fruit is cut, it should be eaten immediately within a few hours, as it quickly loses its taste and oxidizes.

Jackfruit

One of the most famous fruits that grows in the southeastern parts of Asia. Jackfruit has a fleshy, fibrous pulp, and it is eaten both fresh and as an additive to desserts and in spicy dishes.

Javanese apple

This Taiwanese fruit is elastic and crunchy, and it is eaten fresh or made into a tincture.

Tamarind

Tamarind grows in Africa, but is widely used in many countries. Sour fruits are used in various dishes of Indian and Asian cuisine. Tamarind drink is drunk in South American countries.

Lulo

Naranjillo, or lulo, looks like an orange from the outside, but inside it looks like a green tomato, while having a citrus taste. The fruit is very popular in Colombia and Ecuador, and it is often called the "golden fruit of the Andes" and "nectar of the gods".

Jambolan

Jambolan is a popular fruit that is used for making desserts in India. Often the fruits are eaten with salt. It is also used in Ayurvedic medicine.

Aki

Aki fruits grow in Jamaica, and they can be eaten raw when they are ripe. They are most often used as a snack in popular Caribbean dishes.

Breadfruit tree

This large fruit of the Pacific islands is cut into pieces and eaten fresh or fried and served as a side dish. The fruit has a starchy texture and aroma reminiscent of freshly baked bread.

Ziziphus

Varieties of jujube, ziziphus, or "Chinese date", grow in India, China and throughout Asia. When the fruits are slightly unripe, their flesh is white, crisp, juicy and sweet and sour, like a wild apple tree. Ripe fruits are not so crunchy and rather loose, wrinkled, and the flesh is porous and musky.

Canister

Canister is often called "egg fruit", and it has a sweet and soft pulp, which is used to make milkshakes, ice cream and sweet cream.

Puhala

This unusual sweet fruit is an important food source in Micronesia. The leaves of the tree are often used as a seasoning in sweet dishes, and the oil and flowers are used for medicinal purposes.

Black Sapota

Anyone who has tasted this fruit will say that it tastes very similar to chocolate pudding, only it has much less fat than real chocolate pudding, and 4 times more vitamin C than an average orange. The tropical fruit is a type of persimmon growing in Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia.

Akebi

Akebi is a very beautiful fruit that grows in the north of Japan. It has a white pulp filled with a lot of shiny black seeds inside, which is consumed as a fruit. At the same time, the purple pod is eaten as a vegetable.

Ashiot

The fruit itself is inedible, but the seeds and pulp are edible, and their taste resembles fresh pepper with a sweet hint of nutmeg. They are often used to make annatto, which is added to dishes to give flavor and as a food coloring.