| The list of exotic and tropical fruits is | | | | Mexico, Central and South America, and is now |
| ever-growing and lengthy, here are some key | | | | cultivated in China, the Phillippines, Israel, Taiwan, |
| facts about just a few! Durian Labelled the "king | | | | and many Southeast Asian countries. Only |
| of fruit," this spiky melon originally hails from the | | | | growing at night, the pitaya is also labelled "Queen |
| forests of Southeast Asia. Since Durian literally | | | | of the night." Guava Guavas are native to the |
| means "thorny fruit" in Malay, its spiky exterior | | | | Caribbean, Central and South Americas, and |
| makes it hard to attempt opening the fruit, as | | | | Mexico. They grow on trees with tropical shrubs |
| some consider it more dangerous to touch than | | | | and white flowers, and can be yellowish-green or |
| most cacti. The inside of a Durian consists of | | | | red in color. Both have a red juicy flesh on the |
| pods that are filled with a custard-like substance. | | | | inside that tastes sweet and flavorful, hence why |
| The smell can be strong to the point where some | | | | guavas are often particularly used in desserts. |
| find it intolerable, but a sign of a ripe Durian is a | | | | With a long list of cultivars, the guava fruit thrives |
| strong smell that isn't sour. According to | | | | in humid weather, according to the Purdue |
| Proscitech.com, "To choose a Durian, pick a fruit | | | | University Horitculture Department. Noted for its |
| which is comparatively light and who's stem | | | | strong odor, the guava has also been cooked and |
| appear big and solid. When shaking a good Durian, | | | | prepared in salads and main courses, in addition to |
| the seed should move." Durian lends itself well to | | | | desserts. Some eat the guava raw by itself, or |
| milk-based foods like milkshakes, ice cream, and | | | | with cream cheese. The fruit can be round or |
| even cakes. The custard-like consistency can be | | | | pear-shaped and its seeds can be chewable. |
| used on its own for a rich dessert. Durian season | | | | Carambola (Starfruit) The carambola fruit comes |
| is typically summertime (from June to August). | | | | from the Carambola trees of Sri Lanka, Indonesia |
| They can be found in many mainstream | | | | and other Southeast Asian countries. The yellow |
| supermarkets in the East, particularly in Japan. But | | | | plasticky skin with distinct green edges gets its |
| in the West, they're often only found in Asian | | | | "starfruit" nickname from the shape it creates |
| groceries and markets. Aside from its countries | | | | when cut latitudinally (please tell me it goes |
| of origin, (Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei), the | | | | without saying that that would be a star). |
| largest exporter of the Durian fruit is Thailand. | | | | Carambola is now readily available in the United |
| Kiwano (Horned Melon) The kiwano has taken on | | | | States as it is commercially grown in both Florida |
| so many different descriptions in its day ranging | | | | and Hawaii. Carambolas are crunchy and juicy in |
| from having the seeds of a cucumber, the look | | | | texture, with a citrusy taste. Some believe that |
| of a pomegranate, and the smell of a banana. The | | | | carambolas taste similar to apples or grapes. A |
| only sure facts about the kiwano are that they | | | | significant amount of oxalic acid is present in the |
| have yellow skin with spikes throughout, and | | | | fruit, which can be dangerous for those with |
| bright green gelatinous insides with seeds | | | | kidney trouble. It's also said that the consumption |
| throughout. The fruit that bears such an aptitude | | | | of starfruit with certain drugs can increase their |
| of names like melano, jelly melon, and others in | | | | effectiveness, so consumers should be careful. |
| addition to kiwano and horned melon, was born in | | | | Starfruit can be used to make wine in some |
| the Kalahari desert of Africa. Also called the | | | | countries, and in Myanmar is known for being a |
| African horned melon, is now also regularly grown | | | | main ingredient in tea pickles. Mangosteen The |
| in California and New Zealand. Lychee Another | | | | mangosteen is seen as a precious commodity in |
| Southeast Asian native, the lychee is part of a | | | | the States these days because it wasn't until |
| whole family of small rough nut-shaped fruits. | | | | recently that it became available. Still very |
| Along with its cousin, the rambutan, the lychee is | | | | expensive in the West, mangosteens are grown |
| often red in color with white gelatinous insides. | | | | in Southeast Asia, along with Durian and many of |
| Used in some desserts, the flavor is sweet and | | | | the other exotic fruits. One of the interesting |
| citrusy. The fruits are harvested during early | | | | facts about mangosteens is that it naturally |
| summer, and are supposed to be eaten fresh. | | | | possesses an acid that deters insects. The sweet |
| But, there are also such fruits as sun-dried | | | | flesh is the only edible part of the mangosteen |
| lychees that take the name of lychee nuts. This | | | | and is said to be creamy, citrusy, and remniscent |
| preservation method was the only way lychees | | | | of a peach's flavor. "The ripe mangosteen is dark |
| were consumed prior to 1950, according to Pitaya | | | | red and tastes best if harvested before turning |
| (Dragonfruit) A fruit of cactus plants, the pitaya | | | | purple or blue-black," according to And unlike what |
| has a bright reddish pink leathery skin with green | | | | you might think, the mangosteen has no relation |
| long and curly spikes protruding from it. The | | | | to the mango. Sources: - Tropical Fruits Wikipedia |
| insides are white with black specks throughout, | | | | entries Purdue University - Horticulture |
| making this fruit one of the most variable in color. | | | | Department |
| Some variations of the fruit have red flesh, or | | | | Hillary Marshak is a writer and editor for an up |
| yellow skin. The dragonfruit was originally found in | | | | and coming recipe sharing Website. |