Weird things exit both in nature and fiction all the time, such as the existence of weird toys, complicated strange accidents that shouldn’t have happened etc. When you get the chance to visit any tropical or exotic location around the world, you should also explore what the territory holds to its body, there are many places in the world that are home to some unusual fruits, as shall now be discussed. Prepare to be amazed.
10. Passion Fruit
This fruit is native to South America; it is also grown in green houses to boost its flavor. It is usually found bright red in color but variations can exist, such as in India you might also get to see them half green and half red and quite bulky in size. It is used in juices to add the extra flavor. There are two types to know about, one is the poisonous sibling and the other as passionate as its name. How natural is that!
9. Star fruit aka Carambola
This fruit lives in Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka, it loves to imitate a star, it feels extremely cuddly when squeezed and it’s very juicy when put under stress. Yes guys, this is a really remarkable edible thing. It has been used in making wafers, biscuit creams, and certain pizza sauces and has lots of other uses. It’s similar in taste to a juicy pear only a lot sweeter.
8. Mangosteen
Mangosteen sounds like a villain from outer space; the only difference is that it lives on our planet Earth. It can be found in Sunda Islands and the Moluccas. The look of this fruit resembles an ostrich’s egg laying site. The seeds are shiny white with a peachy pulpy enclosing that is extra creamy and full of rumored antioxidants which many scientists believe can help reduce various deadly diseases. A must have if you are diabetic.
7. Durian aka The King of fruits
Why would anybody even attempt to eat something if it smells as a sweaty old sock? Yes this Durian fruit which grows in abundance in Malaysia and Brunei has a very bad reputation; it’s even banned in hotels and certain shops. It tastes simply bad, but considering its figure, the hard shell around the fruit, it’s worth giving it a try. That’s why the lozenges are for!
6. Dragon Fruit
This fruit has many uses once taken off the branch, it is the sweet pitaya commonly known as the dragon fruit and it’s grown in Mexico. This weighs anywhere between 120 to 500 grams. As you can see in the photo, it’s very fiery looking and surprisingly sweet. The flower can be eaten raw or used in making tea. You can find one around the country on a special kind of cactus plant. It’s definitely worth the look.
5. African cucumber aka Kiwano
This is no ordinary cucumber, it the usual cucumber’s African cousin. Just look at the insides and you will know. The spikes around the outer thick skin gives it an angry look, probably it’s an attraction for the spiky species that live on and in the desert sand. This fruit is rich in water and tastes just like the ordinary cucumber except it’s more salty. It is frequently used in decorating food because of its spiky banana like look.
4. Ackee
This is Jamaica’s national fruit. The seeds of this fruit were bought from West Africa into Jamaica on a rumored slave ship and from then on this has become the delicacy around the Caribbean. To eat this fruit, one has to remove the black tops and cut open the fleshy yellow arils, because the reddish region in between is very toxic. Ackee you are very tricky!
3. Buddha’s Hand
Oh yeah I was scared too when I looked at it first, but didn’t feel a thing when I swallowed it, it just tastes like a lemon. It is called as such because of its shape, it resembles a tightened octopus. It is found in China and India. It is used to flavor fish and eaten raw with spices when mixed with salad. It is also used by the Chinese as a perfume around the house and in cupboards to keep out the smell.
2. Tamarillo
This is known as the popular sibling of the regular tomato we use every day, its paler and burnt in color, with distinctively shaped seeds in the middle when you slice it in half. This fruit grows in Ecuador, Peru and Colombia and tastes similar to the Passion fruit. It is used in making juices and in certain areas of Bolivia it is used in cooking, especially to prepare the sauce. In the industry it is used as a strong preservative because the fruit contains a high amount of pectin.
1. Custard Apple
Some people refer to this as the bull’s heart, but I don’t think it deserves that, it’s more like a rugged brother of the common apple, a somewhat mutated sibling. It grows in Taiwan, India and Africa and in other tropical forests around the world. It tastes sweet and lovely, similar to the flavor of custard, hence the name.