Exotic Fruits

 Exotic Fruits

ATEMOYA

The atemoya is the result of a cross between a cherimoya and a sweetsop or sugar apple. From the outside, an atemoya looks something like an artichoke; inside, it has a creamy coloured flesh with a flavour and texture of a vanilla;

The fruit is tastier if served chilled;

The fruit is free of fat and sodium, and rich in potassium;

BREAD FRUIT

This fruit has a size of a melon and it weighs between 2 to 5 pounds. The flesh is similar to a potato when unripe. As the fruit ripens it becomes slightly softer and creamier.

It is a starchy fruit which a high carbohydrate content;

The bread fruit is also an excellent source of vitamin

CARAMBOLA

The carambola when sliced crosswise obtains the form of five pointed star shaped sections, which makes it a ready – made garnish. That is why it is also called the star fruit. It has a sweet tart flavour like a blend of several fruits;

This fruit is 2 to 5 inches long;

The fruit is good when shiny and well – shaped. When it is green it is unripe. It turns into a golden colour and develops a fragrant aroma when it is ripe;

CACTUS PEAR

This fruit is also known has Indian pear, prickly pear and sabra;

The cactus pear grows in many parts of the world, it is a large egg-shaped pinkish or yellowish-brown fruit covered with spines;

It is popular in Mexico and in the American Southwest as well as all over the Mediterranean, In South Africa and in Israel;

CHERIMOYA

The cherimoya looks like an oversized green pinecone. It is a sweet, juicy, creamy flesh. Its flavour is close to the flavour of other fruits, depending on the variety, it may sometimes resemble a pineapple, papaya, banana, mango or strawberry;

It is grown in South and Central America and the Caribbean and recently has been cultivated in California and Florida;

This fruit is rich in vitamin C and also supplies a small amount of iron;

FEIJOA

 Feijoa is an egg sized, shaped green fruit. It has a dense pale yellow flesh with a tart flavour and a strong fragrance. The feijoa can be cut in half and be eaten with a spoon;

This fruit is native from South America; it is now grown in New Zealand and California;

GUAVA

It has a size of a lemon or lime its skin is smooth greenish-yellow. The flesh is bright pink, (sometimes its white, yellow or red) sweet, fragrant, and meaty.

Guavas are an excellent source of vitamin C;

KUMQUAT

These fruits are small citrus-like fruits that can be eaten with skin. They can also be used to decorate and are tasty. They are egg shaped orange fruits about one and a half inches long they often come with their shiny dark-green leaves attached;

They can be found in Asian markets and their best supply is in winter;

The kumquat is an excellent source of vitamin C;

LONGAN

 This fruit is related to lychees. It has a size of a grape or plum and is sometimes called dragon eye, because after peeling its brow skin you can find a jelly white fruit with a dark seed in the centre. The fruit can be found in Asian markets;

Longans have a very high vitamin C content;

LOQUAT

This tropical fruit is similar to an apricot. Its flesh is firm, sweet and can be orange, yellow, or white. The loquat has a similar taste like plums or cherries;

LYCHEE

 The lychee has a reddish brown shell that protects a fruit that is similar to a large white grape, each with a single large seed.

They have a sweet, flowery fragrance and flavour. They are mostly found in Asian markets in the summer.

Lychees are rich in vitamin C.

MONSTERA

 This fruit grows like an elongated pinecone, when its ripe the hexagonal plates on its surface split apart, exposing a creamy tart – sweet fruit similar to a banana. It has a pineapple-banana flavour. The fruit must be eaten only when fully ripe.

PEPINO

 The pepino is a member of the nightshade family. It is a heart shaped golden fruit, marked with purple stripes or patches. They can be plum or cantaloupe sized. Its flesh is fragrant and yellow surrounding a central pocket of seeds, like the melon.

SAPOTE

 This fruit is a tropical fruit. The white sapote is almost a seedless orange-sized fruit. It has a green to yellow skin and its flesh is white and creamy. To enhance the flavour of this fruit you can add lemon or lime juice;

TAMARILLO

This subtropical “tree tomato” is related to the tomato. It looks like an elongated plum, with a purplish-red skin; its dark orange flesh has a plum-like texture;

The tamarillo is a good source of fibber and vitamins A and C.

UGLI FRUIT

Crossing a grapefruit with an orange or tangerine breeds this fruit. It has the size of a grapefruit but it has a loose skin like the tangerine, with pinkish-orange flesh that’s sweeter than grapefruit and nearly seedless. The skin is thick and rough with a greenish-yellow to orange colour.

It is now grown in Florida, but it is original from Jamaica. It is available in the market in the winter and early spring.