The 20 least known fruits for the general public

There is so much biodiversity that it seems impossible to get to know everything. And the same goes for fruits.

We regularly only eat and enjoy the typical seasonal fruits of our region, but there are many that are even considered exotic and that we can hardly find in a market local.

There are many little-known fruits, but this time we bring 20 less known fruits to the general public. Some of them are not widely marketed due to their slow growth, and in other cases they are recently discovered fruits.

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Meet 20 of the lesser known fruits

Some fruits have an exotic exterior and a sweet taste on the inside.. In this list of the 20 least known fruits, you will find some that have an unappetizing appearance in some cases, but whenever you have the opportunity, be sure to try them.

Like almost all fruits, they are sweet and are also very nutritious. So if you find them, enjoy them naturally. In some regions they are more common, but for other parts of the world they are totally strange and exotic fruits.

1. Akebia

The akebia is a plant that produces a purple fruit. It is a native fruit of China, Japan and Korea. It has a semi-hard rind with a pulp filling with a flavor similar to raspberries, although the plant has a chocolate smell.

2. Finger file

Finger lime is the most unusual of citrus. It is a very small fruit, with a thin shell and inside with very small capsules, similar to fish eggs. These balls pop easily when chewed.

3. Fruit of the snake

The fruit of the snake has a bark similar to snake skin **... and hence its name. It is a very aromatic fruit and its flavor is confused between pineapple, banana and walnut. It has very small thorns that you can prick when peeling this fruit, so be careful.

4. Black sapote

The black sapote is of this color that, far from indicating that it is spoiled, indicates its maturity. The texture of the black sapote is like that of a bread, it has a very sweet taste similar to that of chocolate. This fruit is of Mexican origin.

5. Mexican sour pickle

This sour pickle looks like a tiny watermelon on the outside. This fruit is not sweet, its pulp is more like a cucumber and tastes like one, but with a touch of lemon. It is a fruit native to Mexico.

6. The eye of the dragon

The dragon's eye is a fruit native to China. Its pulp has a taste and texture similar to lychee, but with a touch of nutmeg flavor. Its thin skin is yellow, the pulp is whitish and the seed is black, so when splitting it in the middle, it resembles an eye.

7. Tree tomato

The tree tomato is a fruit, although it is from the tomato family. However, it is distinguished by its flavor that is combined between tomato and passion fruit. It is regularly used for desserts and garnish.

8. Jackfruit

Jackfruit is a large fruit with a combination of flavors. Its origin is in Indonesia, although it is said that it is not widely consumed there. It reaches up to 35 kg in weight and has a very hard skin, inside the pulp has a mixture of banana, mango and pineapple flavor.

9. Durian

Durian is a fruit with a horrible smell. Some say it smells like garbage, others like onions or rotten fish. But on the inside this fruit tastes of nutty with cheese and a touch of banana, mango, pineapple and strawberry. This native Indonesian fruit is forbidden to take on public transport due to its strong smell.

10. Red banana

The red banana is native to Ecuador. This fruit contains more potassium and vitamin C than the bananas that we normally eat. The skin is red, but inside it is similar to the common banana but with a raspberry or mango flavor.

11. Buddha hand

Buddha's hand is a complicated fruit to eat. This is because it has almost no pulp. Its flavor is similar to that of lemon peel. The shape of this fruit resembles a hand but with many fingers, which are used for salads.

12. Amazonian anon

This fruit also turns black when ready to eat. Although the pulp is white, its exterior is dark when it can be tasted. Many agree that its flavor resembles a lemon cake.

13. Sapodilla

The chicozapote is a little-known fruit of Mexican origin. It is a fruit with a very strange flavor, between root beer and brown sugar. You have to be careful when eating them because the seeds have a hook that could get caught in the throat.

14. Frutipán

This fruit is very nutritious and has an exceptional flavor. It is one of the few fruits that can be eaten in several stages, that is, when it is ripe and immature. However, it changes flavor. When immature it tastes like freshly baked bread.

15. Copoazu

The copoazú fruit comes from the cacao family. It is even used instead of traditional cocoa, it is an alternative to chocolate with a more intense flavor. It is a fruit of the lesser known, but of great flavor.

16. Jabuticaba

The jabuticaba is a fruit similar to grapes. It is a tree native to southeastern America, and its fruits grow directly on the stem of the tree. It even has some medicinal uses, and it's common for it to be made into jams.

17. Hala Fruit

The hala fruit is native to Polynesia. It can be eaten raw and cooked. Some people use it as dental floss and some parts use it to make necklaces. Medicinal properties are also attributed to it.

18. Kiwano

The Kiwano fruit is one of the least known but has a great flavor. It has multiple names by which it is known as horned melon, African cucumber or jelly melon. The taste is similar to a cucumber mixed with Kiwi and bananas.

19. Magic berries

From West Africa come the magic berries. Its name is due to the fact that they have a peculiar property, just by eating one, what you eat next will have a sweet taste. This effect lasts for about an hour.

20. Pitahaya

The pitahaya is a fruit of American origin. There are two varieties of red and yellow skin. The yellow one has a sweet flavor and juicier pulp, which is why it is the one that is most consumed. It is also a very nutritious fruit.

Bibliographic references

• Lemoine, E. (1998), Guide des fruits du monde, Lausanne, Delachaux et Niestlé.
• Vicente, A.R.; Manganaris, G.A.; Sozzi, G.O.; Crisosto, C.H. (2009). Nutritional quality of fruits and vegetables.