Strange and Amazing Fruits You've Probably Never Heard Of

A stroll down the produce aisle in a modern grocery store might give the impression that you have a wide variety of fruit options, but in reality, it's just a small taste of Mother Nature's bounty.

The world is full of strange and exotic delicacies that you've probably never heard of before. So live a little and try something different.

Apples and oranges will look pretty ordinary after looking at these delicious and wild options. Read on and discover strange and surprising new fruits that we are sure you will love:

1. Ackee

You must commend the bravery of those who first tried these strange-looking fruits. The ackee is sometimes called "plant brain" because only the yellowish brain-shaped arils are edible.

Native to tropical West Africa, this fruit was imported and grown in Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba and is incorporated into some Caribbean cuisines.

2. Rambutan

Native to the Malay archipelago, the name of this fruit is derived from the Malay word for "hairy" and you can see why.

But once the furry exterior of the rambutan is removed, the tender, meaty, and delicious fruit is revealed. Its flavor is described as bittersweet, very similar to that of a grape.

Although rambutan originated in Southeast Asia, it was imported around the world and is now commonly grown as close to home as Mexico and Hawaii.

3. Physalis

These fruits (also known as ground cherries) are encased in an unusual lantern-shaped peel. It is part of the Belladonna family and therefore shares a relationship with the much more familiar tomatoes, peppers, and aubergines.

Because it has a mild and refreshing acidity similar to that of tomatoes, it can be used in a number of ways. Imagine enjoying pasta with fresh physalis sauce!

Native to America, they are usually imported from South America. Some people grow them in the garden just because they like the look of these interesting plants, with their large, colorful shells and small fruits, reports the University of Minnesota Extension.

However, they are difficult to grow because the fruit tends to fall off the vine before it is ripe.

4. Jabuticaba

The jabuticaba fruit is unusual in that it appears to sprout directly from the bark and trunk of your tree. The tree may even appear covered in purple warts or pimples when it is in a full season.

It is often used in its native lands in South America, just like grapes are used elsewhere.

The jabuticaba fruit looks like thick-skinned purple grapes. Inside the pink or white fleshy sweet fruit. Embedded in the pulp are several large seeds.

The fruit is usually consumed fresh or in cakes, jellies, or wines and liqueurs.

5. African horned cucumber

When exported to the US, horned cucumbers are often labeled "balloon fruit" or kiwan melon. With its spiky yellow exterior and juicy green interior, this is a fruit with vibrant contrasts.

It tastes like a cross between cucumber and zucchini and is rich in vitamin C and fiber. Originally from Africa, it is exported and cultivated in countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and Chile.

6. Jackfruit

The jackfruit, or Artocarpus heterophyllus, is the largest arboreal fruit in the world, reaching 36 kilos. It is also the national fruit of Bangladesh and may have been cultivated in India 6,000 years ago.

Related to breadfruit and moringa, its buttery pulp is thick with fiber and is often described as starchy in flavor.

Many say it tastes like a mix of apple, pineapple, mango, and banana.

7. Durian

Revered in Southeast Asia as the "King of Fruits," the durian is relatively unknown in the United States.

The famous naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace (who, like Darwin, independently discovered the theory of natural selection) described its meat as "a rich cream highly flavored with almonds."

This large fruit can be recognized by its bark covered with thorns and its pungent smell, which can be compared to the smell of gymnastics socks or rotten onions.

It may not look appetizing, but for those who like it, it is worth a try.

We hope you enjoy this video about the Top 10 tropical fruits you've never heard of:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKTej1u-7-0

Source: Earth Titan

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