When we talk about fruits, we think of the most typical: apples, pears, bananas, strawberries, etc. But the truth is there are many rare exotic fruits. Maybe you’ve seen them in the supermarket or the fruit shop before, but some others probably don’t even look familiar to you. Want to discover more?
In this article we will talk about various rare exotic fruits and discuss in more detail what is considered the strangest in the world
What is the rarest fruit in the world?
Despite the fact that the fruits are not equally rare or exotic for everyone, one can find a consensus at the European level on which one could be considered the strangest in the world. Obviously, for people who grow it and cook it regularly, it’s any fruit, but for us Europeans it can be very curious. We are talking about the fruit of the hala tree.
This plant belongs to the genus called “Pandanusand provides us with very large edible fruits. These fruit trees are found in the Pacific Islands, Hawaii, eastern Australia and Southeast Asia. In these places they usually eat the fruit of the hala tree both raw and cooked because it tastes sweet.
Especially in Micronesia it turns out to be an important source of food. It is also a highly prized fruit in Maldivian cuisine. If you don’t travel much, you probably think you’ll never be able to try it, but that’s not the case. More and more oriental restaurants located in the West are using very similar varieties to the fruit of the hala tree, all you need is the courage to try exotic food.
Let’s give an example: There is a variety of this fruit tree called “Pandanus amaryllifolius“. The leaves of this type give a very distinctive aroma to various dishes and complement very well with certain flavors, such as chocolate. The use given to it being very close to that of vanilla, the leaves are also known as “Asian vanilla”. It is very easy to recognize the desserts that carry them, since they acquire a very powerful green color.
Aspect
We already know a lot about the use of the fruit of the hala tree, but what does it look like? Why is it so rare? Let’s see, it is composed of several phalanges pressed against each other and protected by a fibrous outer envelope. In fact, the edible part of the fruit is extracted from it. One of its main features are the warm colors it has. Regarding the size, we have already mentioned before that it is large. It usually has a diameter of around 20 centimeters and a length that tends to measure around 30 centimeters. Note that this fruit It is rich in vitamin C. Also, it can be used to treat certain problems such as asthmatic episodes, colds, headaches and constipation.
It must be said that there are many different varieties of this species. However, to date its great diversity is gradually diminishing. This decrease is due to several factors, including the increase in population in places where it is a typical food, fires, deforestation and the abandonment of their crops and plantations.
Other rare exotic fruits
Besides the fruits we just discussed, there are many rarer exotic fruits. Some will surely sound familiar to you, but others will not. Let’s see what they are below:
- Carambola or carambola: The reason why this fruit is called a star is because of the shape it has when cut in half, since its five points make it look like a particular star.
- Pitaya or dragon: This fruit is generated by certain species of cactus. The raw meat inside is eaten. You can also juice wine to add a little more flavor to other drinks.
- square watermelon: Yes, there are square watermelons. The idea arose to make this fruit easier to store and cut, as its naturally round shape sometimes complicates these tasks. They are grown in glass canisters to keep them in shape and tend to be priced at double triple that of a normal watermelon.
- Hairy fruit or rambutan: As the name suggests, this fruit has hairs on the outside. Inside it looks like a lychee fruit.
- Created : The ackee is neither more nor less than the national fruit of Jamaica. It is widely used in Caribbean cuisine. But be careful, you can only eat the inner arils of this fruit. The red center is very toxic!
- Horned melon: You surely know the melon, but the horned melon? It gets this name because it looks like a melon, but with spines that look like horns. It is a yellow and orange fruit native to Africa.
What are exotic fruits?
We already know some of the rarest exotic fruits. But when is a fruit considered exotic? Well, the term “exotic” is generally used to refer to fruits who are not from a certain region or country and which, therefore, are not common in this geographical area. For example, pineapple, mango, and papaya are considered exotic fruits in many parts of the world, but in countries where they are commonly grown and eaten, they are considered common fruits.
The classification of a fruit as “exotic” may depend on factors such as its geographical origin, its availability on the local market, its rarity or its popularity. Additionally, some fruits may be considered exotic due to their unusual taste, texture, color, or appearance. For example, dragon fruit, which has scaly skin and sweet, juicy flesh, is often considered exotic due to its unique appearance.
Have you tried some of the exotic fruits we mentioned? You can leave us your experience in the comments!