Top 10 Strangest Fruits that You Had Ever Heard OF

All of us have witness several varieties of fruits in our daily life. But, if we start exploring fruits around the world; we will certainly found some uncommon and crazy fruit species that we might not have ever seen or even heard of. These types of fruits (strange fruits) are mostly specific to certain countries only and are also very rare.

Let’s try to generate some interesting facts and information on this fascinating topics i.e. strangest fruit that you had barely heard of.

BACKGROUND

• Crazy fruits could be very hard to take up the market as people are unaware about it.
• They might be very rare and still many of them species are unknown to the world.
• Major reason behind these crazy fruits are:

1. Climate
2. Soil
3. Other environmental factors
4. crossbreeding and interbreeding in fruit species. 

• These fruit might look intimidating on the very first sight.
• These fruits might also possess multiple benefits that you are not aware of.

TOP 10 STRANGE OR CRAZY FRUITS

To get you started, here are top 10 bizarre fruits that people consume but are very less known:

1. Monstera deliciosa (Swiss cheese plant)

Swiss cheese plant (Fruit salad plant) is a native fruit species of Mexico which tastes like combination of different fruits such as banana, mango, guava, passionfruit and pineapple on maturation. The fruit of this species takes at least 10 months to ripe and resemble an ear of corn. 

Courtesy: Randy’s Tropical Plants and Simple Gardening 

But, be careful not to consume unripe fruits as it may cause severe throat and skin irritation. Unripe fruits of this crazy fruit are choke full of oxalic acid (used for bleaching wood and cleaning rust off metals). It is used to make jam too. High intake of pulp of this fruit also have laxative effect.

Note: If the fruits contains sections with scale that has not dropped or tore out then the fruits are still dangerous to consume and hence, need more time to reach maturity.

2. Physalis (Golden Berries)

Cape gooseberries (Inca berry) is a fruit species native to Peru. It is found in South America since back to Inca empire. Golden berries are bright, orange-colored fruits like a tomatoes; so called ground tomatoes too. This fruit is actually incorporated in beautiful heart shaped papery husk.

They are found to do well in warmer climates. They are rich in calories, fiber, beta-carotene, lutein, anti-oxidants and vitamin K along with little calcium. Besides sweet and sour fruits they possess multiple health benefits too such as protection against free radicals, blockage of growth of cancer-causing cells, boost immunity, reduce inflammation and improve bone health too.  

3. Star Fruit (Carambola) 

Carambola are sweet and sour fruit species native to tropical South-East Asia and resemble the shape of 5-point star. The ripe carambola fruit is light yellow in color with slightly brown ridges, The smaller green colored fruits are sour and usually not preferred to eat.

Although its quite strange fruit; it is loaded with uncountable nutrients (Vitamin A, B &C), minerals (zinc, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, etc.), dietary fiber and antioxidant (Quercetin, gallic acid, and epicatechin). So, this fruit possess multiple health benefits too such as preventing skin disorder, improving heart health, promoting weight loss, regulating blood pressure, boosting digestion, etc. 

4. Feijoa (Acca sellowiana)

Feijoa (Pinapple guava/ guavasteen) is a small evergreen tree native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and parts of Argentina. Small elliptical fruit and flower of Feijoa is edible. 

According to multiple research source; this fruit is packed with full of healthy nutrients (Fiber, Vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, magnesium and vitamins). They are also fantastic for pregnant woman too. Skin of this fruit is rich in Vitamin C than flesh. Besides these, its leaves, fruits and seed also possesses antibacterial and antibiotic properties.  

5. African Horned Melon (Cucumis metuliferus)

African horned melon or kiwano melon is a fantastic fruit species native to central and southern regions of Africa. The ripe fruit of Kiwano has orange skin and lime-green jelly like juicy flesh whose texture is similar to passionfruit and pomegranate.

These species is mainly comprised of water, and is relatively low in calories, carbs and fats. About 18% of its calories using is from the protein. This species is great source of antioxidants too that reduce oxidative stress. It possess multiple health benefits such as promoting healthy red blood cells, controlling blood sugar, promoting heart health, keeping the body hydrated and improving mood.  

6. Akebia

Akebia is an invasive shrub species native to eastern Asia, eastern central China, Japan and Korea. Akebia is a cylindrical to oblong fruit that hangs from trailing vines. It is a delicious sweet tasting fruits consumed in large amount in china.

Bitter skin of the fruit could be used after frying. Young shoots are used in salads or salt pickling. Fruits are also used to make vines. The oil could be extracted from its seed. Oil is basically used to make soaps and also as vegetable oils. These seeds are also edible on raw. A 70 gm of the fruit generally contains 57 calories and 46mg of vitamin C. 

7. Water Apple/ Watery Rose Apple (Syzygium aqueum)

Water apple is a delicious fruit native to South East Asian countries and certain tropical regions of India. It is specially known for its thirst-quenching properties and health-related benefits. They prefer rich moisturized soil of wet, warm and humid climatic conditions.

The nutrient status of ripe and unripe fruit including leaves of this species is quite impressive. This fruits is low in calories and saturated fats thus, recommended for weight loss. Dietary fiber present aids in digestion. Besides this, it is also preferred for improving heart health (no cholesterol) and vision (Vitamin A) & boosting immune system (Vitamin C). 

8. Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)

Mangosteen is a tropical tree native to South east Asia that produces tart-sweet fruit. The major problem with this species is that it takes 5 years to reach maturity; but once it mature it will provide us with amazing fruits. Fruit of this species is highly juicy with delicate texture and astringent flavor. They could be consumed in different forms i.e. fried, canned or dried.

This species is rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants (Vitamin C, folate and xanthones) which makes it healthy fruit species with multiple health related benefits such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-diabetic properties, neutralizing free radicals, promoting weight loss, preventing skin disorder, boosting immune system, etc.

9. Durian (Durio)

This large, spiky, greenish-brown fruit is considered as “King of fruits”. The fruit produces strong odor on ripening; so, westerners sometimes compare this fruit with cheese. But this native species of Malaysia is particularly very strange to the masses around the world. This tropical species could be served either cooked or may be raw too.    

This species is rich in calories, Vitamin B and fiber. 100 gm serving provides 147 calories and 5 gm of fat. Similar serving provides 33% of recommended daily value of thiamine (Vitamin B1), 24% of vitamin B6 and 24% of vitamin C. Beside these, it is also good source of magnesium and riboflavin (vitamin B2) But its down-part is for diabetic patient as it have high sugar content. 

Interesting facts: The older the tree, it yields more fruits.

10. Salak (Salacca zalacca)

Salak is a species from palm family native to Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. At your first glance the fruit may look weird; but you will know its beauty once you consume it.  The outside of fruit of this species, known as snake fruit, is rough but the shiny, reddish-brown scaly skin is thin and easy to peel out. The inner juicy flesh with apple-like texture is yellow, white or pink in color which we consume.

This species is also a good source of vitamins, nutrients and minerals. It’s fruit contains protein, beta-carotene, vitamin C, dietary fiber, iron, calcium, phosphorous, etc. This fruit is considered to be best for heart health. One of the plus point of this fruit is they are best for young pregnant woman who experience morning sickness too.

REFERENCES

1. https://houseraccoon.com/monstera-deliciosa-fruit/.
2. https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/monstera-deliciosa-swiss-cheese-plant.
3. https://www.facebook.com/simplegardeningaustralia/photos/a.1696124657376635/2327986037523824.
4. https://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/Physalis-peruviana-Cape-Gooseberry-Golden-Berry-Inca-Berry-01-12-2018.aspx.
5. https://food.ndtv.com/health/carambola-fruit-heres-why-you-should-add-this-exotic-fruit-to-your-diet-1833845.
6. https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2020/01/16/feijoa-superfruit-youve-probably-never-heard-unless-youre-new-zealand.
7. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/kiwano-melon#TOC_TITLE_HDR_8.
8. http://www.eattheweeds.com/chocolate-vine-akebi/.
9. https://www.netmeds.com/health-library/post/water-apple-nutrition-health-benefits-uses-for-skin-and-applications-in-ayurveda.
10. https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-durian-4772269.
11. https://yangonlife.com.mm/en/article/health-benefits-salak-snake-fruit.

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