When it comes to fruit, most of us probably know only the more basic European and American varieties. Apples, bananas and oranges are pretty common varieties in the United States and they’re all certainly delicious. Still, the Earth’s biodiversity is pretty incredible and there are plenty of different fruits that we’ve probably never even heard of, let alone seen. Fortunately, we’ve done the work of bringing some of the most incredible examples to you from all around the world.
Here are 20 of the most incredible, exotic fruits from all corners of the globe.
1. Durian
Of the rare fruits on this list, durian has become more well-known in recent years thanks to many viral YouTube videos with durian-based eating challenges. Regardless, durian is a fruit native to Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. It’s known for its spiky exterior, its enormous size (it can weigh between two to seven pounds) and it’s strong odor. Some have said it smells like rotten onions… but others say the taste is actually quite delicious. You can buy it canned at certain Asian speciality stores!
2. Jackfruit
If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you may have had jackfruit tacos as a substitute for carnitas. Still, you may not know that each jackfruit can be up to three feet long and 70 pounds! Jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh and has a taste somewhere between banana, mango and pineapple.
3. Cherimoya
Mark Twain once called this fruit “the most delicious fruit known to man.” For those who don’t know, the cherimoya is native to South America, specifically Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. The inside of the fruit is a soft white and looks custardy, and can be eaten with a spoon like ice cream.
4. Red Bananas
Obviously a member of the banana family, red bananas can be found in South America, Asia, East Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Although they look like the bananas we’re used to, they’re often sweeter and softer—though some also have an earthier flavor.
5. Tamarillo
Tamarillos are native to countries in the Andes region of South America. Also known as the “tree tomato,” tamarillos are closely related to tomatoes, eggplants and chili peppers. The taste of these is tangy and complicated, with some similarity to kiwis and guava on one hand and tomato on the other.
6. Buddha’s Hand
You can probably guess how these curious plants got their name. If not, the Buddha’s hand is so-named because it has tendrils coming out of it that look like fingers. Also known as a “fingered citron,” these fruits most likely originate from India and China and smells like a fragrant lemon. You can also infuse spirits with it!
7. Salak
Also known as “snake fruit,” salak comes out of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. It got its name because the outside of the fruit resembles a snakeskin, though the inside looks like peeled garlic cloves. Don’t let that fool you, though—the taste is sweet and acidic, with a texture similar to an apple. Be careful when peeling these as the skin can prick your fingers!
8. Melothria Scabra
These fruits are grown on a vine and are native to Mexico and Central America. Another name for these is sandiita, which means little watermelon—that’s because despite their tiny size, they look exactly like tiny watermelons! The taste is different, though. If you can get your hands on one, its more like a cucumber with some tang to it.
9. Biriba
This one comes out of tropical regions in South America and is also known as a wild sugar-apple. The outside of these fruits is armored and spiky while the inside tastes like a delicious lemon pie. In Brazil, biriba is sometimes used as a base for wine.
10. Sapodilla
The sapodilla is native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean—and boy is it delicious. The fruit is essentially a larger berry, each with seeds in the middle. When ripe, the taste of these fruits is generally very sweet and also earthy or malty. Be sure to take the seeds out before you eat one!
11. Breadfruit
If you think this one looks kind of like a jackfruit, you’re right—these are in the same family! The breadfruit seems to have origins in Oceania, though it has since spread to Central and South America. These large fruits can be eaten at various stages, with a generally potato-like taste and a texture that feels like—you guessed it—bread.
12. Longan
The longan is a member of the soapberry tree, a tropical fruit family which includes the lychee and the guarana. In Cantonese, these fruits are called “dragon eyes” because they look like eyeballs after being shelled—the inside is jelly-like and translucent while the inside holds a hard, black seed like a pupil.
13. Hala Fruit
Hala fruit grow on hala trees which are found in Malesia, parts of Australia and certain Pacific Islands. These fruits have a somewhat unusual structure. The edible pieces grow around a harder core in a radial shape—when it’s cut open, it looks like the cross-section of a planet. As an added bonus, the outer skin is sometimes used as dental floss as well.
14. Australian Finger Lime
As the name suggests, these fruits are native to Australia and comes from a family closely related to the citrus family. When these are broken open, each one is full of little jelly orbs that look almost like caviar!
15. Black Sapote
The black sapote is a somewhat tomatoesque fruit which is often compared to chocolate pudding on the inside in terms of taste, texture and appearance. The skin itself is inedible but the inside is delicious—just make sure it’s ripe enough to eat first.
16. Star Apple
These little guys come out of the West Indies and have since spread to Central America and even Southeast Asia. Though they look like apples from the outside, they have a star shape on the inside when split open. Still, they’re also called “breast milk fruit” for their fruity, white liquid that can spill out of them. These are mostly used as a dessert food.
17. Noni Fruit
Noni fruit are actually related to coffee if you can believe it! Most commonly found in Southeast Asia and Australasia, noni are known for their pungent and not altogether pleasant smell and taste. Still, they are often used for many medicinal purposes in Polynesian cultures.
18. Mangosteen
The mangosteen comes from Southeast Asia and southwest India and has a unique and delicious flavor. These fruits run on the sweet side with hints of sourness—it has been compared to flavors in strawberry, peach and vanilla. If you do an internet search of mangosteen, you’re sure to find many writers fawning over it’s incredible flavors.
19. Kiwano
Also known as the horned melon, kiwano are a fruit found in the cucumber and melon family. The outside is covered in sharp spines though the inside has a jelly-like consistency with a fruity taste, not dissimilar from a passionfruit. Though native to Africa, kiwanos are beginning to be grown in the United States as well.
20. Miracle Berry
Finally, the miracle berry is a truly unusual fruit found in West Africa which doesn’t look all too special from the outside. It’s basically just a small, red fruit with a tangy flavor. Still, they call it a miracle fruit because it completely changes the flavors of other foods you eat! After your mouth is coated with it, you can eat a lemon raw without wincing—it’ll just taste sweet. Similarly, it’ll make sour cream taste like ice cream. Try it for yourself!
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