Top 10 Strangest Fruits
Durian, a Southeast Asian fruit, is one of the strangest looking fruits with hard prickly spikes and a smell that resembles a dirty gym sock. But despite its unusual appearance, it has a delicious accustomed taste.
Hala fruit looks like it came out of an episode of Star Trek and has a flavor that is a combination of cucumber, banana, and lemon.
1. Jackfruit
Despite its intimidating appearance this spiky fruit is very nutritious and tastes like bananas, lemons, and apples. It’s also high in fiber and a good source of vitamin C.
On the outside it looks like a mini watermelon and on the inside it looks and tastes just like a cucumber. This is a very popular fruit in Mexico, Cuba, and Central America.
Durians are probably the most well-known weird exotic fruits in the world. They’re large, spiky, and have a strong odor. However, their flavor is a bit like grapefruit, tangerine, and orange. This fruit is often banned on public transportation because of its awful smell. However, it’s a delicious tropical fruit that can be used for savory and sweet dishes. It’s also a great addition to smoothies.
2. Cempedak
Cempedak (known in Indonesia as champada, bangkong, sonekadat, or mit to) is another exotic tropical fruit that closely resembles jackfruit. But a closer look reveals that this round citron-like fruit has more in common with lemons than the typical citrus fruit.
Its skin resembles that of a breadfruit and its seed-filled interior is similar to that of a durian. It is one of over 50 different species in the Artocarpus genus, of which jackfruit and lakoocha are also members.
Like jackfruit, it is a large fruit that can be eaten fresh or deep-fried into fritters. Traditionally, it is eaten with savory soup recipes. This fruit is also a good ingredient for making a sweet dessert. The Malaysians make a dessert called goreng cempedak, which is simply the ripe fruit dipped in batter and deep-fried. A version of this recipe can be found here.
3. Durian
The durian fruit is a staple in Southeast Asia and is known for its awful smell yet unique taste. It’s a favorite among many and is even referred to as the King of Fruits but it can be difficult to get past its smell.
Its stench has been compared to raw sewage, dirty gym socks, and rotten meat. This smell can even be strong enough to discourage some people from trying the fruit.
If you can manage to overcome the smell, you will find a delightful treat that is sweet and creamy. There are even durian cakes, puddings and ice cream that have been created to honor the fruit. Durian is also available in thornless varieties due to a natural genetic mutation.
4. Rambutan
The produce aisles of most supermarkets give the impression that there are a wide variety of fruit choices, but the truth is that it’s just a small sampling of the vast selection Mother Nature has to offer. One of the most unusual fruits is rambutan, also known as blowfish fruit or jelly fruit.
Botanically classified as Nephelium lappaceum, rambutans are tropical fruits that grow on evergreen trees and are a close relative of lychees. The fruits are recognizable by their hairlike spines that are actually soft tendrils, which help the fruit to grip surfaces and to protect it from injury as it grows.
The strange exterior conceals a smooth and milky white interior that tastes like a cross between a lychee and a grape. The fruits can be eaten raw or used to make jellies and jams. They are also popular as ingredients in smoothies.
5. Lychee
With the foodie movement gaining momentum, many exotic fruits that were once available only in canned or frozen form are now being stocked at the local grocery store. One such fruit is lychee. Also known as litchi or lichis, lychee is a tropical evergreen fruit that grows in clusters. It is native to China, but now grows commercially in India, subtropical Asia, South Africa and Florida in the United States.
The oblong-shaped fruit has red, bumpy skin and is referred to as the “alligator strawberry.” Its thick husk and juicy white flesh are both edible. It is a common ingredient in Chinese deserts.
Its sweetness and subtle melon, berry, and floral notes make it an excellent addition to smoothies, salads, and cocktails. Grilling lychee skewers is another fun way to enjoy this exotic fruit. You can even try combining it with ice cream!
6. Breadfruit
Despite its strange name, breadfruit has actually been a staple in Pacific Islands for thousands of years. The dimpled fruit can taste a lot like fresh-baked bread when cooked and is full of fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Its prickly exterior, which can sometimes look more like an alien cocoon than a fruit, also makes it a popular choice for meat-stuffed dishes. Jenipapo is another interesting exotic fruit that looks a bit like a rounder, bigger kiwi and smells of overripe bananas.
It's an easy-to-grow, nutrient-packed food that could make an impact on world hunger. It's a great alternative to crops like potatoes and rice, which use more labor, fertilizer and pesticides. The trees can grow in just a few years and produce fruits for decades. They're also more resilient against climate change. The National Tropical Breadfruit Institute is trying to get the word out about this under-utilized superfood.
7. Watermelon-Pumpkin
Watermelon and pumpkin are both fruits that grow on vines. At a glance, they can look very similar, but the key difference is in the leaves. Watermelon leaves have rounded lobes and are a lighter shade of green than the pointy, oblong shapes of pumpkin leaves.
These fruits make our list because they can be enormous! One grower in Israel produced a 355-pound watermelon that was the largest ever recorded.
Despite their spooky exterior, gourds are healthy and delicious fruits that are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. They are also packed with the health-promoting lycopene.
8. Apples
Fruit is fun, fascinating and sometimes even a little creepy at times. But it's also delicious and necessary for a healthy diet. And there are some exotic fruits that resemble creatures from other planets and have a texture like butter.
Another unique fruit on this list is kiwano, which looks otherworldly with its bright orange spiky skin and green jelly-like flesh that's milder than a cucumber. It's a popular snack in Central and South America.
One of the most unusual fruits on this list is safou, which has a texture similar to melted butter and is eaten as a staple food in parts of Africa. Also known as butter fruit, it tastes like a cross between a pear and a guava. It's often eaten with sugar or cooked into stews and desserts. It's also used for making flour.
9. Crowberry
Crowberry is a low evergreen shrub that grows in subarctic, alpine, and boreal areas. Its fruits are a vital source of food for songbirds and other wildlife. They are also popular with indigenous peoples for both food and medicinal purposes. They are rich in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants.
Raw crowberries have a tart and grippy taste that can be quite punchy. However, cooking them mellows out the flavor and makes them sweeter.
Miracle fruit, or Synsepalum dulcificum, is another exotic fruit that looks like it has a fungus inside. This strange fruit contains a glycoprotein called miraculin that binds to your tongue’s taste buds and makes sour foods taste sweet. It is a common ingredient in many dietary supplements and natural beauty products.
10. Cherry
Whether they taste amazingly sweet, surprisingly savory, or just weird, these fruits make for exotic additions to any fruit bowl. Vote up your favorites below!
One of the spikiest-looking fruits on our list, bael fruit has a tough exterior that hides a sweet and jellylike interior with small seeds. This tropical fruit is native to India and Southeast Asia.
A natural hybrid of orange, grapefruit, and tangerine, the ciruela (also known as jocote) is another weirdly beautiful exotic fruit. Its outer skin resembles that of a miniature apple, while its inside has a sour/sweet flavor similar to that of a banana.
Dragon fruit's spiky, cactus-like skin is unique, but the real draw is its bright white pulp and black seeds. It's a staple in Southeast Asian cuisine!
