There are many more interesting and unusual things in our world. Sometimes, you look at it and only wonder. And what if this extraordinary miracle turns out to be still tasty and healthy?
Let's take a look at fruits that are difficult to find in the market or supermarket and that change all ideas about what food should look like.
Now, finding yourself in another country and seeing one of these exotic fruits on the counter of a local shop, you will not have to rack your brains over how to ask what it is and what it is eaten with, but boldly start tasting.
1. In India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and some other countries located in Southeast Asia, carambola fruits grow, nicknamed the star fruit (starfruit) because of its original shape. The fruit looks like stars only in a cut across form, in which it is usually used to decorate desserts and cocktails. Mature carambola, depending on the variety, can have a sweet and sour or sweet taste, which is compared to a mixture of apple, pear and citrus. The flesh of the fruit, which is under the waxy crust, resembles plum in structure - it is the same juicy and a little crispy. Star fruit is an excellent source of vitamin C and antioxidants. Like grapefruit, carom contains a large amount of oxalic acid, so people with kidney disease should not abuse the fruit.
2. Pitaya or dragon fruit grows on climbing vine-like cacti, which are common in Mexico and South America. The cultivation of this fruit is carried out in Australia and in the countries of Southeast Asia. There are several varieties of dragon fruit, depending on their affiliation, the color of the skin can be from red-pink to yellow, and the color of the flesh from white to red. The weight of pitaya can vary from 150 grams to a kilogram. The fruit has a sweetish taste, which, according to some reviews, seems bland. But due to its low calorie content, as well as its high content of vitamin C, phosphorus and potassium, pitaya is useful for people with an active lifestyle. And, but you need to be scared if, after eating dragon fruit with red flesh, your urine has become red. This is a completely harmless phenomenon called pseudohematuria, which passes quickly.
3. And this spherical fruit with thorns, the diameter of which can reach 30 cm, and the weight exceeds 5 kg, is called durian. In the countries of Southeast Asia, you can find more than three dozen varieties of durian, but only 9 of them are edible, and they smell little like what you can eat. It is because of the smell, similar to a mixture of turpentine and rotten onions with cheese, that in some countries it is forbidden to appear with durian fruits in public places. But, despite the smell, the yellow-red flesh of the fruit is very pleasant to the taste and resembles a mixture of cream, banana and egg yolk. Durian contains a large number of vitamins and trace elements, is an aphrodisiac, but is contraindicated for hypertensive patients, since it increases blood pressure.
4. The homeland of the mountain peach, or yangmei, also known as Chinese strawberries, is East Asia. In China, yangmei has been cultivated for more than 2000 years. Chinese strawberries are not large at all in size - only 1.5 - 2.5 cm in diameter, most often dark red or brown-red in color. The taste of this fruit is quite specific - both sweet and pungent. Yangmei is an excellent antioxidant. The trees on which the fruit grows are often grown to decorate parks and gardens.
5. The fruits of the citrus marinde or noni bear little resemblance to fruits, they rather resemble potatoes. The homeland of noni is South Asia. Ripe noni fruits are white or light yellow in color and reach 7 cm in length. The smell of the fruit resembles moldy cheese. Apparently, this is why noni is sometimes called a cheese fruit. Despite the bitter taste and unpleasant smell, noni is quite popular in Asia. Most likely, this is due to the fact that the fruit contains many vitamins and trace elements. In traditional medicine, the fruit is used to treat bowels, cramps, and urinary tract infections.
6. Rambutan is native to the Malay Archipelago. The appearance of this red fruit with many sprouts explains its name (rambut in Indonesian means "hair"). Rambutan fruits are small (about 3 cm in diameter) and grow in clusters. The flesh of the fruit resembles a jelly-like mass of yellow-white color, sweet in taste and rich in vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus and iron.
7. The champion of fruits in terms of the size of fruits growing on trees is jackfruit (Indian breadfruit). Ripe fruits are lived in large quantities, have a yellow-green color, up to 90 cm in diameter and up to 35 kg in weight. The flesh of the jackfruit is highly nutritious and tastes similar to fruit gum, which is not surprising since it contains white, sticky latex. Jackfruit is most common in South India.
8. Lychee (dragon's eye) is one of the most popular fruits in Southeast Asia. Under the tough pinkish or red crust of a small fruit, there is a white pulp that resembles grapes in texture and a dark elongated pit that looks like an animal's pupil. Lychees taste sweet, with a slight sourness. The fruit is rich in vitamin C and is an aphrodisiac.
9. Mangosteen or mangosteen, like many exotic fruits, mainly grows in Southeast Asia. Under the burgundy-purple crust there are white slices of pulp. The taste of the fruit is creamy sweet and somewhat tart. Mangosteen is rich in vitamins B and C, phosphorus and calcium. It is a very effective antioxidant.
10. Small golden elongated oranges from China are called kumquats. You can eat them directly with the crust, and the taste resembles a sour tangerine. The fruit can be grown as a houseplant. Kumquat is rich in vitamins C, P and B-group. The use of kumquat helps to get rid of depression, stress, signs of colds and hangovers.
11. And finally, kiwano or horned melon. Kiwano is native to Africa, which is why it is sometimes called the "African cucumber". The ripe fruit is yellow or orange-red in color and reaches about 15 cm in length. The flesh of kiwano is green and jelly-like, and tastes like a mixture of banana and cucumber. The fruit is rich in vitamin C, contains potassium and iron and is low in calories, increases immunity and strengthens the walls of blood vessels.
Perhaps there are people who have seen and tasted the described, or even more original fruits, because only a part of the unusual fruits that are very exotic for our country are given
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