Tag: Southeast asian fruit

Native to Indonesia and parts of Southeast Asia, snakefruit—or salak—is an exotic delicacy with a deceptive appearance. Its reddish-brown, scaly skin resembles that of a snake, earning it its unique name. But what does a snakefruit taste like once you get past its intimidating exterior? The answer is a surprising and delicious blend of sweet, tangy, and acidic notes, varying significantly across different varieties.

The mangosteen, often called the "Queen of Fruits," is a tropical evergreen with a distinctive, sweet-and-sour flavor prized by many. A fruit explorer named David Fairchild is often credited with popularizing the royal nickname in the 1930s, though it's been a staple in Southeast Asia for centuries. Knowing its alternative names can help you identify this delicacy in different parts of the world.

With a water content often exceeding 90%, the tropical fruit known as the water apple is a beloved thirst-quencher across Southeast Asia. So, which fruit is called a water apple, and what are its other common names and characteristics that make it so refreshing and popular?

The lanzones fruit, a tropical delicacy native to Southeast Asia, is notoriously known for the sticky, latex-like sap hidden beneath its skin, which can stain your fingers. For this reason, knowing how to properly eat lanzones is key to enjoying its sweet, juicy flesh without the mess.

Native to maritime Southeast Asia, the santol fruit has a variety of English names that reflect its unique characteristics. It is most frequently referred to as 'cotton fruit' due to its fluffy, white pulp, but is also known by the intriguing name 'wild mangosteen'.

Gac fruit contains significantly higher concentrations of key carotenoids than many common vegetables, including up to 70 times more lycopene than tomatoes and 10 times more beta-carotene than carrots. This striking nutritional profile is why this bright red, spiky fruit, native to Southeast Asia, has garnered global attention as a potent medicinal food.

In Southeast Asia, durian is famously known as the "king of fruits," but its strong, pervasive odor has led to bans in many public spaces like hotels and public transport. Understanding what is the problem with durian requires looking beyond its pungent smell to its potential health impacts, particularly when consumed excessively or incorrectly.

Native to Southeast Asia, the rambutan is a tropical fruit with a famously spiky exterior and sweet, succulent flesh. For those new to this exotic delight, the burning question is: what does rambutan taste similar to, and what can you expect from its unique flavor profile?

According to agricultural data, a mangosteen tree can take between 7 and 10 years to bear its first fruit, a significantly longer period than most other fruit trees. This long maturation cycle is just one of several key factors that explain why is mangosteen so expensive in global markets.

Multiple reports from Southeast Asia have detailed cases of intestinal obstruction caused by swallowing the seeds of the santol fruit. While the seeds are highly dangerous, the pulp and rind of this popular tropical fruit are perfectly safe and nutritious when prepared properly.