5 Exotic Fruits You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

When you thought you have seen it all, nature’s bounty is full of delicious surprises. Just check out these exotic fruits that you never knew existed — and where you can find them.

Read also: Taco Tuesday: 5 Incredible Taco Places Around the World

#1 Cherimoya

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Cherimoya comes from the Incan word “chirimuya” which means cold seeds

What: Almost 150 years ago, Mark Twain dubbed the cherimoya fruit to be “the most delicious fruit known to man.” Similar in appearance to custard apples (custard apples are a hybrid of cherimoya and sugar apple fruits), the cherimoya is high in fiber, vitamin C and calcium, and is known to boost the immune system.

Where To Find Them: Having originated in Spain and Portugal, it’s also grown in Hawaii and California, where the weather is mild and generally lovely all year round.

#2 Kiwano

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The brighter the skin of the Kiwano, the sweeter the insides are

What: This fruit is also known as Horn Melons, and it’s easy to see why. The blunt spikes around the fruit protect jelly-like flesh that’s filled with seeds. The fruit is rich in vitamin C and the flesh tastes like a sweeter, fleshier version of a cucumber’s core, while seeds are said to taste bland, kind of like pomegranate seeds.

Where To Find Them: Kiwanos are native and widely grown in semi-arid regions of Africa including South Africa, and has in recent years been widely cultivated in New Zealand and America where the fruit is gaining popularity.

#3 Inga Bean

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Tastes like ice cream with the benefits of a fruit. We’ll take a whole bag, thanks!

What: If anyone tells you that ice cream doesn’t grow on trees and therefore isn’t a salad, you can now call their bluff! Also known as Ice Cream Beans, Inga Beans are loved for the fluffy white flesh hidden under tough outer shells or pods, which tastes like vanilla ice cream. Yup, this fruit tastes like ice cream without threatening the waistline — in fact, it’s high in vitamins and antioxidants!

Where To Find Them: Nature’s ice cream tasting wonder can be easily found at the markets in Spain and Portugal, as well as other parts of Central and South America, where they’re widely cultivated.

#4 Buddha’s Hand

Image credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Sasha Yusof

This tiny nomad packs a punch, especially when it comes to weekend getaways, high fashion and hunting down the best local eats and coffee spots. She also loves cats. With a vengeance.

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