8 Tropical and Exotic Fruits Cultivated in India
India is the second largest producer of exotic fruits in the world. This is because the country with its diverse climate and culture can produce a variety of fruits, and hence it’s not limited to the production of just mangoes, citrus fruits and bananas. The wide array of fruits that appear on the perishable sections in the supermarket aisles and on the rickety carts of the street hawkers are reminders of the changing seasons in the country.
A number of people have nostalgic memories of relishing fruits during their childhood days, especially during the sizzling summer months. Downing a glass of fresh mango juice or gorging on ripe jackfruit are probably two of the favorite things people reminisce when they go nostalgic about their childhood days. But the good news is that you have a lot of exotic fruits, now, probably due to the interest in man’s quest for something different than the traditional fruits.
- Jackfruit
Jackfruit is the official fruit of the state of Kerala, and it has been declared so recently. Hence, the fruit deserves our first mention. Jackfruit is a huge fruit that hangs from trees and is super nutritious in its ripe and raw form.
The peeling of the jackfruit skin is an art in itself, and the fleshy fruit within is worth relishing as it is. The fruit can be used to make a number of lip smacking Kerala style dishes. If you are visiting Kerala any time during the March-October months, your host would gladly prepare you many of these dishes.
2. Breadfruit
The debate goes on as to whether the Breadfruit is a fruit or a vegetable. Another interesting fact is that the fruit bears startling resemblances to the Jackfruit. Some people say that it is a vegetable when unripe, and that it can be considered a tropical fruit when ripe. Nevertheless, it bears many resemblances to Jackfruit, and the unripe ones will have to be cooked like potato or yam before its consumed.
The tropical fruit is now cultivated in the southern state of Kerala, coastal Karnataka (some areas of Mangalore), but it originated from New Guinea through the Indo-Malayan Archipelago to Western Micronesia. Now the fruit is found in the tropical rainforests of Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and of course southern India too.
3. Asian Palmyra Palm
Asian palmyra palm goes by a number of names like the Ice Apple, Sugar Palm and so on. Some people call it Targola, and it is grown in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Goa and some parts of Kerala. The fruit has a translucent jelly that tastes almost like fresh coconut, and the texture is similar to that of litchi. The fruit of the Sugar Palm is used to make alcoholic beverages too.
The Ice Apple, just like its name, cools the body, and hence very popular during the summer. Pregnant ladies are advised to consume the fruit as it is rich in Vitamin A, B and C, Iron, Zinc, Phosphorous and Potassium.
Apart from India, the fruit is grown in Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh and Cambodia as well.
4. Love Apple/Rose Apple
Rose Apples are wild berries, rich in nutritious but small in size. The really ripe ones act as substitutes for cranberries and can be eaten as it is. They are mainly grown in the Western Ghats, the Nilgiri Hills and the Siwalik Hills. The leaves of the Rose Apple tree also provide several health benefits.
People use the decoction from the leaves to treat earache, diarrhea and fever. The roots act as insect repellants. Also known as the Wax Apple, the fruit can also be used to make pickles or juice extracts.
The English name for the Southeast Asia originated fruit is Malabar plum.
5. Rambutan
Rambutan fruit is closely related to litchi and longan, and are edible and tropical. You cannot miss the fruit in the stores and supermarkets because their bright red, spiky exterior demands attention, even from a distance. The ripe ones can be juicy and sweet, but some are sweet and sour. However, eating the fruit is an art because you have to carefully peel the outer skin to expose the pinkish white inner flesh.
The fruit originated in tropical South East Asia and then spread to Africa, Central America and Arab countries.
6. Japani Phal or Amlok
Japani Phal is also known as the Persimmon and was introduced to India by the European settlers, though it was a native of China. It’s deep orange-red color makes the fruit physically attractive, and is presently grown in the Himalayan region, especially Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarkhand and Nilgiri Hills.
The distinctive feature of the fruit is that it resembles a tomato, physically. Japani Phal has a number of health benefits as it is packed with vitamins and minerals. The completely ripe fruits can be soft, tasty and sweet.
However, remember that the overconsumption of fruit could be bad too.
7. Elephant Apple
Elephant Apple got its name because it is one of the favorite fruits of the elephants. It looks knobby, resembles grapefruit, while the fruit itself is yellow-green. The fruit thrives in the semi-tropical forests and swamps.
You can find the fruit in Assam, Kolkata, Bihar, Odisha and the sub-Himalayan tract. The unripe fruits can be pickled, while the ripe ones can be mildly sweet and acidic.
As it grows in the forests, the general public is not permitted to harvest it from the core areas. It is a major source of food for the monkeys, deer and elephants.
8. Bilimbi
Bilimbis are related to the star fruit, and are bright green when raw. They become tender and soft as they ripen and become yellowish and glossy in appearance.
Bilimbis have a tangy and acidic taste so they are soaked in salt water for a while before consumption. The fruit can be used to make pickles and jams. It’s grown mainly in Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Conclusion
Apart from the above-mentioned fruits, you can also savor several other tropical exotic fruits in India like Khirni (Central India and the Deccan Peninsula), Indian Sherbet Berries, Pomelo (North East India, West Bengal certain parts of Karnataka and Kerala) and Bael or Wood Apple (Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and the western Himalayas).
