10 Strange Fruits from Around the World

World's Strangest Fruits: While most of us are familiar with apples, bananas, and oranges, the fruit kingdom extends far beyond the common grocery store selection. Around the world, nature has produced a range of fruits with wild appearances, unexpected flavours, and even strong odours. Some are beloved delicacies, while others are eaten only by the brave. Below are 9 of the strangest fruits found across the globe.

List of Strange Fruits Around the World

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1. Durian (Southeast Asia)

Often called the "King of Fruits",  durian is famous for its overpowering smell, which has led to it being banned in many public places. Despite the odour, its creamy flesh is considered a delicacy in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. People either love it or hate it.

2. Rambutan (Malaysia, Indonesia)

This tropical fruit resembles a lychee covered in soft spines or hairs. Inside, it has juicy, translucent flesh with a sweet-tart flavour. It’s a popular street snack and dessert ingredient in Southeast Asia.

3. Buddha’s Hand (India, China)

This citron variety has no pulp or juice. Instead, it’s prized for its fragrant zest. Shaped like multiple yellow fingers, it’s used in religious offerings, perfumes, and for   dishes and desserts.

4. Salak (Indonesia)

Nicknamed “snake fruit” due to its scaly reddish-brown skin, salak has a crunchy texture and a sweet, acidic flavour. Despite its intimidating look, it’s a common fruit snack in Indonesia and often served pickled or fresh.

5. Ackee (Jamaica)

Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica but must be handled carefully it’s toxic when unripe. Once it naturally opens, the soft, creamy yellow flesh is safe to eat and forms part of Jamaica’s national dish: ackee and saltfish.

6. Horned Melon (Sub-Saharan Africa)

Also known as kiwano, this fruit has a bright orange, spiky exterior and a green, jelly-like interior. Its taste is a mix of cucumber, banana, and lime. It’s popular in Africa and increasingly grown in New Zealand and California.

7. Miracle Fruit (West Africa)

This small red berry doesn’t taste like much on its own, but it contains a compound called miraculin that temporarily alters taste perception. After eating it, sour foods like lemons taste incredibly sweet.

8. Jabuticaba (Brazil)

This purple-black fruit grows directly from the trunk of its tree, creating a surreal visual effect. The flesh is sweet and juicy, similar to grapes, and is often used in jellies, wines, and liqueurs in Brazil.

9. Noni (Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia)

Often called “vomit fruit” due to its strong cheese-like odour, noni is highly valued in traditional medicine. Though it tastes bitter and unpleasant to many, it's consumed for its supposed health benefits.

10. Safou (Africa) 

Safou is an evergreen tree found in the humid tropical forests of Africa, as far south as Angola and as far north as Nigeria. It produces dark blue-purple fruits with rich, oily flesh. Also known as African pear, the fruit is oblong, measuring up to 14 cm in length, with pale green flesh inside.

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