No matter where you’re located in the world, tropical fruits are becoming more and more accessible. If you haven’t lived in a tropical area, you may not even realize how many unique fruits can be purchased from your local supermarket.
Tropical fruits taste amazing, and are packed with a variety of health benefits. They have high levels of antioxidants and nutrients that help prevent heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.
Ready to add more tropical fruits to your diet so you can feel as if you’re lounging in the Caribbean? Read our guide below to discover new fruits to look for next time you’re shopping for groceries.
Papaya
Papaya is a tropical fruit that’s rich in vitamin A and C, fiber, potassium, and manganese. It contains an array of antioxidants too. There are many different types of papaya available, including red-fleshed varieties like Red Caribe or Haden.
Papayas are known for their sweet, rich flavor. Many find papayas to taste like the upgraded version of melons or cantaloupes. They can be eaten fresh, or blended into a tropical smoothie.
Mangosteen
Mangosteen is a tropical fruit that’s native to Southeast Asia. It’s an excellent source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, and manganese.
Mangosteen has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. The flavor is similar to a mix of lychee, strawberries, peaches, and pineapples. It’s not as widely available as papaya, but can be found at specialty or niche grocery stores.
Breadfruit
Breadfruit is a staple food in tropical regions, and it’s easy to see why: it’s high in fiber, potassium and vitamin C. Breadfruit is also rich in vitamins A, B6 and thiamine.
This fleshy white fruit can be eaten raw or cooked into stews or curries. When ripened on the tree, it has a buttery texture that some compare to avocado. Breadfruit earned its name due to the unique flavor it has when cooked, which is similar to fresh-baked bread.
Jackfruit
Jackfruit has been cultivated in Southeast Asia for more than 4,000 years, but it’s only recently become popular in the United States. Nowadays, you can find jackfruit at most grocery stores. This large tropical fruit is high in vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber. It also contains antioxidants including polyphenols, which help fight free radicals that damage cells and cause disease.
When cooked properly, this unique food offers a dense texture similar to pulled pork or taco meat by holding its shape after cooking. Because of its meat-like quality without being meat itself, jackfruit makes an excellent substitute for people following vegetarian diets who find themselves craving barbecue pulled pork tacos.
Jackfruit can also be eaten raw, and has a sweet flavor similar to mangos before being cooked.
Avocado
You’ve probably heard that avocados are a good source of monounsaturated fat, but did you know they also contain more potassium than bananas? Or that they’re rich in vitamins E and K? Avocados are also packed with vitamin C—more than many other fruits!
While avocados are typically considered a savory dish in most western dishes, they can also be prepared as a dessert. This is common in the Philippines, where they serve avocado with ice and sweetened condensed milk.
If you’re curious to try avocados in a sweet dish, you can try blending avocados into a smoothie. Avocados have a rather neutral taste, but can enhance the texture of a smoothie, especially when frozen.
Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit, or pitaya, is a tropical fruit that comes from the Central American rainforest. It has been cultivated for thousands of years, but it wasn’t until recently that the fruit became widely available in North America.
Dragon fruit tastes like a combination of kiwi and watermelon with hints of strawberry and papaya. The flavor is quite subtle, but dragonfruit is beautiful to look at, especially the bright pink variants. Dragon fruit is a common addition to smoothies, primarily to add color and add extra nutrients.
Dragon fruit contains high levels of vitamin C, beta-carotene, betalain, and lycopene.
Tamarind
Tamarind is a tropical fruit that’s rich in antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C, and calcium. Because of its high fiber content and low acidity, tamarinds can be used to treat digestive disorders.
Tamarinds are also an excellent source of iron, as well as potassium, which helps keep your blood pressure steady by regulating fluid balance in the body.
The flavor of tamarinds can range from sweet to sour, depending on how ripe the fruit is.
Passion fruit
Passion fruit is one of the most delicious fruits on the planet, and it’s perfect if you want to add a little bit of tropical flair to your meal. Passion fruit can be eaten fresh off the vine, or made into a tea.
Passion fruits have a sweet, tart flavor, and are known for their appealing smell. You may find that household products such as candles, lotions, and soaps are made to replicate the smell of passion fruit.
However, passion fruit offers more benefits than just an amazing smell and taste. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber, calcium, and magnesium.
Lychee
Lychee is a sweet fruit that is popular in many tropical regions. It’s used in many different foods, including jams and jellies, cocktails, wine, and more. The fruit is also high in vitamin C and lycopene.
Lychees can also be enjoyed fresh, and have a flavor similar to watermelon or pear.
Guava
Guava is a tropical fruit that originated in the Amazon and is now grown worldwide. This delicious, pinkish-purple fruit is high in vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants and potassium. It also contains significant amounts of vitamin A and B6.
Guava has been used as a food source for nearly 5,000 years! The Mayans enjoyed guava by cutting it into slices or mixing it with honey to make preserves called “guaymotes” (which translates to “little gourds”).
Tropical Fruits You Should Be Eating: Final Thoughts
Tropical fruits are rich in nutrients and antioxidants, which help keep your skin healthy, improve your heart health, and even make it easier to concentrate. They’re also beautiful when displayed on a platter to share with friends at a party or event.
If you’re looking for a way to add some more flavor to your diet, these fruits are the way to go. As you add more tropical fruits to your diet, use the Lil’ Broc app in order to track the shelf life of your fresh produce and ensure that it is all eaten while fresh.