6 Weird Fruits Around The World

We all have heard about the popular idiom, "If life gives you lemons make lemonade" simply meaning make the most of the resources/ situation you are in. Well here's another, “ To not give a fig” meaning to not care at all about something. There are innumerable idioms for popular fruits, and each uses the size or a special characteristic of fruits and then links it up to real life situations.

These idioms are also a simple affirmation that Mother Earth nurtures fruits of different shapes and sizes and characteristics. Lets look at the some of the different yet facinating variety of fruits that mother Nature has to offer.

The Asian Watermeal found in Southeast Asian countries is known to the smallest known fruit in the world. It is about 0.7 to 1.5 millimeters in size. If you do manage to see this and actually hold one single fruit in your palm, you would probably need a hand lens to see how this tiny speck literally disappears in your palm. However, this tiny fruit is packed with proteins and is an alluring addition to milkshakes, soups and omelets.

Now lets move on the largest fruit. The current record for the world's largest fruit is held by Atlantic Giant Pumpkin. This mammoth sized fruit weighs about 1054 Kgs. Its the same weight as that of an average Black Rhino.

This mammoth fruit consumes a gigantic quantity of water, fertilizers and space. A single pumpkin can cover upto 1,200 square feet and will need up to 500 gallons of water a week.

How about some unconventional fruits 

Salak ( Snake fruit) 
 This cherry sized, tart and chewy fruit belongs to the palm family and is grown in Indonesia. Its outer skin resembles the snake skin and is the first feature to catch anyone's attention.

Once you peel, you have a thin film, that is highly recommended to be eaten along with the fruit. It has a plush and juicy beige/almost yellow colored interior. Its power packed with beta-carotene, fiber, iron, vitamin C, and protein.

It’s also considered to be good for memory due to high potassium content that enhances cognitive function. So next time you walk down the markets in Bali, do not forget to take a bite into this unusual fruit.

Rose Apple (Champoo): As the Chinese proverb goes, “A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses”, the smell & even the taste of this South Asian fruit will leave you mesmerised.

This fruit not only smells but also tastes like roses. This rare fruit is red in colour, pear shaped, and very crunchy to eat. It can be eaten in its entireity just like an apple. It is rich in fibre, calcium & potassium

Mangosteen: This thick purple coloured fruit is found in Southeast Asia and Southwest India. Its an average looking small sized fruit & purple in color. However, when opened it has a white multi - segmented flesh that looks like a garlic bulb.

This fruit is rich in anti-oxidants that protects the body from harmful free radicals. It tastes like citrus with a touch of peach.

Dragon fruit : Perhaps one of the most dramatic fruits in our list is the Dragon Fruit. It belongs to the Cactus family and is found in the Americas. It has a pinkish leather like exterior with green long spikes.

The interior is contrastingly soft and mushy and is flecked with small black seeds. This fruit continues to surprise you as its taste is very subtle, and almost has no particular taste. Its rich in Calcium, fibre and Vitamin C and low in calories.

Rambutan : The Rambutan fruit is native to Indonesian region and Southeast Asia. Rambutan means, “hair” in Malay. True to its name, this is a hairy ball like fruit.

Once you peel open the fruit you will find the glass like white interior welcoming. The fruit is simply soft and sweet. This fruit is useful for weight loss, prevent anaemia & improves bone health.

Buddha's hand : The fruit simply resembles a hand with fingers. Its finger like sections resemble Buddha's representation & was thus known as Buddha's hand in China, Japan, Korea & Vietnam.

This fruit belongs to the Citron family and is traced back to northeastern India or China. Some studies that they are grown in the Himalayas. The fruit can be consumed fully unlike other fruits found in the Citrus family.

This fruit's fragrance sets it apart. It is used largely for its fragrance and weird looks as it is used in making perfumes & as a decorative terrace hanging plant. It also has medicinal properties and helps soothe gastrointestinal distress, boost the immune system, reduce inflammation.

There is one common feature amongst all these different fruit varieties -they are packed in some of kind of nutrients and help boost human health.

So while you binge on your usual fruits take every chance to try out the unusual ones and reap their benefits. The more weirder the fruit the more adventurous the fruit experience!