Exotic & Rare
Jackfruit, lychee, rambutan, mangosteen, soursop, persimmon, fig, pomegranate
20 articles in this section
Jackfruit: The Largest Tree Fruit in the World
Native to the Indian rainforest, the jackfruit can weigh over 50kg and feed a family. The story of this overlooked giant, and how to grow one.
Lychee: The Chinese Imperial Fruit
Lychees were so prized in 8th-century China that Emperor Xuanzong built imperial relays to deliver fresh fruit to his concubine. A 2,000-year history.
Rambutan: The Hairy Cousin of the Lychee
Native to Southeast Asia, the rambutan looks alien and tastes like a relative of lychee — fragrant, sweet-tart, and tropical.
Mangosteen: The Queen of Fruits
Often called the world's most delicious fruit. The mangosteen is a Southeast Asian rainforest tree producing snow-white sweet-tart segments.
Pomegranate: The Persian Fruit of Kings
One of the oldest cultivated fruits on Earth, the pomegranate is featured in religious texts from Persia to Israel to ancient Greece. A guide.
Fig: The Oldest Cultivated Fruit on Earth
Carbonized fig remains from 11,400 years ago suggest figs may be the oldest cultivated plant. The story of this Mediterranean staple, and how to grow it.
Persimmon: The Japanese Autumn Fruit
East Asian persimmons are one of autumn's great fruits — when ripe. A guide to astringent vs non-astringent varieties and how to grow them.
Breadfruit: The Tree That Caused the Mutiny on the Bounty
Breadfruit drove Captain Bligh's notorious Pacific voyage. The story of a Polynesian staple that nearly changed Caribbean history.
Cacao: The Chocolate Fruit (Yes, It Is a Fruit)
Chocolate comes from the seeds of a tropical fruit pod. The 4,000-year journey of cacao from Mesoamerican royalty to global confection.
Açaí: The Amazonian Palm Berry
Açaí is the small dark fruit of an Amazon rainforest palm. The story of a regional staple that became a global "superfood."
Kiwano: The Spiky African Horned Melon
Kiwano is a spiky orange melon from sub-Saharan Africa with electric green jelly inside. The story of one of the world's strangest fruits.
Black Sapote: The Chocolate Pudding Fruit
When ripe, the black sapote's flesh tastes exactly like chocolate pudding. The story of this Mexican rainforest persimmon relative.
Mamey Sapote: The Caribbean Salmon-Fleshed Fruit
Mamey sapote has the texture of a sweet potato and the flavor of pumpkin, almond, and sweet cherry. A Caribbean staple of remarkable richness.
Soursop (Graviola): The Tropical Lung-Shaped Fruit
Soursop is a large green spiny fruit native to the American tropics, with white sweet-tart flesh used in juices and traditional medicine.
Jabuticaba: The Brazilian Trunk-Fruit
Jabuticaba fruits grow directly on the trunk of the tree, not on branches. The story of this stunning Brazilian native and how to grow one.
Ackee: Jamaica's National Fruit — Delicious and Dangerous
Ackee is Jamaica's national fruit — and it can kill you if eaten unripe. The story of this West African import and the science of Jamaican vomiting sickness.
Noni: The Polynesian Voyaging Fruit
Polynesian voyagers carried noni across the Pacific for centuries. The story of this pungent fruit, its traditional uses, and the modern supplement boom.
Pawpaw: The American Tropical Forgotten by Americans
The American pawpaw is a custard-fleshed tropical-tasting native fruit that grows wild from Texas to Ontario. The story of America's native banana.
Miracle Berry: The West African Fruit That Makes Sour Taste Sweet
Miracle berries contain miraculin, a protein that briefly rewires taste receptors so sour foods taste sweet. The science and story of this West African oddity.
Camu Camu: The Highest Natural Vitamin C in the Amazon
Camu camu contains 30-60 times more vitamin C than oranges by weight. The story of this Amazonian floodplain fruit and its modern supplement boom.