Unique Caribbean Fruits to Try on Vacation

By Kenya Barrett


While the Caribbean is known for its stunning beaches and exotic cuisine, this region is also home to a bunch of tasty fruits that you’ve probably never heard of. Some are sweet, some are tart, but all are authentic to Caribbean culture. Read on to discover a few of the most unique fruit in the Caribbean.


Soursop

Soursop is a dark green fruit about the size of a pear and features a prickly outer texture. Originally cultivated in various regions of Central America and the Caribbean, this fruit has become widely popular due to its health benefits and distinctive taste.

High in Vitamin C and Calcium, the soursop fruit bears flesh similar to a banana with a flavor that is comparable to the mixture of an apple and a strawberry. The fruit received its name due to its slightly acidic flavor but is still consumed in smoothies, juices, and just as a fruit. However, eat with caution, as the seeds of this tasty fruit contain components that are toxic to humans.


Plantains

Sweet plantains are a major staple in Caribbean culture with a large percentage of meals featuring the fruit. Part of the banana family, this large fruit is somewhat inedible and uncooked as it is very starchy and similar in texture to raw potato. However, when cooked – whether through frying or boiling – plantains serve as a delicious snack, side dish, or a main meal.

The flavors are similar to bananas but tend to be a bit sweeter and firmer, especially when fried. Countries in which plantains are common include Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and portions of Central and South America.


Ackee

Ackee, also known as ackee apple or ankye, is an orange-colored fruit (when ripe) from the soapberry family. With origins in tropical West Africa, ackee currently serves as the national fruit of Jamaica with the national dish also being ackee and saltfish. While many compare the fruit’s cooked consistency to creamy scrambled eggs, others claim the taste is similar to a nut or legume.

Ackee certainly is not your average fruit; in the culinary sense, it is used more as a vegetable. The fruit’s yellow flesh is called an aril and when ripened, it is cooked into different Caribbean dishes. It is important to note that the ackee fruit is incredibly toxic when not fully ripped, so it is best to eat when prepared by a professional or someone familiar with it.


Spanish Limes

Similar to ackee, Spanish limes are another fruit in the soapberry family but contain a giant seed in its center. The fruit, also known as guinep, genip, or limoncillo, is about the size of a grape and features a hardened green shell. The flavor is similar to lychee but a bit more tart, especially if it isn’t fully ripened. Spanish limes are more likely found in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. However, they have been popularized all around the Caribbean.

To enjoy the Spanish limes, you must crack the outer shell which reveals a peach-colored flesh that is edible. One can choose to suck or take small bites of the flesh to ingest – but eat with caution as the seed can be accidentally choked on.


Mamey Sapote

The mamey sapote is a very unique Caribbean fruit, from its taste right down to its color. Popular in Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Caribbean, this fruit ranges from a pinkish-orange to red. It also contains a large brown seed, known as a kernel. Many claim the taste is reminiscent of a mixture between a sweet potato and a peach or apricot. The flesh’s texture is similar to an overripe avocado, and the skin is a cross between sandpaper and peach fuzz.

Mamey sapote is most commonly used in milkshakes and desserts but can be enjoyed simply as is. The seeds can also be pressed into sapayul oil that can be used for cooking or beauty products. Likewise, the fruit is high in various vitamins and minerals including Vitamin C, riboflavin, and manganese.


Papaya

Originally named “pawpaw,” by the Arawak people, the papaya fruit first originated in Mesoamerica but quickly spread to other surrounding countries including the Dominican Republic and even India. The papaya is considered a large orange-colored berry and grows to be about anywhere between 3 and 20 inches long. The flavor is similar to a mango infused with a cantaloupe, with a texture like a ripe avocado.

Papayas can be eaten raw, without its skin or seeds, and are sometimes used in sauces and jams/jellies. The seeds are also edible and are known to have a rather spicy aftertaste, while the leaves of a papaya tree can be steamed and eaten like spinach.


June plum

Also known as a golden apple, the June plum was first introduced to Jamaica in 1782 before spreading to the nearby Caribbean islands. By the 20th century, the fruit was being cultivated in Panama, Cuba, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, and even South Florida. This green fruit features a hardened outer skin that is inedible with yellow tart flesh inside. The crunch of the flesh is comparable to an apple, while the flavor is similar to an infusion between a mango and pineapple.

As a raw fruit, June plums can be enjoyed with a dash of salt or even sugar. The fruit is more commonly used as a base in sauces, soups, and various stews. Additionally, June plums can be enjoyed as a drink or even in a chutney.


Guava

Native to the tropics, the guava fruit got its name from the Arawak people back in the 16th century. While there are several varieties of the fruit, the most common types are green with pink flesh and are found in tropical and subtropical regions including Southern North America, Central America, Mexico, and northern South America.

Guava tend to grow to be about 4 inches long and are generally oval shaped depending on the species. While the outer skin of the fruit possesses a rather bitter taste, the flesh is notably sweet and comparable to a cross between a strawberry and a pear. Like many of the fruits on this list, guavas are commonly used as a base for products like agua frescas, guava jelly, and guava seed oil.

Which of these unique fruits will you try on your next trip to the Caribbean?

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