The Season’s Best Exotic Fruits At The Organic World

The Season’s Best Exotic Fruits At The Organic World

Author: The Organic World
Time: 6-7 minutes

While we all love apples, bananas and oranges, why not introduce your tastebuds to a few new flavours? All through this month, you will be able to pick from a selection of exotic fruits available at The Organic World. Here’s what’s on offer!

MANGOSTEEN

Believed to be native to Southeast Asia, this exquisite tropical fruit has earned the sobriquet of ‘Queen of Fruits’ for its unique taste. In India, mangosteen is grown in the southwest of the country, in parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. The fruit has dark purple skin with a largely leathery texture. The pulp is white and fleshy and divided into segments with seeds. The most alluring part of this lychee-like fruit is its taste: defying categorisation, it has often been described as having a mix of peach, lychee, pineapple and strawberry flavours – tangy, sour and sweet all at once. 

Mangosteen is rich in vitamins and antioxidants and helps in boosting immunity. It is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. Mangosteen is also high in potassium, copper, magnesium and manganese, which could help regulate blood pressure. Its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties are good for your skin and it is high in fibre as well. The best way to enjoy the fruit is to eat it fresh and at The Organic World, you can find fresh organic mangosteen, which you can add to a fruit salad, blend it into a smoothie or enjoy as a juice. 

Did You Know? It was rumoured in the late 19th century that Queen Victoria would bestow a knighthood on anyone who brought her the fresh fruit, owing to how fast it spoiled. Mangosteen is also the National Fruit of Thailand.

DRAGONFRUIT

Pinkish red skin dotted with green scales reminiscent of a dragon (hence the name), a white fleshy interior peppered with tiny black flecks … the dragon fruit is easily one of the most exotic fruits that you can find today. Once the sole purview of hotel buffet breakfasts, today the fruit is growing in popularity across the country. While India would get most of its dragon fruit imported from Vietnam, today, local cultivation in states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka is on the rise. 

The white fleshy pulp flecked with edible black seeds has a mild taste, often being described as a cross between a pear and kiwi. The fruit has numerous health benefits; it is extremely low in cholesterol and high in fibre and thus good for overall heart health. It is rich in potassium, which plays a key role in maintaining the acid balance of our body. It contains substantial amounts of vitamin C and antioxidants, which are immunity boosters and good for your skin as well. The best way to eat the fruit is to cut it in half, scoop out the flesh with a spoon and enjoy! You can also add it to fruit salads, enjoy it with a dash of honey or in a smoothie. 

Did You Know? The fruit is called Pitaya in several parts of India

BUTTER FRUIT/AVOCADO

The widespread popularity of this rich buttery fruit across India and the world is testimony to just how nutrient-rich it is. Little wonder then that avocados are considered a superfood! Native to southern Mexico, the fruit is grown in several countries. In India, it is grown in select areas in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Sikkim. 

This pear-shaped fruit has a green outer skin and a yellow or light green flesh with a hard seed at the center. When ripe, the flesh is soft and deliciously creamy, imbued with a rich, nutty flavour. And the beauty of avocado lies in its versatility. From the tangy guacamole to chunky pieces in a salad, or combined with boiled eggs on a toast, there are many ways to relish this fruit. And did we mention an avocado smoothie or ice cream?

Avocados are rich in good fats – monounsaturated oils – and are a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals. They have anti-inflammatory properties; rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, they are good for your joints, keeping them lubricated and pain free. Containing high amounts of potassium and antioxidants, along with the good fats, they are good for heart health and regulating cholesterol levels. Pregnant women can benefit from the good amounts of folate in avocados. A fibre-rich fruit, these also help in digestion. 

Did You Know? In Aztec culture, avocados symbolise love and fertility.

RAMBUTAN

Don’t be surprised if you mistake the rambutan for a sea urchin – with its glossy red and green skin, covered with hairy soft spikes, this golf ball-sized fruit is as exotic as they come. Native to Southeast Asia, rambutan is related to the lychee family of fruits. In India, it is grown in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra. 

Remove the skin and below it you will find the white, translucent, juicy flesh with a seed in the centre. It has a creamy, sweet and tart taste, a bit like lychee or grapes. The best way to eat the rambutan is to eat the flesh as is. You can also pick our organic rambutans to make a juice or a smoothie, or in fruit salads and in a salsa as well. In some countries, the fruit is added to curries. 

Rambutans are rich in Vitamin C, which boosts your immunity, helps your body absorb iron and also acts as an antioxidant to help protect body cells. It also contains beneficial amounts of minerals such as copper, manganese and phosphorus among others as well as Vitamin A. Rambutans are a good source of fibre – both soluble and insoluble – and aid in digestion. They are a good source of hydration and low in calories. 

Did You Know? The word “rambutan” has its roots in the Indonesian and Malay word “rambut”, which means hair.