{"id":3911,"date":"2011-08-06T10:38:05","date_gmt":"2011-08-06T18:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.funcage.com\/blog\/?p=3911"},"modified":"2011-08-06T10:44:30","modified_gmt":"2011-08-06T18:44:30","slug":"top-10-strange-and-forgotten-fruits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.funcage.com\/blog\/top-10-strange-and-forgotten-fruits\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Strange And Forgotten Fruits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite what the nutritional experts have to say about getting people to eat more fruits and vegetables, we all know what an uphill battle that can be. \u00a0Part of the challenge can be simple boredom due to lack of choices. \u00a0For a little variety, check out these strange and forgotten fruits for fitness and health.<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Fingered Citron<\/strong>
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\nPhoto Credit<\/a><\/p>\n

Otherwise known as the Buddha\u2019s Hand, this odd-looking fruit resembles nothing so much as an arthritic hand. \u00a0A staple of diets in China and Japan for centuries, this strange fruit is a member of the Citron family, which pre-dates the more well-known citrus fruits. \u00a0The rind and white flesh are edible and often served candied, while the center-most part of the fruit is sour and usually goes uneaten. \u00a0The rind is frequently used as an air freshener in homes, or as a natural insect repellent. \u00a0Curiously enough, it also has a place in many religious ceremonies.<\/p>\n

2. \u00a0Ugli<\/strong>
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\nPhoto Credit<\/a><\/p>\n

Who wouldn\u2019t at least take a moment to laugh about a fruit that goes by the name of ugli? \u00a0The only fruit with a name that begins with the letter \u201cu\u201d, its taste is anything but ugly. \u00a0Native to Jamaica, this tangerine-grapefruit hybrid combines sweet and sour in a combination usually only found in man-made candy.
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\n3. \u00a0Noi-na<\/strong>
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\nPhoto Credit<\/a><\/p>\n

Called a \u201csugar apple\u201d here, the Noi-na is indigeneous to Thailand. \u00a0Looking like a cross between a green raspberry and an artichoke, this yellow-green fruit is eaten like a grapefruit. \u00a0Once ripe, the fruit break in half easily, to reveal the superbly sweet pulp.<\/p>\n

4. \u00a0Dragon Fruit<\/strong>
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\nPhoto Credit<\/a><\/p>\n

My youngest son went nuts when he heard about this unique fruit. \u00a0Fascinated with dragons, he imagined it to be the food that fuels their ability to create fire. \u00a0Fortunately, it doesn\u2019t impart that ability, but the pitaya fruit, which can be found across Asia and South America, is another fruit that combines sweet and sour in a way appealing to the taste-buds of children. \u00a0The fruit of the pitaya is filled with crunchy, edible seeds, while the pulp has a texture similar to that of the kiwi fruit.<\/p>\n

5. \u00a0Pawpaw Fruit<\/strong>
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\nPhoto Credit<\/a><\/p>\n

The Paw-Paw is North America\u2019s forgotten equivalent to the more well-known banana. \u00a0The largest fruit to be found in North America, this green fruit can be found across the southeast U.S. \u00a0Shorter and thicker than the widely available yellow banana, this fruit is prized across its home range.<\/p>\n

6. \u00a0Star Fruit<\/strong>
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\nPhoto Credit<\/a><\/p>\n

Called so for its unique shape, the carombola is native to Sri Lanka. \u00a0Fortunately, its unique flavor, coupled with the pleasing flavor has prompted its cultivation around the world. \u00a0Tasting somewhat like a grape, lemon, and mango all rolled together, the tart star fruit is popular with kids, who adore the tart combination of flavors. \u00a0This unique fruit is high in oxalic acid, which can lead to problems for kidney stone sufferers, so beware if that\u2019s a problem.<\/p>\n

7. \u00a0Urucu<\/strong>
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\nPhoto Credit<\/a><\/p>\n

Native to the Amazon, the urucu looks like a cross between a Venus flytrap and an oyster. \u00a0The menacing-looking fruit opens to yield red seeds that are the best naturally occurring source of the pigment annatto. \u00a0In culinary uses, the seeds are ground up and used as a paste to flavor many Latin American dishes.<\/p>\n

8. \u00a0Jabuticaba<\/strong>
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\nPhoto Credit<\/a><\/p>\n

The fruit of the Brazilian Grape Tree grows to 1-2 inches in diameter, and is prized for a flavor similar to that of black grapes. \u00a0Growing directly on the trunk of the tree, the uninitiated are often confused when they see this large black fruit. \u00a0With a shelf life on the order of 3-5 days, this sweet fruit is difficult to find outside its home range. \u00a0However, it is often used to prepare jellies and jams, to impart a unique sweet flavor to foods.<\/p>\n

9. \u00a0Monster Fruit<\/strong>
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\nPhoto Credit<\/a><\/p>\n

The delicious monster fruit is native to the tropical rainforests of southern Mexico and Panama. \u00a0The decorative plant grows as a creeping vine, producing a 10-12 inch long fruit that looks somewhat similar to green corn. \u00a0Unripe fruit has an unpleasant odor, but once the scales have popped off, the tasty pineapple-like fruit below can be cut away and eaten.<\/p>\n

10. \u00a0Ackee Fruit<\/strong>
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\nPhoto Credit<\/a><\/p>\n

The national fruit of Jamaica, a cart of ackee fruit looks like cart full of eyes. \u00a0Preparing the ackee for eating takes special knowledge of this fruit, as only the inner yellow flesh, known as the arils, are edible. \u00a0Improper preparation can lead to a condition known as Jamaican vomiting sickness. \u00a0However, when properly handles, ackee fruit is a rich source of vitamin A, essential fats, zinc, and protein.<\/p>\n

About the author: \u00a0Greg Hayes is the author of Live Fit Blog, where he writes about fitting fitness into busy lives. \u00a0To find out more about how to choose healthy snacks<\/a> to help lose weight and get fit, check it out!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Despite what the nutritional experts have to say about getting people to eat more fruits and vegetables, we all know what an uphill battle that can be. \u00a0Part of the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":54363,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,687],"tags":[981,979,983,978,975,982,977,984,976,980],"class_list":["post-3911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting","category-nature","tag-citrus-fruits","tag-dragon-fruit","tag-fitness-and-health","tag-fruits-and-vegetables","tag-grapefruit-hybrid","tag-nutritional-experts","tag-pitaya-fruit","tag-strange-fruit","tag-sweet-pulp","tag-taste-buds"],"yoast_head":"\nTop 10 Strange And Forgotten Fruits - FunCage<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.funcage.com\/blog\/top-10-strange-and-forgotten-fruits\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Top 10 Strange And Forgotten Fruits - 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