Exotic glossary

The mangosteen comes from the mangosteen tree; a flowering tree native to Southeast Asia that can reach up to 25 meters in height. The shell of the fruit forms a small, dark purple round fruit when ripe, with a juicy, sweet, and fibrous white flesh inside. It weighs between 50 and 150 grams and when peeled, its flesh is divided into 5 to 8 quarters. Its taste is complex because it has aromas of peach, pineapple, raspberry, orange and banana all combined. In some cultures, it is considered as the "King" of fruits.

The breadfruit comes from a fruit tree of the same family as the jackfruit and is native to Asia and Oceania. When ripe and cooked, the texture of its flesh resembles fresh bread from which it takes its name. Its taste is similar to that of a potato. Breadfruit is considered a staple food in some countries, as it provides the energy required to sustain yourself longer. 

The chayote is a fruit native to Mexico and Central America. The fruit comes from a plant where the stems are several meters long. The chayote is a squash about ten centimeters long and can weigh up to 2 kilos. Its shape imitates that of the pear. The chayote is in the fruit family, but is used as a vegetable.

The cherimoya is a fruit native to Central America. Its name means '’cold seeds’' because it can grow at high altitudes. The cherimoya is a shrub of 2 to 7 meters and Spain is the largest producer of this fruit. It is also where the fruit is most widely consumed. 

The bitter melon is the fruit of a climbing plant native to Asia. The height of this plant can reach 5 meters in length and it is cultivated in hot or temperate climates. The fruit, leaves and seeds are edible and are known for its medicinal benefits. 

The l ychee comes from a fruity tree native to China. It is of the same family as the rambutan and the longan. Its culture can be traced back more than 2000 years. The fruit is surrounded by a rough shell and grows on hanging bunches of the lychee tree, which can reach up to 20 meters.

The guava is a fruit native to Central America, Asia and Africa. The fruit grows on a tree called the guava tree which can reach up to 8 meters. The skin of the guava is thin and fragile and its fragrance is strong. For some varieties, its skin is pitted with black when ripe. Its perfume is very appreciated and frequently used.

The dragon fruit (or pitaya) is the exotic fruit of a different species of cactus. It has a bright and vivid color and a very fine taste. Its skin can vary from yellow to bright red depending on the different varieties.

The passion fruit comes from a climbing plant native to Paraguay, Brazil and northeastern Argentina. This subtropical plant does not tolerate well the cold weather and that is why it is cultivated in warm countries. At maturity, its fruit is a purple berry, 3 to 4 cm in diameter, containing many black seeds, surrounded by edible flesh. There is also a yellow variety called the Maracuya.

The pomegranate is the fruit of the pomegranate tree, native to Asia. The pomegranate has been cultivated for several centuries. There are 1200 varieties of pomegranates cultivated either for their flowers or their fruits. However, the most popular varieties are the Wonderful in Israel, the Mollar and Tendrar in Spain, and the Hicaz in Turkey.

The fig is a fruit that has been cultivated for thousands of years, originating from the Mediterranean basin. The fig is the fruit of the fig tree. However, it is considered as a false fruit because its bulb closes thousands of tiny flowers that must be fertilized. There are several varieties such as black, yellow and brown figs.

The starfruit (or carambola) is a fruit of the carambola tree native to tropical regions of Asia. The acidity of this fruit varies according to the variety and when sliced, it has the shape of a star.

The finger lime comes from a thorny bush in eastern Australia. The plant can reach up to 7 meters high. When cut, the citrus contains small vesicles resembling pearls of caviar that detach naturally.

The cactus pear is a berry that grows on the prickly pear tree and is native to Mexico. It is customary in some countries to have the pear peeled by the seller when buying because of its thorns. Its color and taste varies according to the variety (red, white and yellow).

The Buddha hand is an aromatic citrus fruit native to northeast India and China. It is an Asian variety of citron that can be recognized by its unique finger-like shape. It is a yellowish citrus fruit that grows in a small tree. It is very fragrant and mainly used to perfume rooms and personal effects.

The jicama is a root vegetable native to Central America and mainly Mexico. It is part of the Fabaceae family and grows on a climbing plant. This vegetable has a unique shape that reminds us of a spinning top.

The Jackfruit is native to India. It belongs to the same family as the breadfruit. It is cultivated in tropical regions and is the largest fruit growing on a fruit tree. It can weigh up to 45 kilos.