Best Southeast Asian Fruits (types and products) Types
Mangosteen, also known as purple mangosteen, is a tropical plant grown for its sweet fruit. Its origin is believed be on the Sunda Islands, now divided between Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and East Timor. Mangosteen is characterized by its dark purple, firm shell which covers and protects the edible white fruit.
The texture of the fruit is soft, juicy, and delicate, while the flavor is sweet with slight hints of tartness. The fruit is usually enjoyed plain, but it can also be incorporated in various baked desserts, mixed salads, custards, smoothies, teas, or ice creams.
Pisang raja (lat. Musa paradisiaca var. Raja) is a highly prized variety of banana in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia.
The name pisang raja literally translates to "king of bananas" in Indonesian, reflecting its esteemed status among banana varieties due to its superior taste and texture. Pisang raja bananas are known for their delightful sweetness, creamy texture, and a slight hint of citrus.
Lady Finger banana is a small, sweet variety of banana distinguished from others by its size, taste, and texture. It is significantly smaller and thinner than the more commonly known Cavendish banana, typically measuring about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) in length.
What sets the Lady Finger banana apart is its exceptionally sweet flavor and creamy texture, making it a favorite for fresh eating. Its sweetness is often compared to that of honey, and it has a delicate, almost floral flavor profile. The skin of the Lady Finger banana is thin and the flesh is less dense compared to larger banana varieties, contributing to its unique texture.
Calamansi (lat. Citrus × microcarpa) is a small citrus fruit hybrid native to the Philippines and widely used across Southeast Asia.
The fruit is spherical, typically about 20 to 25 millimeters in diameter, and has a green to golden yellow color when ripe. Despite its small size, calamansi packs a flavorful punch and is highly aromatic. The taste of calamansi is a unique blend of sweet and sour, similar to a cross between a lime and a mandarin orange, making it versatile in both culinary and beverage applications.
Ben Tre province in Vietnam is known as the capital of coconuts. The coconut trees hold a special place in the cultural life and the economic development of the province. Due to the salty water with clay mud that’s fertile and rich, the coconuts growing here have excellent conditions, and the fruit yield is higher than in other regions.
The thick coconut shells contain more organic matter, sweeter coconut water, and coconut meat with more fat. The coconut oil accounts for 65% of content in Ben Tre coconuts. The fruit is used to make a lot of things, from beverages and food to household utensils.
Rambutan is a medium-sized evergreen tree originating from the rainforests of western Malaysia and Singapore. The trees produce fruits that are round with leathery skin that’s covered in soft hairlike spines. The colors range from dark red to yellow.
The pulp is subacid to sweet and it contains a single seed. The seeds contain up to 40% fat, which is extracted and used for making soap. In the Philippines, people sometimes roast the seeds and eat them as a snack. The fruits are usually eaten out of hand and they are sold fresh or canned.
Malaysian Musang King, also known as Mao Shan Wang, is considered one of the best durian varieties and is highly sought after for its rich, creamy texture and intense taste. It has a bright yellow flesh that is thick and custard-like, with a complex flavor profile that combines sweetness with a hint of bitterness.
The fruit is large and has a distinctive spiky husk. Although this cultivar was known as Raja Kunyit for at least 200 years, it only gained popularity in the 1980s, when its consistency was stabilized, and the fruit was registered with MARDI (The Malaysian Agricultural and Research Development Institute).
Hoa Loc is the most famous mango variety originating from the Mekong Delta. The mangoes are elongated and have a bright yellow skin when fully ripe. The texture of the yellow flesh is firm, smooth, and low in fiber, while the aroma is fragrant and the flavor is exceptionally sweet.
These mangoes were first grown in 1930 in Hoa Hung commune, Cai Be district, Tien Giang province (formerly known as Hoa Loc commune, Giao Duc district, Dinh Tuóng province). Hoa Loc mango is mainly eaten fresh out of hand or used in fruit salads.
Pulasan is an evergreen tree with a short trunk that’s native to western Malaysia and Singapore. The tree produced fruits that are ovoid, dark red to red or rarely yellow in color, with a thick leathery exterior that’s covered in short and soft spines.
The pulp is sweet and juicy with a single seed. The fruits are usually eaten fresh or used for preparing fruit jam. They‘re a great source of calcium, vitamin C, and carbohydrates. The seeds are edible when raw and their flavor is reminiscent of almonds.
Phan Thiết is famous for its dragon fruit. Originally, the fruit was grown for ancestral offerings, but soon the Vietnamese realized its economic potential, and nowadays, dragon fruit farms cover thousands of hectares of land. Almost all plantation owners will give visitors a tour of the crops and serve them dragon fruit with a cup of tea.
The recent red dragon fruit is a favorite of many people as it has a nice color and a pure sweet flavor. Many restaurants in the area offer dragon fruit menus filled with different dishes – from appetizers, main dishes, and side dishes to drinks and desserts.
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