Tamarillo is a small shrub or tree that’s native to the Andean regions of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. The small egg-shaped fruits are succulent and have a slightly sweet to subacid flavor of the pulp. The flavors are often described as similar to kiwi and underripe tomatoes.
Tamarillo fruits are used in numerous sweet and savory dishes, beverages, salads, dips, spreads, chutneys, pickles, jams, and sweet or savory sauces. In Ecuador, cooks make a tamarillo sauce by mixing the fruits with garlic, onions, salt, hot peppers, and spices such as coriander.
Pequi (lat. Caryocar brasiliense), also known as souari nut, is a fruit native to Brazil and commonly found in the Brazilian Cerrado region. It is a small, round fruit with thick, yellow, or orange skin that is covered in small, sharp spines.
Inside the fruit is a large seed surrounded by bright yellow pulp. The pulp has a distinct flavor and aroma, often described as a combination of citrus, pine, and almonds. It is known for its strong, unique taste and is often used in traditional Brazilian cuisine.
Peach palm fruit is the edible fruit of the peach palm tree (lat. Bactris gasipaes). This tropical palm is cultivated for both its fruit and its heart of palm, making it an important crop in various parts of Central and South America.
The fruit itself is small, typically about the size of a large olive or small peach, and has a hard, thick skin ranging in color from yellow to orange to red when ripe. Nutritionally, peach palm fruit is rich in carbohydrates, dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, and contains some protein.
JUBAEA CHILENSIS WINE PALM IS ENDANGERED. Coquito nuts are the fruits of Jubaea chilensis wine palm, which is native to the coastal areas of Chile. Visually, the nuts look similar to tiny coconuts, while the flavor of the firm white interior is sweet and reminiscent of almonds.
The texture is crunchy, and the whole coquito can be eaten in a single bite. Locals eat them raw and cooked, and the nuts can be added to cakes, ice cream, jellies, and cookies due to their crunch texture and nutty flavors. In Chile, these nuts grow wild, but they're also available in stores and markets.
Mountain papaya is an evergreen softwood tree that’s native to the Andes from southern Colombia to central Chile, but it’s also cultivated in subtropical and cool mountain climates of Southeast Asia and Africa. The tree produces fruits that have soft flesh with many round brown seeds.
When fully ripe, the fruits are slightly tart and acidic with an intense aroma. They’re usually enjoyed fresh or sprinkled with sugar. The fruits are also used to produce jellies and marmalades. Mountain papaya can be stewed and served as dessert, while chunks of the fruit are sometimes preserved in syrup.
Camu camu (lat. Myrciaria dubia) is a small, sour fruit native to the Amazon rainforest, particularly in regions of Peru and Brazil. It grows on a bushy tree that thrives in the swampy or flooded areas of the rainforest.
The fruit is roughly cherry-sized and has a purplish-red skin with a yellow pulp, bearing a resemblance to a large grape or a small plum. Camu camu is best known for its extraordinarily high vitamin C content, often cited as one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C in the world, surpassing many citrus fruits.
A passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) variety that grows wild in the province of Misiones in the Parana Forest of northeastern Argentina, mburucuya is distinguished by bright green leaves, white flowers, and shallow roots. This perennial climbing plant bears edible yellow or purple berries which are oval or spherical and contain a mucilaginous, juicy pulp with numerous seeds.
The flowering period depends on the weather and latitude, and it typically takes place in spring or fall, although it can sometimes last even for up to 9 months in a row. The fruit of this plant can be consumed fresh or it can be processed into a golden-yellow-colored fruit juice with a distinctive aroma and flavor.
Cocona is a tropical fruit growing in South America and the Andean region. It is characterized by its thin, yet tough skin, and a tart, fruity flavor. Cocona's flesh is very similar to that of a tomato, and it is often used in the preparation of sauces, juices, ice creams, and desserts.
The fruit is very rich in vitamin B5 and iron, making it a healthy, yet flavorful and versatile ingredient for numerous culinary uses.
Cape gooseberry is a plump yellow fruit, yielded from an unusual perennial plant native to high-altitude areas. The plant and the fruit share the same name, and are believed to have originated in Brazil, from where they spread to other South American highland regions, and eventually to other continents, primarily southern African regions and Australia, where they are still cultivated and used as a common ingredient.
Ripe cape gooseberry has golden yellow or light orange color, smooth skin, and its insides are filled with barely noticeable seeds. The fruit is usually no bigger than a grape pod. It has a sweet and slightly tart taste, which makes it a perfect ingredient that is commonly incorporated in sweet pies, tarts, cakes, or jams.
Native to South America, aguaymanto (Physalis peruviana), called topotopo in the indigenous Quechua language, is a perennial herb that produces edible, round, yellowish-orange berries which have a soft, succulent flesh characterized by a pleasant, tangy sweetness.
Mainly distributed in Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and the Argentine provinces of Salta and Jujuy, the plant is typically gathered from the wild, and it is closely related to tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes. The indigenous populations, including the Incas, have long consumed the fruits of the aguaymanto plant.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “10 Worst Rated South American Fruits” list until February 16, 2025, 1,102 ratings were recorded, of which 645 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.