Thanks Manudev Ji for nice shots and Info On Mon, Jul 25, 2011 at 6:44 PM, promila chaturvedi < [email protected]> wrote:
> MR. Madhawan, > thanks for the information about thses fruits. atleast I have eaten > five-six type of fruits from this list. Being a fruit lover, my mouth > started watering. > Promila > > On Mon, Jul 25, 2011 at 11:25 AM, manudev madhavan < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Got this forwarded mail from my friend.... >> >> >> >> >> >> *Top 20 Fruits You Probably Don’t Know* >> >> 192 >> I was playing a game the other day, in which you have to come up with >> fruit that starts with every letter of the alphabet. Apple, banana, cherry…. >> and that is about where I hit a blank. My epic failure at this game made me >> do some research and what I discovered was a whole world of delicious >> looking fruit that I had never even known about! I was completely shocked to >> find that there are actually hundreds of different types of fruit (no need >> to include them all as omissions in the comments), most of which I had never >> even heard of. This list is not to rank the fruit, but rather just to inform >> you about them. The only fruit on this list I consider ranked is No: 1, as >> it deserves the spot, in clearly being the coolest fruit on the planet. How >> many of these exotically delicious fruit have you tried? >> >> *20* >> >> Sugar Apple >> >> *Annona squamosa* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Sugar Apples or Sweetsop, is native to the tropical Americas, but is also >> widely grown in Pakistan, India and the Philippines. The fruit looks a bit >> like a pine cone, and are about 10 cm in diameter. Under the hard, lumpy >> skin is the fragrant, whitish flesh of the fruit, which covers several seeds >> inside, and has a slight taste of custard. >> >> *19* >> >> Mammee Apple >> >> *Mammea americana* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Mammee Apple, Mamey Apple or Santo Domingo Apricot is an evergreen tree, >> native to South America, which was introduced to various other regions of >> the world including West Africa and South East Asia. They can also be found >> in Florida and Hawaii. The Mammee apple is actually a berry and gets up to >> 20 cm in diameter. It has a thick outer rind, with soft orange to yellow >> pulp on the inside. It usually had one seed in the centre, but larger fruit >> have been known to carry up to 4. The pulp is sweet and fragrant. >> >> *18* >> >> Cherymoya >> >> *Annona cherimola* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Cherymoya, or custard apple, is a deciduous plant found in the high lying >> mountainous areas of South America. The fruit is vaguely round and is found >> with 3 types of skin – Impressa (indented), Tuberculate (covered in nodules) >> or intermediate (a combination of the first two). The flesh inside the skin >> is very fragrant, white, juicy and has a custard like consistency. It is >> said that the fruit tastes like a combination of banana, passion fruit, >> papaya and pineapple. Mark Twain said in 1866 “ the most delicious fruit >> known to men, cherimoya” >> >> *17* >> >> Platonia >> >> *Platonia insignis* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Platonia or Bacuri is a large tree (reaching 40m) found in the rain >> forests of Brazil and Paraguay. The fruit become the size of a orange, and >> have a thick yellow peel which oozes a yellow latex when pressed. Inside >> there is a sticky white pulp, wrapped around several black seeds, which >> tastes pleasant and has a sweet and sour flavor. >> >> *16* >> >> Cocona >> >> *Solanum sessiliflorum* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Cocona fruit is another tropical fruit found in the mountainous regions of >> South America. It grows on a small shrub, and can miraculously grow from >> seed to fruit in less than 9 months, after which the fruit will take another >> 2 months to ripen. The fruit is a berry and comes in red, orange or yellow. >> It has a similar appearance to tomatoes, and is said to taste like a mixture >> between tomatoes and lemons. >> >> *15* >> >> Breadfruit >> >> *Artocarpus altilis* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Breadfruit is a large tree, in the mulberry family, found native to the >> Philippines and all the islands in Southeast Asia. The fruit is similar to >> bananas, as they can be eaten raw when ripe, and cooked when unripe. The >> ripe fruit is soft and sweet, while the unripe fruit is harder and starchy, >> which is where it got the name breadfruit from, as it tastes similar to >> freshly baked bread when cooked. >> >> *14* >> >> Duku >> >> *Lansium domesticum* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Duku or lungsat are two very similar fruits found throughout Asia. They >> come from the same family, look and taste identical, with one difference. >> The skin of the lungsat contains a latex substance, which is not poisonous, >> but causes the skin to stick slightly to the fruit, whereas the duku has no >> latex and the peel is removed with more ease. Inside, the fruit has 5 >> segments, some of which has bitter seeds inside. It is a very sweet fruit >> and can be prepared in a number of different ways, including being canned in >> syrup or being dried like raisins. >> >> *13* >> >> Safou >> >> *Dacryodes edulis* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Safou is an evergreen tree found in the humid tropical forests of Africa, >> as far south as Angola, and as far north as Nigeria. The fruits are also >> known as African pears and are oblong dark blue to violet fruits up to 14cm >> in length, with pale green flesh inside. These fatty fruits have been said >> to have the ability to put an end to starvation in Africa, as 48% of the >> fruit is made up of essential fatty acids, amino acids, Vitamins and >> triglycerides. The have estimated that a one hectare plantation would be >> able to produce 7-8 tons of oil, and all parts of the plant can be used. >> >> *12* >> >> Jabuticaba >> >> *Myrciaria cauliflora* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Jabuticaba, or the Brazilian grape tree, is a very strange plant native to >> the South Eastern parts of Brazil. What makes this plant so strange is that >> it fruits from its trunk. No, I did not make that up, and no the picture has >> not been photo shopped. Initially, yellowish white flowers will appear all >> over the trunk and main branches, these flowers will then turn into fruit, >> about 3 – 4cm in diameter. Inside the thick purple skin is the soft >> gelatinous flesh of the fruit, along with 1 – 4 black seeds. The fruit is >> sweet and can be eaten as is or made into a wine or liqueur. Unfortunately, >> the fruit does not keep long when off the tree and will start to ferment >> after about 3 or 4 days. >> >> *11* >> >> Rambutan >> >> *Nephelium lappaceum* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Rambutan is an odd fruit that looks like a furry strawberry from the >> outside, and much like a lychee on the inside. It is native to South East >> Asia, but has been spread and a smaller “wild” version can be found in Costa >> Rica, where it is called a Chinese sucker. The fruit is an oval shape and >> about 3-6 cm in diameter. Inside the slightly hard, but easily peal able >> skin, you can find a soft fruit that tastes slightly sweet, with a possible >> sour tinge. >> >> >> >> *10*Noni >> >> *Morinda citrifolia* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Noni, otherwise known by many different names around the world, including >> the great moringa, Indian mulberry, dog dumpling and pace, is related to the >> coffee bean plant and is native throughout South East Asia and Australasia, >> but is cultivated throughout the tropics. The tree carries fruit throughout >> the year and the fruit tend to have a very pungent odour when ripening (also >> known as the cheese fruit or vomit fruit). Despite the smell, the fruit is >> high in fibre, vitamin A, protein, Iron and calcium, and is the staple diet >> on many Pacific Islands. The fruit can either be cooked into a stew or eaten >> raw with salt. >> >> *9* >> >> Marula >> >> *Sclerocarya birrea* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> The Marula is a deciduous tree native to Southern and Eastern Africa. The >> distribution of the tree throughout Africa, follow the migratory patterns of >> the Bantu people, as it was an important source of food, and they planted >> more trees along their way. The green fruit ripens and turns yellow, the >> white flesh inside is succulent and has a very distinct flavor. After >> falling off the tree, the fruit will start to ferment and these draw in >> animals, like elephants and baboons, for a slightly alcoholic treat. The >> fruit is also used to make a popular liqueur called Amarula, which can be >> found at any duty-free liquor store at airports. >> >> *8* >> >> Salmonberry >> >> *Rubus spectabilis* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Salmonberrys are native to the west coast of North America, stretching >> from midway through Alaska, all the way down to California. They are found >> in moist forests and create dense thickets. The fruit looks similar to >> raspberries, but are more orange in color. They are sweet when eaten raw, >> but are often processed into juice, wine, candies and jams. >> >> *7* >> >> Salak >> >> *Salacca zalacca* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Salak fruit, also known as the snake fruit, comes from a species of palm >> native to Indonesia. These fruit grow at the base of the palm, and gained >> the name snake fruit from their red brown, scaly skin. The skin is easily >> removed, and inside are 3 white, sweet segments that each contain a large >> black inedible seed. When eaten, the fruit have a slightly acidic but sweet >> flavor, and the consistency of apples. >> >> *6* >> >> Bael >> >> *Aegle marmelos* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Bael, wood apple or stone apple is a species native to India, but found >> throughout Southeast Asia. Bael is a smooth fruit with a woody peel that is >> colored yellow, green or grey. The hard, woody, outer peel is so hard that >> it has to be cracked with a hammer. Inside is an aromatic yellow pulp with >> several hairy seeds. The flesh can be eaten either dried or fresh. From the >> fresh fruit, a juice called sharbat can be made, adding water, sugar and >> lime juice to the pulp. It takes just one large fruit to make 6 liters of >> sharbat. >> >> *5* >> >> Star Apple >> >> *Chrysophyllum cainito* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> The Star apple is a fruit native to the low-lying areas of Central America >> and the West Indies. The underside of the evergreen leaves shine with a >> golden color from a distance, and the tree carries small white to purple >> flowers with a sweet fragrance. The fruit is round, purple and has a thick, >> latex filled skin. If the fruit is cut horizontally, a clear star pattern >> can be seen in the white purple pulp. The fruit is delicious fresh, with a >> intense sweet taste. >> >> *4* >> >> Star fruit >> >> *Averrhoa carambola* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Star fruit or carambola is a fruit tree native to the Philippines, but can >> be found throughout Southeast Asia, East Asia, South America, Florida and >> Hawaii. This fruit has five ridges running down its length, which when cut >> sideways, makes the star pattern after which it is named. The fruit is rich >> in Vitamin C, and Antioxidants. The fruit turns a bright yellow when ripe, >> has a waxy skin and the entire fruit is edible, juicy and crunchy. >> >> *3* >> >> Horned melon >> >> *Cucumis metuliferus* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> The horned melon, also known as African cucumber or jelly melon, is an >> annual vine native to Africa, but can now be found grown in California, >> Australia, New Zealand and Chile as well. When ripe, the melon has a thick >> spiky yellow outer skin, with bright green, jelly like flesh. The flesh is >> often compared to the taste of a banana, with the texture of the seedy part >> of a cucumber or tomato. The thick skin can be eaten and is a good source of >> vitamin C and fibre. >> >> *2* >> >> Pitaya >> >> *Hylocereus* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> Pitaya, or dragon fruit, is a cactus fruit that can be found throughout >> Asia, Australasia, North America and South America, even though they are >> believed to be native to Mexico originally. There are two main types of >> pitaya, the sour types, typically eaten in the Americas, and sweet types >> found across Asia. The fruit comes in 3 different color varieties, Labelled >> as red, yellow and Costa Rican pitayas. The “red” fruits are generally a >> bright magenta color on the outside, with yellow flesh. The Yellow Pitaya is >> yellow inside and out, and the Costa Rican pitayas are magenta on the >> outside and the inside. They smell deliciously fragrant and most have a >> sweet flavor similar to a kiwi fruit. >> >> *1* >> >> Miracle Fruit >> >> *Synsepalum dulcificum* >> >> [image: Fun & Info @ Keralites.net] <http://keralites.net/> >> >> The miracle fruit, or sweet berries, is a very strange berry native to >> West Africa. What makes the fruit strange and miraculous, is miraculin (a >> sugar substitute), which is found in large quantities in the fruit, combined >> with a glycoprotein. The fruit itself does not contain a lot of sugar, and >> tastes only mildly sweet but when eaten, the glycoprotein binds to the >> tongues taste buds, which, for about an hour after eating the fruit, >> distorts any other taste into sweetness. With that effect you could >> technically eat a lemon, and it would taste like a ball of syrup. Although >> the definite reason for this occurrence is not fully understood, it would >> seem as if the miraculin distorts the shape of the sweetness receptors in >> the tongue so that they pick up on acid instead of sweetness. The sweetness >> receptors on your tongue then transmit to the brain to taste sweetness when >> they come in contact with any acidity. In the 70s attempts were made to >> commercialize and sell the fruit as a diet aid, as it has the potential to >> turn any meal sweet, without affecting your calorie intake. These attempts >> were shattered when the FDA declared it a food additive, due to pressure >> from sugar companies who could foresee big losses in profits. In the last >> two years the berries have been making a comeback, by being the guest star >> of many tasting parties in the states. The berries are dried and exported, >> and the party guests each have one and then taste all kinds of common foods >> to experience a new taste sensation with every bite. >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> *Manudev K Madhavan* >> Junior Research Fellow >> Systematic & Floristic Lab, >> Department of Botany, >> Centre for Postgraduate Studies & Research >> St. Joseph's College, Devagiri >> Kozhikode- 673 008 >> Mob: 9496470738 >> >> > -- Regards Dr Balkar Singh Head, Deptt. of Botany and Biotechnology Arya P G College, Panipat Haryana-132103 09416262964
