“Get out of town!” is honestly the best quote I could think of when I went grocery shopping this weekend for some exotic fruits. As someone who is an avid fruit eater, I like to put my taste buds into different types of fruit. This week, I decided to google some (inexpensive) challenges to spice up my life. Thanks to Georgia Kay Toner from theodysseyonline.com, I found a challenge I was interested in doing: the one week new fruit challenge (although I’ll only be doing this challenge for five days). For this challenge, I had to find fruits that I’ve never had before and write my thoughts/experiences about them. I went to some supermarkets in Greenville to look for my exotic fruits;I visited La Unica Supermercado, Asian Supermarket and Walmart in search of cactus pear, jackfruit, pomelo, guava and star fruit.
Feb. 5 – Cactus Fruit/Prickly Pears
Prickly pears are typically grown in Latin America, Australia, the Mediterranean and some countries in Africa. The prickly pear is typically green or purple on the outside (along with thorns all over) and magenta on the inside. The fruit contains multiple large seeds that can be eaten in moderation. People who have tried prickly pear have said it tastes like a combination of “all-natural bubblegum” and watermelon.
Health/Nutrition Benefits: High in fiber, rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids, minerals, promotes weight loss, helps with Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol levels, diarrhea, and more.
Personal Note/Reaction: Slimy (like aloe vera), hard to cut, giant seeds that take up 95 percent of the fruit, tastes like honeydew melon
Feb. 5 – Jackfruit
Jackfruit is originally from southwest India, but it currently grows in southeast Asia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Africa, Brazil and Suriname. Jackfruit is a very big and heavy fruit that has a bumpy, greenish brown appearance on the outside with light yellow bulbs on the inside. People who have had jackfruit say that it tastes it like a mix of pineapple, mango and banana, while others have said that it tastes a bit nutty.
Health/Nutrition Benefits: High in antioxidants and fiber, protects against cancer, energy booster, regulates blood pressure and heart health, helps with vision, improves skin and bone conditions and reduces aging.
Personal Note/Reaction: Smells like blueberries, feels like mango (kind of rubbery), sweet like mango with a nutty aftertaste
Feb. 6 – Pomelo
Pomelos originated from southeast Asia and are grown mostly in the U.S., China, Mexico and a few other countries. Pomelos are relatively large and heavy, ranging from a light green to yellow shade with the inside ranging from white to pale red. The taste of a pomelo has been compared to that of an orange and grapefruit without the bitter aftertaste.
Health/Nutrition Benefits: Boosts immune system, high in fiber, regulates blood pressure, promotes weight loss and slows down aging
Personal Note/Reaction: Smells like a tangerine, definitely tastes like a mix of orange and grapefruit without the bitterness
Feb. 7 – Guava
Guava is believed to originate from southern Mexico or Central America and is currently grown in the U.S. (Florida to be exact), the Caribbean and Latin America. Guavas are small and pale yellow with the insides ranging from a white, yellow, light/dark pink or reddish color. The taste of guavas range from bitter to sweet.
Health/Nutrition Benefits: High in fiber, rich in antioxidants, promotes weight loss and helps with diabetes and high cholesterol levels
Personal Note/Reaction: Smells citrus-y and tropical, tastes kind of bland with a hint of grapefruit
Feb. 8 – Star fruit
Star fruit originates from Sri Lanka and is currently cultivated in Australia, South America, parts of the U.S. and some Asian countries likes Taiwan and Indonesia. Star fruit is firm and light yellow on the inside and outside. The taste of star fruit is compared to a mix of grape and apple. Depending on the ripeness of the star fruit, it can have a sour taste.
Health/Nutrition Benefits: High in fiber, rich in antioxidants, promotes weight loss, regulates blood sugar/pressure, helps with sleep and improves with skin and hair
Personal Note/Reaction: Hard, consistency of an apple, tastes like a mix between apple and grapes
Categories:
Five day challenge: exotic fruits
Shannon Taylor, Asst. TimeOut Editor
February 11, 2019
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