Trifter

As we all know, vitamins C and ascorbic acid are very important to our health. They help our body fight diseases; these fruits keep our skin beautiful, our teeth stronger, and many other health benefits.

Some of these exotic fruits from the Philippines (and other tropical areas) are now becoming rare, so when you see them in the market – don’t think twice to buy these fruits because you may never have the chance to see and taste them again. After all, these fruits are very rich in vitamin C and ascorbic acid.

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Here’s a list of exotic fruits which are considered good sources of vitamins (if not the best).

Yantok (Calamus manillensis)

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Yantok is a fruit that is not as popular as mangoes and bananas. This exotic fruit is from a vine locally called “yantok” (a variety of rattan) found in jungle forest areas but it is now actually raised in small plantations for commercial sale. It is one of the sourest fruits in the world. You will not like the acidic taste of yantok the first time you taste it, but one thing is sure, you’ll crave for its unusual taste later. These fruits are available in the market from August to October.

Guava (Psidium guajava)

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Guavas were once very abundant in many places in the Philippines, but due to the rapid growth of the country’s population, their habitats have been cleared for residential purposes that resulted to its scarcity. Guava which is known by the name “bayabas” in the Philippines is one of the best sources of vitamin C and ascorbic acid. It is richer than calamansi or citrus fruit in vitamin C content.Native to Mexico and Central America, northern South America, parts of the Caribbean and some parts of North Africa, it is now cultivated throughout the tropics.

Bignay (Antidesma bunius)

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The tree of this sour-tasting fruit usually grows wild along river banks in the Philippines, although plenty are grown as backyard plant. This colorful tropical fruit is locally known as bignay; buni or berunaiin Malaya; wooni or hooni, in Indonesia; ma mao luangin Thailand; kho lien tuin Laos; choi moi in Vietnam; moi-kinand chunkaby the aborigines in Queensland. Among English names are Chinese laurel, currant tree and salamander tree. This fruit is a popular source of wine-making in Baguio City – the Summer Capital of the Philippines.

Lanzones (Lansium domesticum)

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One of the best tasting fruits and one of my favorite fruits is lanzones. Once you have a taste of it, you’ll surely ask for more. Lanzones are particularly abundant during the month of September to November. It is a species of fruit-bearing tree largely grown throughout the entire Southeast Asian region, ranging from Southern India to the Philippines for its fruit. In the Philippines, the plant is grown mostly in the provinces of Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon due to the species’ narrow range of conditions favorable to its survival. It is also found in abundance on Northern Mindanao particularly in places as Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, and Camiguin. The Camiguin variety is especially sweet and succulent.

Duhat (Syzygium cumini)

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Duhat is an edible fruit that is now quite rare in the Philippines It is known as Jambul or Jamun or Jamblang, andis native to India, Pakistan and Indonesia. It is also grown in other areas of southern and southeastern Asia including the, Myanmar, and Afghanistan.

Sineguelas (Spondias purpurea)

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Sineguelas or Jocote have been naturalized in the Philippines. My grandparents on both sides (paternal and maternal) have sineguelas trees on their backyards. Jocote is native to tropical regions of the Americas. Other common names include Red Mombin, Purple Mombin, Ciruela, or Hog Plum. It is now widely cultivated in tropical regions throughout the world for its edible fruit (it is eaten with salt before they ripen), and is also naturalized in some areas, including the Philippines and Nigeria.

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale)

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This fruit is called “kasoy” in the Philippines and they are particularly abundant in the province where I grew up. The edible nuts of kasoy can be roasted and eaten. The cashew is a tree native to northeastern Brazil. Its English name derives from the Portugues name for the fruit of the cashew tree, caju, which in turn derives from the indigenous Tupi name, acaju. It is now widely grown in tropical climates for its cashew “nuts” and cashew apples.

Santol (Sandoricum koetjape)

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Another vitamin rich fruit that I particularly love is santol. I still remember when I was still young, my childhood friend would climb our santol tree and I’ll do the catching. Santol is a tropical fruit grown in Southeast Asia. The tree and its fruit has several common names in many languages, including gratawn in Thai, kompem reach in Khmer, tong in Lao, donka in Sinhalese, and wild mangosteen in English and faux mangoustanier in French.

Dalandan or Carambola

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We have a dalandan tree in our backyard and I love its sour tasting fruit. Dalandan is a species of tree native to Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka and is popular throughout Southeast Asia, Trinidad, Malaysia and parts of East Asia. It is also grown throughout the tropics. Carambola, its other name, is commercially grown in the US in south Florida and Hawaii for its fruit, known as the starfruit.

Tamarind or Sampalok (Tamarindus indica)

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Tamarinds are widely grown in the Philippines for domestic consumption and for commercial purposes. The Tamarind is a tropical tree, native to tropical Africa, including Sudan and parts of the Madagascar. It was introduced into India so long ago that it has often been reported as indigenous there, and it was apparently from India that it reached the Persians and the Arabs who called it “tamar hindi” (Indian date, from the date-like appearance of the dried pulp), giving rise to both its common and generic names. However, the specific name, “indica”, also perpetuates the illusion of Indian origin. The fruit was well known to the ancient Egyptians and to the Greeks in the 4th Century B.C.E.

Pomelo (Citrus maxima)

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One of the best tasting and most popular varieties of pomelo (locally called “suha”) is the seedless variety from Davao, Philippines. The pomelo (or Chinese grapefruit, pummelo, pommelo, Lusho Fruit, jabong, boongon, shaddock, limau bali, Balinese Citrus, or suhabaungon is a citrus fruit, usually a pale green to yellow when ripe, larger than a grapefruit, with sweet flesh and thick spongy rind.

Soursop (Annona muricata)

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Soursop is available all year round but is particularly plenty during rainy season. Annona muricata is locally known in the Philippines as Guyabano. It is known mostly for its edible and vitamin rich fruit that is usually called Soursop due to its slightly acidic taste when ripe. This tree is native to the Caribbean and Central America but are now widely cultivated and in some areas, escaping and living on their own in tropical climates throughout the world.

Tamarind, Guyabano and Pomelo are also available in powdered form. Tamarind powder is used for cooking and the last two as juice drinks. Once you have the chance to visit the Philippines and other tropical areas, look for these fruits and you’ll surely love them. Eat plenty and variety of fruits to have a healthier and longer life.

For related articles see

The Most Popular Dishes From Around the World

Famous Culinary Uses of Cassava in the Philippines

The 17 Most Popular Exotic Foods in the Philippines

Chicken: A Miracle Food

Popular Culinary Uses of the Banana in the Philippines

Filipino Foods Made From Camote

18 Filipino Favorite Foods Made From Coconut

Popular Culinary Uses of Rice in the Philippines