Few tropical fruits are as versatile as coconuts. These unique, round drupes, whose name derives from the sixteenth century Spanish word for “head” or “skull,” are processed around the world to make coconut milk, flour, sugar, and butter, countless soap and cosmetic products, and, of course, coconut oil – one of the greatest superfoods on Earth. In fact, coconut products have become so popular in the West that we often overlook the fruit in its…
The durian (Durio zibenthinus) is a large, round, thorn-covered fruit that is native to southeast Asia. Known in the West for over 600 years, durians are characterized by their extremely pungent and unpleasant smell, which is often described as resembling rotten meat or sour milk (and those are just the polite descriptions). Despite their external unpleasantness, however, durians are extremely nutritious fruits. In fact, their nutritiousness is such that southeast Asians regard them as the…
Maqui is a tree that is native to the temperate rainforests of Chile and certain regions of southern Argentina. Its sweet-tasting berries, which resemble blackcurrants in size and color, have been consumed by Mapuche Indians for hundreds of years. Indeed, Mapuche warriors attribute renowned stamina and vigor to their consumption of maqui berries. Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional profile of these little-known fruits and find out why Chile’s indigenous people hold them…
Custard apples, also called bullock’s hearts, are the green, heart-shaped fruits of the Annona reticulata, a small deciduous tree native to Central America and the Caribbean. They are characterized by their custard-like flavor and texture, hence the name (though “custard apple” is a common nickname for many fruits, including papayas). Although they are traditionally eaten raw, indigenous people often dry and grind them into powders for medicinal purposes. Custard apples are not well-known fruits, and…
The salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) is a plant native to the western coastlines of North America. It bears yellow, orange, and red fruits of the same name, which resemble raspberries in structure and were treasured by the American Indians for their sweet taste and medicinal properties. Salmonberries were often eaten with salmon, hence their name, although they are also called thimbleberries, Alaskan berries, and Russian berries. List of Health Benefits Unusually high in manganese – 100…
