Exotic Fruits Discussed
Fresh
produce, specifically fruits, has come a long way from the days
of apples, oranges, or bananas. No longer must we wait for fruits
to be in season in our neck of the woods in order to purchase
a delicately flavored treat. In fact, no longer must we always
pay an exorbitantly high price to get it either.
Best
of all, juice manufacturers have learned to incorporate a few
of these delicious globes of natural sugar into many of our beverages.
No longer are the choices simple or the questions few. It isn’t,
“do you prefer orange juice or cranberry juice,” but
“do you prefer orange guava pineapple juice or cranberry
pomegranate?”
Guava
This
apple shaped delicacy in shades of yellow and green offers a flavorful
burst of taste similar to pears and strawberries. The inner flesh
is pink, deep red, or white with edible seeds and a skin rich
in vitamin C. Since the guava is a tropical fruit, it should not
be refrigerated, but rather, it should be kept at room temperature.
It is ready to eat when it is slightly soft to the touch in a
fruit salad, by itself, or tossed as part of a topping onto a
green salad.
Kiwi
The
kiwi is a small fruit with a deceptively boring skin in shades
of brown. The inner fruit is a vibrant green with a splash of
small black, edible seeds. Kiwi contains a protein splitting enzyme
that aids digestion, especially when paired with meats. Avoid
pairing kiwi with dairy products, however, since it will spoil
the taste by souring it. Since the kiwi is a subtropical fruit,
it should be refrigerated, rather than kept at room temperature.
Peel and eat this little darling, slice it and add it to fruit
salads, or liquefy it as an ingredient for a dessert sauce.
Mango
This
oddly shaped oval fruit bears multiple colors including shades
of yellow, green, and red when ripe. The inner flesh is a bright
yellow or orange depending on your color outlook. A mango will
provide a healthy dose of vitamins B and C, as well as iron.
Since the mango is a tropical fruit, it should not be refrigerated,
but rather, it should be kept at room temperature. It is ready
to eat when it smells good or sweet. The mango can be eaten solo,
as part of a fruit salad, as a garnish for green salads, or stir
fried. The oil in the rind may cause irritation to those with
sensitive skin, so wash hands thoroughly after handling a mango.
Papaya
Papayas
also referred to as tree melons have inner flesh that is vivid
orange in coloring. They are ready to eat when their outer coloring
is yellow. Papaya contains a protein splitting enzyme that aids
digestion, especially when paired with meats. This fruit should
be added to salads at the last minute since they have a tendency
to cause other fruits to become mushy and less attractive.
Passion
Fruit
This
egg shaped fruit offers a thick dark rind with a seedy pulp. Passion
fruit are ripe when their rind is wrinkled. They can be stored
in the refrigerator until ready to be served. Passion fruit make
an excellent addition to salads, frozen desserts, and dessert
sauces. They contain a healthy dose of vitamin C and B.
Persimmon
A
plum shaped fruit in shades of bright orange and red, the persimmon
is best eaten when soft. Typically, it tastes very sweet unless
heated by itself. Unripe persimmons should be stored at room temperature.
However, they can be stored in the refrigerator for several days.
It can be eaten alone or pureed for use in sauces, custards, pies,
and cakes.
Pomegranate
The
pomegranate with its thick skinned rind in deep shades of red
is a delightful fruit that offers an inner conglomeration of sacs
filled with juicy pulp and edible seeds. It can be stored at room
temperature or in the refrigerator for a few weeks. The pomegranate
is eaten solo or it can be strained and pureed for use in beverages,
sauces, dressings, sauces, and soups. Along with lots of vitamin
C and B, the pomegranate also offers iron.
Star
Fruit
This
golden star shaped fruit is also known as carambola. Although
unripe star fruit should be stored at room temperature, it can
be stored in the refrigerator for several days. It is, however,
best to purchase this fruit when it is ripe and bright yellow
in coloring. To eat this delicacy, slice it crosswise. This produces
slices with five points that resemble stars. Star fruit can be
eaten solo or added to fruit salads. Additionally, it is quite
flavorful when paired with meat.
