Thailand is a tropical island that is fortunate and abundance in many resources from seafood, to livestock, to fresh vegetables and tropical fruits. In fact, Thai fruit is an essential component for both savoury and sweet dishes of Thai cuisine.
Available in many varieties and unique rich taste, many travellers look forward to trying Thailand fruits on their visit, many fruits found in this country are rare and not available anywhere else, and some that are common despite the name have no similarities with their counterparts available in different countries that is because Thailand fruits are exotic, due to their fertile plains and hot tropical climate, fruits are easily grown here and their soil, nutritious and prosperous in nature, make every piece of Thai fruit exquisite, in taste, look and fragrance which is not the same case with fruits of different countries.
From providing a fresh feeling, keeping the body hydrated with giving all the nutrition, fruits are essential to consume and being in Thailand, the comparatively low prices and great taste will make you want to eat the fruit nonstop, from being a snack to a sideline to the main dish Thailand fruits are an apex of greatness and exquisiteness. And the best part is, being prosperous and abundant in natural resources, no matter how much Thai fruits is consumed, Thailand will ideally never run out of it.
Thai fruits market
Wherever you turn, you will always fruit to indulge in, and with that said, here is the list of the most popular and preferred tropical Thai fruits that you must try at least once.
A tropical paradise like Thailand would not be a true paradise without mangoes; this rich tropical fruit is not only popular in Thailand but globally too. It is available in almost every country through plantation or import, but amongst the Thai versions is by far the most delicious and worthy of praise. This Thai fruit comes in many varieties and is consumed in many ways too; when ripped, it is eaten as is or accompanied by sticky rice with coconut milk (a fan favorite, may we add). When mango is green, it is consumed as a snack with salt and chili or used in fresh salads too. Mango is a universal fruit; they are used to make desserts and drinks but goes well with savoury too, such as making puree for curry or being a sideline for scrumptious seafood, either with this fresh exquisite Thai fruit, no one can ever go wrong with.
It may be unknown to many, but this Thailand fruit is no ordinary fruit, considered as the Queen of Thai fruit, the pulp of this fruit is soft, white and juicy with a delightfully sweet taste and a fresh fragrant. Preferred mostly by western people, Mangosteen may look intimidating because of its purple hard exterior, but once you open up its hard casing, there is never returning to any other tropical delight. But you need to be careful while handling it; the fruit is notorious for leaving stains.
Mangosteen
Taking about intimating fruits, this Thai fruit is another example of one. With a hairy exterior and green spikes pointing out, this red colored tropical delight is just divine. The sweet, sticky flesh of the fruit with a hard-woody seed in the middle. Rambutan contains a high amount of fiber. It tastes sweet, is really inexpensive and a perfect component for snack, smoothies and desserts. Not easily accessible anywhere else, trying this once is a must.
Rambutan
This Thailand delight may be the most controversial fruit globally, but its unique taste and overall appeal cannot be denied. These Thai fruits have a putrid-smelling and not preferred and at times accepted by the layman, but for many critics, chefs, food extraordinaire and Thai people, it is considered a King of all the fruits in this region of the world, and the flavor is really good for them. This may be the most expensive fruit amongst the lot, but if the change comes, do try it as is or try it in its prime phase in either cake or moon cakes, frappes, candies or even ice cream.
Durian
A tropical fruit with a global appeal that is not only a perfect snack but goes well with literally everything, even pizza for some, but what makes Thai Pineapple unique and popular amongst Thai people is how inexpensive the fruit is and the possible dishes they can make with it. The fruit is versatile for molding into any type of dish seamlessly and enhancing the flavors, and give a unique contrasting yet balanced taste to any dish. You can’t go wrong with this beauty, that is for sure.
A delicious tropical delight that us available in Thailand all-round the year but is at its prime in the months of March, April, May and June. Papaya is an oval-shaped fruit with black seeds in it, when ripe its soft dark orange color, though the divine flesh of this fruit can be enjoyed as a snack, but for Thai people, they prefer it unripe. Unripe papaya is great for savoury dishes and is used to make the favorite Som Tam, one of the most popular salads in Thailand.
This Thai fruit is the most extravagant looking fruit global. With its white flesh, black seeds and a stunning pink exterior, it is an excellent addition to dishes. Though generally it has a bland taste but is partially sweet, however, goes well with both savoury and sweet dishes.
Dragonfruit
Guava, much to a global surprise, is grown in many countries, even in the tropical ones, but Thai land being a prosperous one, has the luxury to indulge in locally grown Thai fruit; with an exotic scent and great taste, this fruit can be enjoyed as a snack, many delicious drinks a can be made with it and is an excellent ingredient for ice creams, jams and jellies. Available all year round, it’s a great fruit to enjoy under an open sky with a breeze flowing through your hair.
Another fruit that highlights the tropical nature of an island, coconuts with their hard exterior, can be dangerous if it hits someone on the head, but the taste and nutrition it provides are beyond compare. A prevalent fruit that serves as a Holy Grail ingredient in Thai cuisine is enjoyed by the local as a snack, in drinks, in dessert and savoury dishes, the lifeline of Thai curries, to be honest.
A very delicious and tropical Thai fruit with a thick exterior but a juicy sweet and sour taste, considered as a delicacy by the locals.
Pomelo
This Thai fruit is as beautiful as it sounds, also known as wax apple or rose pear makes Thailand fruit game so strong. With a very unique smooth, spongy like texture with heaps of heaps of delicious juice, it can be consumed as is or peeled, depending on the preference, but it is definitely one of the fruits that tempts the eye and salivates the palette.
An early-season fruit that is huge in size and is often compared with melon, though it has a unique, distinctive aroma, the taste is divine. It can be eaten as is or mixed in a dessert or savoury dish, but local Thai people prefer it fried in a batter.
Jackfruit
Don’t be fooled by its small size; this green colored hard looking Thai fruit has a soft interior with back seeds, which is a perfect snack to have. Usually associated with apple and pear, but this has an entirely different taste, distinctive aroma and the ideal trait to blend in any dish with ease.
This is a native seasonal Thailand fruit that is round and small in size. Available from the month if July to October, the fruit has an off-white skin with translucent juicy meat with a tart flavor. It can be paired with other ingredients and flavor, but its best enjoyed raw. A definite try!
Langsat
Lychee is global known and loved fruit usually found in fruit salads and drinks; this red textured fruit has layers of sweet, succulent translucent white flesh and has a grape-like texture; the fruit is not only stunning in appearance but has a great taste; it’s a treat for the taste buds. Since it’s a seasonal fruit, it is available from the month of July to October; however, due to its flavor and popularity, the fruit is preserved to be enjoyed all year round.
This Thai fruit is from the same family of lychee and has roots in Rambutan too, but it has a distinct sweet taste and a unique scent to it. Grown only in the northern regions if Thailand between June and August. This fruit is a local favorite.
Don’t worry; the fruit has no relation with the snake per se but derives its name because of the hard, brittle pattern shell that it has. Easy to crack, the Thai fruit has white meat that is incredibly sweet and sour but is not overwhelming as the flavors complement one another perfectly, a great ingredient for salads and desserts, even for cocktails and other drinks too.
Snake Fruit
This Thai fruit perfectly fits the Thai-lander appeal. This Thai fruit has a refreshing and balanced sweet flavor, and it goes well with a lot of things and enhances the dish hence known as the star. But this fruit is rare to find in the global market and even in local too, therefore, it’s a bit pricy but none the less a great fruit to try.
This Thai fruit maybe the saddest dullest looking fruit ever seen, but this fig-like fruit has soft, delicious honey flavored flesh that is so satisficing to carve, let alone eat. It is used mostly is royal Thai cuisine.
Sapodilla
Last but definitely not least, Bananas! Oh, banana, no one can or has ever gone wrong with banana. A global staple fruit found in almost every country, yet the Thai version stands out the most. The Thai version of banana is an exception, to say the least; this Thailand fruit comes in 20 different types, ranging from small stubby ones to large fleshy types, and each has its name. As a tropical fruit on a tropical island, bananas are found is drinks, snacks, sweet dishes and savoury too. Available all year round, any treatment to these fruits from frying it to drying to boiling to grilling whatever the taste only gets better. A great fruit to enjoy.
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