122 replies to this topic

[Suresh Hinduja]

After reading how fruits may benefit by cutting them underwater and I dont mean the the condition that requires a scuba suit; I thought I'd start a topic on fruits and vegetables. In the last few years of free imports, I think I've come across all kinds and more recently this weirdo:

Dragon fruit. It tastes kinda kiwi but with no zing. So what exotic fruit and vegetable have you all come across lately?

[Suresh Hinduja]

I've been chucking this in ice creams, jellies, custards,cakes and even a falooda! Will try combining this with lychee juice and vodka.

Passion fruit

[Ash]

That dragon fruit looks scary but you say it tastes like Kiwi? What does it have inside? I get imported passion fruit sometimes and have always eaten it off the half with a teaspoon. The resemblance to the 'frogs eyes' in a Falooda is uncanny, so I guess it would work well as a sub.  

Have you all ever tasted a bel fruit? We make a nice sharbat from it during summer.

[Suresh Hinduja]

Ash, the Dragon fruit tasted like a soapy insipid Kiwi. I had to try it so I paid Rs.150 for one about the size of a large alphonso mango but I doubt if I will buy it again.

There is a round local variety of Passion fruit ( Rs. 20/250g)which is too tarty, useful for making squash and as 'frog eyes'   ( Tukmaria seeds) .  Featured in the photo is an import that sells for Rs.100/250g. and is absolutely divine. Which one have you had?

Ah yes, Bel fruit... somebody from Kolkata used to send me some every summer, it used to make a nice musky sharbat.   Methinks it will make a delicious sauce for use with grilled chicken.  

Where do you get yours?

[Unicorn]

I don't know if you will term this fruit exotic. I am talking about a 'Pluot'.
A Pluot is what you get when you cross a plum with an apricot.  It tastes a lot like a plum (aloobkhara) with just a hint of an apricot taste.
Its like a blend of fruit juices...like our mumbai ganga-jamuna!!!

Pluot has a more intense flavor than a regular plum. There are many varieties of pluots available. The one in the pic is the 'apple dandy' kind.

PLU for the plum and OT for the apricot. easy?
So is it the same when you cross an apricot with a plum? No silly. That would be an Aprium. :0
Then we also have the Plumcots.

Pluots have predominantly plum parentage. Plumcots generally have equal parentage of plum and apricot, while Apriums are slightly fuzzy, like apricots, but they have unique flavors and generally higher sugar levels than the standard varieties.

[Suresh Hinduja]

Now I've seen it all, you bet this is exotic. Are they very expensive?

Maybe someone will combine my favourite fruits into a Mangochee.

Great Picture.

[Chef Raj]

ceo, on 04 Aug., 2005, 3:07, said:

Ah yes, Bel fruit... somebody from Kolkata used to send me some every summer, it used to make a nice musky sharbat.   Methinks it will make a delicious sauce for use with grilled chicken.  

Where do you get yours?

Sometimes we get Bel fruit from Khan market in Delhi. I last paid 40 Rs. for a cricket ball size piece. I peel and mash the fruit in drinking water with a little sugar and store in the fridge and drink within 3 days.

[Suresh Hinduja]

I've been digging into Mangosteens lately.

[Suresh Hinduja]

I bought some Rambutans @ Rs. 125/500 grams.
Personally I like Lychees better.

[Sneha]

Does Rambutan taste like a Lychee? I found a small chickoo like thing in the market that was identical to a lychee, the fruitwalla was calling it a loongah, I think.

[Tomato]

Sneha, on 21 Sep., 2005, 12:18, said:

Does Rambutan taste like a Lychee? I found a small chickoo like thing in the market that was identical to a lychee, the fruitwalla was calling it a loongah, I think.

Sneha, you probably came across a Longan, like a tiny chickoo. I've had all three- Rambutans, Longans and of course Litchi and thay are all quite similar. Our Litchis are the best.

[Sneha]

Thanks Tomato, just out of curiosity, I'll buy some longans.

[Suresh Hinduja]

Rose apples are back in season here, I am told that they are grown in Ooty. A hollow fruit, it has a cruncy texture and a lovely Rose aroma. I use it for stuffing

[Tomato]

Never seen this before, do you have to peel it? How do you eat this ?

[rockstar]

those fruits look exotic do u get them in mumbai n where???

[Suresh Hinduja]

Tomato,
You dont have to peel them and they can be eaten whole.

Rockstar,
I'm afraid they are not available in Mumbai.

A well wisher presented me with these dried plums from China. There is an Indian importer's label so they must be in shops all over.

         Jia Ying Zi plums       Snow Flake plums       Xiangsi plums       Lover's plums

[Sneha]

The packets are very attractive, how's the stuff inside? Is this aloo bukhara?

[SAUCY]

Suresh- how many colours do you see in this red, green, orange chilly

[Suresh Hinduja]

SAUCY, on 02 Nov., 2005, 10:49, said:

Suresh- how many colours do you see in this red, green, orange chilly

Hmmm...let me guess... red, green, orange ?  

Bet you all never expected to see a Purple Cauliflower in India. Sounds like the name of a rock group.

[Suresh Hinduja]

Some more exotica that I picked up on my last trip to Ooty.

Two types of passion fruit, the dark one was completely insipid and never to be bought again.


Pepinos originated from South America. Tastes like a sweet cucumber.


Tree Tomatoes or Tamarillo also from South America. Tastes like a tart tomato with peach overtones.


Physalis is my favourite and it makes a nice chutney.