Thai’s famous fruits: Thailand is a country full of biodiversity, we can grow many kinds of fruits here in Thailand and each on has their own season, when they will be at their best quality and taste. There are also some fruits that when you hear their names you will automatically think of Thailand like durians, custard apple, pomelo, or dragon fruits. These are the kinds of fruits that are considered exotic by people outside Thailand or Asia, some of which maybe too hard for foreigners to try because of there unusual looks, their smells, or even the unimaginable texture. So today we are focusing on these so-called exotic fruits in hope that we can get you to understand them more and at least give them a chance and try them. In this list there will be some names you have heard of and some you might never hear so let’s dive into it.
1. Durain
Let’s begin with something that is well known yet not many people are open to try it, durian is both the most famous and infamous fruit in Thailand. It’s called the king of fruit, yet some people doubt it. Durian is a golden and creamy fruit with a unique smell and guarded by spiky shall, it has a creamy texture, but some types of durians can be crispy or chewy, it tastes creamy and sweet. The reason people won’t try it comes from its bad smell and spiky shell which is hard to get to the fruit. Most people in Thailand love durian so much that during its season durian’s price can be up too 1000 THB per kilogram. Durian season is from May-August, and these provinces are most famous for their durians Chanthaburi, Rayong, Nonthaburi, and Chumphon.
2. Mangosteen
We cannot skip the queen of fruit once we’ve mentioned the king, mangosteen is considered the queen of fruit because of its delicate and refreshing feeling after you eat, and due to its taste, attractive appearance, and nutrition. Mangosteen is a juicy white and sweet fruit that’s hidden under the thick purple rind. Mangosteen mostly has sweet and a little sour taste with soft texture. Some people believe that with mangosteen’s cooling nature, it can balance durian’s heat. Mangosteen season is during June-September and mostly grown in the southern of Thailand like Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani
3. Pomelo
This is Thailand’s largest citrus fruit, and it’s believed to be the ancestor of many citruses. It often used as an ingredient in Thailand, mainly in spicy salad, curry, or desserts, since it has sweet and sour taste that goes well with these kinds of menus. Pomelo is seasonal fruit; its season usually starts around August or during rainy season. It’s commonly growing in the southern of Thailand. Pomelo can vary in appearance due to the variety of its specific origin, the common ones we find are white, pink, red, and honey. While its thick skin can also be different in colors.
4. Custard apple
A sweet and creamy tropical fruit though it’s said to be originated from south America, custard apple is still one of the famous exotic fruits you can find in Thailand. This is a fruit that you have to eat with spoon, it’s also one of the sweetest fruits in Thailand. Custard apple’s appearance is a large cone shaped with tough, scaly skin, with soft custard-like texture for the fresh. It contains large seeds inside, so be sure to avoid them. Custard apple season in Thailand is during Jun-September and mostly found in central Thailand.
5. Longan
A translucent fruit with soft brown shell, mostly grows in the northern of Thailand. Longan is said to be one of the highest nutrition fruits which contain vitamin C and B12. Longan also helps with a lot of health-related stuff like it helps carry oxygen to your brain, it makes your skin better, good for your eyesight, and high in calcium. But it’s also high in sugar so be careful and try not to eat too much. Longan can be consumed as a juice, Longan juice is one of the most common juices you can find in the market along side coconut and orang juice, it’s refreshing and suitable for hot weather. Longan’s season only lasts a few months during July-September.
6. Dragon fruit
Dragon fruit is a unique fruit with pink skin and white or red fresh full of small seeds and it is considered as one of the cactuses. It was first introduced to Thailand by Vietnam and became popular due to its refreshing feeling and lightly sweet taste. Dragon fruit also has many health benefits for example, it’s rich in antioxidants, helps boost your immunity system due to its high vitamin C, support heart health, and high in fiber. Dragon fruit is easier to find since it’s grown all year but the best time to try is May.
7. Rambutan
A tropical fruit with hairy shell and translucent fresh, rambutan has a sweet and slightly acidic taste with soft and juicy texture. The way you eat rambutan is also different than other fruits, you have to score its skin gently in half and twist the shell open and then pop it right into your mouth but be careful of its seed. Rambutan has a lot of health benefits like high in vitamin c, iron, fiber, and antioxidants. The best time to try rambutan is during its season or June to September.
These are just some examples of exotic fruits you can find in Thailand, there are many more that aren’t mentioned in this blog like jackfruit, starfruit, tamarind, or snake fruit. This fruit may be difficult to find outside Southeast Asia of Thailand but within this area you can find them at every market with a cheap price. If you have a chance to visit Thailand and walk around the market, I recommend you go try at least one of these, they may not look friendly or smell nice, but they are indeed delicious.