“Thanks to the pandemic, there was a focus on looking at what ingredients and recipes were available or possible in India, leading to experimentation with new flavours, but with an Indian edge.”

-Savio Pereira, Founder- Finest Journeys of India, (Godrej Food Trends Report, 2022)

India has much to offer in terms of fruit diversity. Though mango, the king of fruits, is slowly on its way out, there are a slew of lesser-known and minor fruits that you can still eat this rainy season.

So get ready, as we explore some of the most exotic fruits you can try this season.

Star fruit

The star fruit, or carambola, is a tropical fruit that is native to places like Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and other parts of Southeast Asia. This delicious, juicy fruit comes with a green texture when unripe and changes to a glossy yellow when it ripens. The mouth-watering flavour of star fruit (known as Kamrakh in Hindi) offers a slightly sweet and sour flavour. Like its name, star fruit slices look like a star if you cut them from the horizontal portion. Loaded with healthy plant compounds and antioxidants, the fruit can be eaten raw or commonly made into relishes, preserves, or salads.

Langsat

Langsat trees are members of the Mahogany family that thrive in tropical humid environments. Its fruits are ready for harvesting between the month of August and November, when their colour turns into brownish yellow. The plant bears small, orb-shaped, edible fruits with white flesh and an inedible bitter seed inside. It looks like a baby potato, and is borne in clusters similar to grapes.

The easiest way to eat it is by pinching the fruit at the bottom until the peel bursts.  The pleasantly tasting tropical fruit can also be used in fruit-based desserts and pies.

Ice apple

This delicious, seasonal fruit is a super fruit for weight loss.  Ice apple contains water and offer a high level of fullness throughout the day after eating. Ice Apple is an excellent choice among summer fruits to prevent summer rashes, which maintain the body's balance of minerals and phytonutrients. The best way to consume ice apple is to eat it fresh because it is a highly perishable fruit.

Madras thorn

The combination of mild tartness and a pinch of sweet flavour makes this fruit popular among fruit lovers. The pods of Madras Thorn, also known as 'Jungle jalebi', offer dietary fibre, complex carbohydrates, proteins etc.

Indian hog plum

Enriched with vitamin C and antioxidants,hog plum is locally known as amra in Bengal and ambade in Goa and Karnataka.  The slightly elongated fruit resembles a raw green mango with a soft pit within. After it ripens, the pit hardens and becomes fibrous and is no longer edible. Indian hog plums are sweet, juicy but still sour when they are soft and ripe.

Have you heard of any other exotic Indian fruits? Share in the comment section below.

Conclusion: Godrej Food Trends Report 2022 – the detailed 95-page edition is available for download at www.vikhrolicucina.com