Produce guide · Tropical & exotic fruit

A field guide to the world’s tropical and exotic fruits.

From the mango to the mangosteen, here are thirty fruits from the world’s tropics and warm climates — where each one comes from, how it tastes, and how it is chosen, ripened, stored, and used.

01Tropical Classics

The familiar sweet fruits of the tropics — mango, papaya, pineapple, and their close cousins.

001 Mango Sweet, floral, honeyed 002 Papaya Sweet, musky, melon-like 003 Pineapple Sweet-tart 016 Banana Sweet and mild 017 Guava Sweet and musky 018 Lychee Sweet, floral, rose-like

02Citrus & Zest

Bright, tangy fruits built around fragrant peel, juice, and segmented flesh.

004 Sweet Orange Sweet and bright 005 Lime Sour and sharp 006 Lemon Sour and bright 019 Grapefruit Bittersweet 020 Mandarin Sweet and mild 021 Kumquat Sweet rind, sour flesh

03Exotic Flesh & Stone

Creamy, custardy, and intensely flavored fruits that reward the patient.

007 Avocado Mild and buttery 008 Cherimoya Sweet, custard-like 009 Soursop Sweet-tart, citrus-strawberry 022 Jackfruit Sweet ripe, neutral unripe 023 Durian Rich, custard-onion 024 Mamey Sapote Sweet, pumpkin-almond

04Rare & Unusual

Spiky, seedy, and fragrant fruits that stand out on any fruit stand.

010 Dragon Fruit Mildly sweet 011 Passion Fruit Tart and aromatic 012 Rambutan Sweet and floral 025 Longan Sweet and musky 026 Mangosteen Sweet-tart and delicate 027 Star Fruit Sweet-tart

05Melons & Gourds

Refreshing summer melons and the versatile gourds that cross into the kitchen.

013 Watermelon Sweet and refreshing 014 Cantaloupe Sweet and musky 015 Honeydew Melon Sweet and mild