3 Delightful Exotic Fruits That Will Liven Up Your Diet
A whole new world. Hidden treasures. A new dimension.
That is exactly how I felt when I was exposed to the distinctive exotic fruits at our newly-partnered local store, Kismet Fruit and Vegetables. I couldn’t help but carry out my own personal research (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). I have been blessed to try over 20 new fruits that most people will probably never enjoy in their lifetime! Although I cannot say anything terrible about the fruits which I consumed, I do have my favourites! Here are my top 3 Delightful Exotic Fruits which I believe will liven up your diet:
1. Yellow Pitaya
...Or the Yellow Dragon Fruit. I was first exposed to the Dragon Fruit back in 2017, whilst I was shopping in Morissons I saw a radiant pinkish glow in the fruit section. I instantly carried out online research on my mobile phone in the store to find out more about this mystical fruit and picked it up to try. With the combination of tiny seeds and juicy flesh, the Purple Dragon Fruit reminded me of the kiwi - less sweet though. It was an interesting tropical refreshing taste. My previous experience made me eager to taste the Yellow Dragon Fruit when I found out about it! It was the first fruit which I tried from Kismet Fruit and Vegetables. Cutting through the yellow skin and opening the fruit up - you notice a much more glowing translucent flesh with larger seeds than the standard Dragon Fruit. The Yellow Pitaya has a much sweeter taste to it - almost like a rich honey flavour and the large seeds are much chewier - complementing the soft yet slightly crunchy flesh. Definitely, one for does who have a sweet tooth! Do keep it in the fridge before you eat it to amplify the flavours!
The Yellow Pitaya has an impressive amount of iron compared to other fruits. Iron plays a crucial role in transporting oxygen throughout your body and is helpful for does with anaemia. These honey-sweet fruits are also linked to radiating your natural beauty with their high concentration of antioxidants, vitamins, monounsaturated fats, enzymes, minerals and fibre which are crucial to maintaining skin health. Although the Yellow Dragon Fruit is the hardest to source out of the 6 diverse Dragon Fruit variations, it is the most affordable!
2. Apple Banana
No this is not a genetically modified merge of an apple and banana! The name comes from the unique flavour and texture of the fruit - it is slightly crispy (somewhere in between the softness of a typical banana and a firm apple) and does taste similar to a standard banana. However, the Apple Banana has an almost tart-like and sweet strawberry reminiscent edge to it. Although most people are used to the standard banana, this variation is the most common species of the banana in Southeast Asia and the Philippines. If you want to spice up your smoothie or banana cake - you can swap the standard banana for the Apple Banana. Or you can enjoy them as a snack (be warned - their mini snack-like size may get you carried away!) They are best served when they are covered with black spots.
Like their relatives, these short and chubby bananas are high in potassium which is an electrolyte that conducts electrical impulses throughout the body. This assists with a range of essential body functions which includes managing blood pressure and stabilising water balance. Compared to their commonly-found counterparts, the Apple Banana boasts 23% of your recommended daily Vitamin C - compared to 15% obtained from the conventional banana. Vitamin C is fundamental to strengthening your immune system.
3. Granadilla
Universally "considered one of the tastiest, most calming fruits around", the Granadilla is surely a force to be reckoned with! Some refer to them as the sweet passion fruit due to their shape and construction - however, they are sweeter and less sour. The aromatic taste bears a resemblance to the kiwi and melon. This orange lightweight fruit is filled with a lovely clear jelly with edible nutty-like dark seeds. It can get messy so make sure you eat it with a tablespoon! Similar to the Dragon Fruit, this delicacy is best served chilled.
The Granadilla is often referred to as “The Children’s Fruit” due to its high magnesium levels which are known to reduce stress and anxiety. Although this fruit is quite sweet, they have a low glycemic index (GI) value which means that it won’t cause the blood sugar levels to spike - Granadailla is diabetic-friendly and are a great alternative to fruit with high GI values, such as melon and pineapple. This fruit also contains a great range of essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B9, C, E and K. The high vitamin content boosts the immune system.