40 Strange Fruits That Are Delicious Freaks Of Nature
When it comes to fruit in American supermarkets, there tend to be a few classics that can always be found. Strawberries, bananas, grapes, apples, watermelons — these are the sorts of things that we see all the time. But there’s a whole world of fruit out there, and these American favorites don’t even scratch the surface. Let’s take a look at some of the more bizarre varieties on offer…
1. Durian
For some people, the scent of durian is a delight. For the vast majority, however, the fruit is one of the most foul-smelling things imaginable. Richard Sterling, a food writer, has likened its stench to “turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock.” He also noted it’s so powerful you can smell it from a distance.
2. Breadfruit
Breadfruit is a culinary favorite across south-east Asia and the Pacific island nations. And why wouldn’t it be? When you cook it up nicely, after all, it apparently tastes like bread that’s recently been removed from the oven. Some people, however, say it has a similar taste to potatoes. In any case, not many American fruits are remotely like it.
3. Banana passionfruit
Bananas are great, and so is passionfruit. Combining them, then, must be a winner? Sadly, the banana passionfruit isn’t some miraculous hybrid of the two fruits. Rather, it’s very closely related to the standard passionfruit, but it happens to resemble a banana from the outside. It still tastes nice and sweet, though.
4. Annatto
The annatto plant originally comes from South America, and it has some interesting uses. Otherwise known as the lipstick plant, the annatto produces seeds that contain a vivid red pigment. This has traditionally been utilized to dye clothes, but nowadays you’re more likely to see it used as food coloring.
