Come discover our incredible selection of exotic fruit and dive into a world of new flavours! Whether you prefer sweet or tart flavours, you’ll find exotic fruit irresistible!

Five to 10 portions of fruit and vegetables every day! Eating 5 to 10 portions of fruit and vegetables every day as part of a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and strokes.

Characteristics:
Smooth and somewhat sweet flesh. The red variety is sweeter than the yellow.

Signs of ripeness:
Slightly soft. 

Storage:
Never store in the fridge, to prevent blackening. 5 to 6 days at room temperature.

Uses:
Eat on its own or in fruit salads.
Add to cakes and muffins.

Edible parts:
Peel: no
Pulp: yes


Characteristics:
Fuchsia or yellowy-orange tender pulp with little juice and hard seeds. Tastes like an apple.

Signs of ripeness:
Intact, unwrinkled and yields to slight finger pressure.  

Storage:
12 to 15 days in the fridge

Uses:
Purée to make a brightly coloured sauce. Roast a filet of pork with a blend of this sauce and some balsamic vinegar.

Edible parts:
Peel: no
Pulp: yes
Seeds: yes

Characteristics:
White, fragrant pulp with a creamy, delicate texture and a mild, pleasant taste like pineapple and banana.

Signs of ripeness:
Fragrant, not too hard and not too soft, with black spots.

Storage:
At room temperature until ripe. Once ripe, 1 to 2 days in the fridge.

Uses:
Add to other fruits for a fresh juice.  Cut in cubes and add to vanilla yogurt.

Edible parts:
Peel: no
Pulp: yes
Seeds: no

Characteristics:
Sweet, melt-in-your-mouth pulp.

Signs of ripeness:
Free of mould and the skin is slightly wrinkled.

Storage:
For several weeks in a cool, dry place to prevent fruit from drying up.

Uses:
Add to a cheese platter. Serve with game meat.

Edible parts:
Pulp: yes
Pit: no

Characteristics:
Sweet-tart flavour. Subtle taste of melon and raspberries. Seeds taste pleasantly peppery.

Signs of ripeness:
Surface yields to finger pressure. 

Storage:
5 to 7 days at room temperature or 10 to 12 days in the fridge.

Uses:
Add to a fruit salad at the last minute.  Dry and crush seeds to use as pepper.

Edible parts:
Peel: no
Pulp: yes
Seeds: yes

Characteristics:
Juicy, sweet pulp with a slightly acidic aftertaste.

Signs of ripeness:
Firm, evenly coloured and free of mould. 

Storage:
2 to 3 days at room temperature or 7 days in the fridge.

Uses:
Cut in half and add to an apple pie. Cook with a little maple syrup and purée to make a homemade marmalade.

Edible parts:
Husk: no
Pulp: yes

Characteristics:
Smooth centre surrounded by very hard seeds and a crunch exterior. Tastes like strawberry, pear and apple.

Signs of ripeness:
Smooth, free of bruises, and yields slightly to finger pressure. 

Storage:
5 to 7 days in the fridge

Uses:
Cook, lightly sweeten and then purée to make a delicious jam.Mix with a tin of condensed milk, ice, a dash of lemon juice and nutmeg for a cold beverage.  

Edible parts:
Peel: yes
Pulp: yes
Seeds: yes

Characteristics:
Sweet, smooth and fragrant pulp. Mild taste of orange, peach and pineapple.

Signs of ripeness:
Smooth and supple to the touch. 

Storage:
Never store in fridge. Lasts about 5 days at room temperature.

Uses:
Try on kebabs with shrimp and onions. Mix with coriander, red onions and hot peppers to make a salsa.

Edible parts:
Peel: no
Pulp: yes
Pit: no

Characteristics:
White, translucent flesh dotted with edible black seeds that add a nice crunchiness. Somewhat sweet pulp that tastes like melon.

Signs of ripeness:
Free of mould, pleasantly fragrant and still firm, but yields slightly to finger pressure. 

Storage:
10 days in the fridge

Uses:
Serve with ice cream and a splash of lime juice. Slice and serve on custard for a refreshing dessert.

Edible parts:
Peel: no
Pulp: yes
Seeds: yes

Characteristics:
Crunchy, juicy, fragrant and slightly acidic pulp. Tastes faintly of rhubarb and pineapple.

Signs of ripeness:
Nice yellow colour with a few brown spots, and still firm. 

Storage:
2 days at room temperature or 7 days in the fridge

Uses:
Add to a chicken and vegetable stir-fry.Cook with a fish fillet sprinkled with lemon juice and chopped parsley.

Edible parts:
Peel: yes
Pulp: yes
Seeds: yes

Characteristics:
Tender, sweet and delectable.

Signs of ripeness:
Plump, supple to the touch, and wrinkled, with a firm stem.

Storage:
If fruit is firm, store at room temperature until it softens. Stored in a paper bag, it keeps in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.Handle with care!

Uses:
Purée to flavour salad dressings and sauces. Cook into fruit crisps, pies, muffins, and squares.

Edible parts:
Peel: yes
Pulp: yes
Seeds: yes

And more...

	Edible parts	Sings of ripeness	Characteristics	Uses
Mangosteen	Peel: no Seeds: yes Flesh: yes	When ripe the fruit is firm but yields to light finger pressure.	Refreshing, sweet, fragrant white flesh. Flavour suggestive of lychee.	Cut deeply into skin. Separate fruit in half without breaking the flesh. Peel off the thick skin.
Granadilla	Peel: no Seeds: yes Pulp: yes	When ripe, the fruit is heavy for its size. Lightly wrinkled skin with good colour and no bruises.	Very fragrant, juicy, jelly-like pulp. Flavour suggestive of peach and mango. Pleasantly crunchy seeds.	You can enjoy it whole.
Red Tamarillo	Peel: no Seeds: yes Flesh: yes	When ripe, the fruit has an orangey-red skin with no bruises. Yields to finger pressure.	Special sweet ‘n’ sour flavour suggestive of basil, tomato and goundcherry.	You can enjoy it in cubes and in slices. Must be pealed.
Lychee	Peel: no Pit: no Flesh: no	When ripe, the fruit is firm with an inact peel.	Very fragrant, juicy, tender flesh. Aroma is suggestive of rose.	You can enjoy it whole.
Rambutan	Peel: no Pit: no Flesh: yes	When ripe, the skin is red or brown with greenish hairs. Avoid fruits with very dry skin.	Similar to lychee. Very fragrant, juicy, sweet flesh. The thin skin around the pit that sticks to the pulp is delightfully nutty.	You can enjoy it whole.
Coconut	Peel: no Flesh: yes	When ripe, the skin is red or brown with greenish hairs. Avoid fruits with very dry skin.	Similar to lychee. Very fragrant, juicy, sweet flesh. The thin skin around the pit that sticks to the pulp is delightfully nutty.	You can enjoy it whole.

Did you know that fruits do not all ripen the same way?

For example, the carambola, lychee and tamarillo stop ripening after harvest. They must be picked when fully ripe for a sweet and juicy fruit.

The prickly pear, mango and papaya are examples of fruits that ripen after harvest. Even if picked before becoming fully ripe, they will become tender and sweet if left at room temperature.

Once ripe, most fruits can be kept in the refrigerator. The cold slows ripening and makes the fruits keep longer. To find out more on how exotic fruits ripen, talk to your IGA produce manager!

Deliciously yours!

The granadilla and passion fruit add an exotic flavour and delightfully crunchy touch to fruit salads and ice cream. To give your parties with friends an exotic touch, moisten horned melon with tequila and sprinkle with salt. Dig in! In a blender, combine plain yogurt or vanilla ice cream with exotic fruits to make mouthwatering smoothies. Try combinations of mango and kiwi, banana and pitahaya, and papaya and pineapple.