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Taiwan Fruits from a Taiwanese Street Vendor

Taiwan Fruits from a Taiwanese Street Vendor

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Being in the subtropical zone, Taiwan is in a great location for growing all sorts of delicious fruit, and is also pretty well known for the fruit produced.  Not only is there an abundant amount of fruit, but they are also all delicious! These are the Taiwanese Fruits from a Taiwanese Street Vendor I saw while I visited.

Taiwan Climate and Taiwan Fruit

With hot humid summers and short winters as well as high precipitation, Taiwan’s climate is perfect for growing tropical fruits! So in this article you will see lots of delicious tropical Taiwan Fruit!

Yellow Watermelons

Yellow Watermelons from Taiwan


You can actually also find Yellow Watermelons here in the states, but not as commonly as in Taiwan.  These yellow-interior watermelons are in any of the grocery stores in Taiwan. Yellow watermelons have a sweeter, honey-like flavor compared to their red counter parts, but nutrition wise, they are basically the same!

Taiwanese Guavas

Taiwanese Guavas


Guavas can also be found here, but the ones I’ve seen are NOT as beautiful as the ones I find in Taiwan. Not even close.  Those here are all tiny, and when I tried buying some once, they were not nearly as sweet as those from Taiwan.  Taiwanese Guavas are big, round, juicy, and delicious!

Starfruits (aka Carambola)

Starfruits (or Carambola) of Taiwan


First of all, look how cool they look!  Can you see why they are called “Starfruit”?

Why a starfruit is called a star....fruit.

The taste, if I HAD to describe it using the taste of other fruits… is a little bit citrus-y and apples and plums? If they are super ripe, they are super sweet, if not so ripe, they taste a bit more sour.  Well, that’s the best I can do with describing the flavor.

Papaya

Taiwan Fruit Papaya
Papayas From Taiwan


The papayas found in Taiwan have the same story as guavas.  Yes, you can find them here in the states, but they are not nearly as ginormous or sweet/yummy.  Also, they are a lot more commonly eaten here (just like the guavas).

Also, fun fact, a very popular beverage in Taiwan is called Papaya Milk – it’s basically a smoothie made with the flesh of the papaya and fresh milk, and it is super tasty.

Wax Apples

Taiwan Fruit Wax Apples
Wax Apples from Taiwan


I haven’t seen these in the States before, so I believe if you can, it is very rare to find… These babies are called Wax Apples… or apparently any of the following names: Champoo, love apple, java apple, royal apple, bellfruit, Jamaican apple, water apple, mountain apple, cloud apple, wax jambu, rose apple, and bell fruit.
Don’t be mistakened by the name, it doesn’t tastes or feel like apple at all.  I think the only reason it is called that is because it’s red…and is a fruit. They are way softer than apples, and not as sweet/crunchy.  I do love these a lot, and just realized I didn’t have any this trip back to Taiwan! 🙁

Durians

Taiwan Fruit Durians
Durians from Taiwan


These fruits can be BIG (as wiki puts it: 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 15 centimetres (6 in) in diameter, and it typically weighs one to three kilograms (2 to 7 lb)), but that’s not the most recognizable trait of Durians.  That…would actually be the distinct SMELL of the fruit. Some people like the smell, some people HATE it with a passion.  I agree with both somehow, but I definitely think it tastes kind of… yummy. You see, if you don’t know what you’re expecting, it’s custard-like texture might be a surprise.

Here it is being split up and making some people cringe and some people get hungry with its smell:

Durians split open

Coconuts

Coconuts from Taiwan


Yep, just your average coconuts.  But look how nice they look! I just love that it’s so easy to find yummy fruit everywhere in Taiwan 🙂

Sugar-Apples (aka Custard-Pineapple)

Taiwan Fruit Sugar Apples
Sugar-Apples (aka Custard-Pineapple)


If you only clicked on this post because of that first pic, you’ve scrolled down far enough to learn about them!  These are sugar-apples.  Again, they don’t taste at all like apples despite its name.  I definitely have never see these in the states, but again, super common in Taiwan.  They are custard-like inside, but unlike the Durian, no one thinks it smells bad, and most people think it tastes yummy!

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Taiwanese Fruits from a Taiwanese Street Vendor

Looking for more posts about my travel in Taiwan? There’s plenty here!

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Shel

Wednesday 28th of October 2020

Bob, that's mangosteen! The QUEEN of fruits in Asia! Yum!

Bob Jacobson

Tuesday 5th of November 2019

Hi Tina, I just returned from Puli, and in a couple of the fruit markets I saw a dark purple fruit, perhaps 2 inches long, that had points or projections at one end. While traveling in the mountains, I saw a few plants under cultivation that had hibiscus-like flowers, and it was obvious the developing seed pods matured into this fruit. I took a few pictures of the fruit and of the plant. Although one vendor gave me a few, I was afraid to eat them because I didn't know if they needed to be cooked before eating (in case they were toxic if raw).

Thanks, Bob

Leo Campos

Saturday 21st of October 2017

Where to buy or order sugar apples????

Yang

Thursday 3rd of November 2016

where can I buy wax apple in Los Angeles . And when can I buy those.?

Tina T

Thursday 3rd of November 2016

I'm in Atlanta, so I don't know.... but you may be able to find it at Asian Supermarkets, that's where I would start looking :)

Maya Panika

Saturday 26th of May 2012

Custard apples, aka cherimoya! My favourite fruit - not common in the UK but you can find them if you look hard. Terrific post!