Taiwan Fruits from a Taiwanese Street Vendor

Visiting Taiwan means amazing food everywhere - and that includes the fruit! Because Taiwan sits in the subtropical zone, the island has the perfect climate for growing all kinds of tropical fruit. Hot, humid summers and short, mild winters create the ideal environment for sweet, juicy produce that tastes fresher than anything I've found in the States.

Jump to:

• Yellow Watermelon (黃西瓜 Huáng xīguā)
• Taiwanese Guava (芭樂 Bālè)
• Starfruit / Carambola (楊桃 Yángtáo)
• Papaya (木瓜 Mùguā)
• Wax Apple (蓮霧 Liánwù)
• Durian (榴槤 Liúlián)
• Coconut (椰子 Yēzi)
• Sugar-Apple / Custard Apple (釋迦 Shìjiā)
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During my trip, I stopped by a Taiwanese street vendor and found some of the most colorful and delicious fruit. Here's a look at what I saw (and tasted!).

Yellow Watermelon (黃西瓜 Huáng xīguā)

Yellow watermelon is common in Taiwan and shows up in grocery stores and fruit stands all summer long. The inside is a beautiful golden color, and the flavor is slightly sweeter and more honey-like than red watermelon. Vendors often chill slices on ice, which makes them extra refreshing in Taiwan's heat. Nutritionally, they're very similar to red watermelon - just a fun, summery twist if you've never tried it!

Taiwanese Guava (芭樂 Bālè)

You can buy guavas in the U.S., but I swear they're nothing like the ones in Taiwan. Taiwanese guavas are big, crisp, juicy, and naturally sweet. Many street vendors serve guava chilled and pre-sliced, often with a little packet of plum powder for dipping - a classic Taiwanese pairing. If you visit Taiwan, definitely grab one from a fruit stand!

Starfruit / Carambola (楊桃 Yángtáo)

Starfruit is one of the most beautiful fruits - slice it crosswise and it forms perfect little stars:

The flavor is refreshing, lightly citrusy, and a mix of apple + plum. When fully ripe, starfruit is sweet; when less ripe, it leans tart. In Taiwan, it's commonly sold at fruit stands already washed and ready to bite into, making it a super convenient on-the-go snack.

Papaya (木瓜 Mùguā)

Papaya is one of those fruits that tastes completely different in Taiwan compared to the U.S. Taiwanese papayas are larger, sweeter, and far more fragrant - you can smell the tropical aroma the moment you slice one open. The texture is smooth and creamy, and the flavor is naturally sweet without being overly rich.

Papaya is everywhere in Taiwan: fruit shops, night markets, breakfast stands, and even convenience stores. Vendors will often help you choose one that's perfectly ripe for eating that same day or suggest one that needs just a little more time on the counter. It's a fruit locals grow up with, and once you try it in Taiwan, you'll understand why it's so popular.

One of the most iconic ways to enjoy it is Papaya Milk (木瓜牛奶 mùguā niúnǎi) - a simple blend of ripe papaya and fresh milk, made to order at many juice stands. It's creamy, refreshing, and tastes like a lightly sweet dessert. If you're visiting Taiwan, papaya and papaya milk are must-tries!

Wax Apple (蓮霧 Liánwù)

Wax apples - called liánwù (蓮霧) in Taiwan - are one of those fruits you have to try when visiting. They go by so many names: champoo, java apple, love apple, mountain apple, rose apple… the list is honestly kind of endless. But despite all those names (and the word "apple"), they taste nothing like apples at all.

The outside has a beautiful glossy sheen - which is where the "wax" part comes from - and the shape is almost like a bell or a tiny vase. When you bite into one, the texture is crisp yet tender, almost like a cross between a pear and a super juicy bell pepper (but sweeter and way more refreshing). They're lightly sweet, very hydrating, and incredibly cooling on a hot Taiwan day.

Durian (榴槤 Liúlián)

Durian is famous (or infamous!) for its strong smell, but don't let that scare you. Once you get past the aroma, the flavor is rich, creamy, and custard-like. Durian can grow quite large - up to 12 inches long - and if you're feeling adventurous, Taiwanese durian is as fresh as it gets.

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

Coconut (椰子 Yēzi)

Fresh coconuts are easy to find all over Taiwan, especially at roadside stands. Vendors often keep them on ice, then crack one open right in front of you and pop in a straw so you can sip the sweet coconut water straight from the shell. It's unbelievably refreshing in Taiwan's hot, humid weather, and some vendors will even chop it open afterward so you can scoop out the soft coconut meat.

Sugar-Apple / Custard Apple (釋迦 Shìjiā)

Sugar apples - called shìjiā (釋迦) in Taiwan - are one of the most beloved fruits on the island. Despite the name, they taste nothing like apples. The outside looks like it's covered in little green bumps, but once you crack it open, the inside is incredibly soft, creamy, and custard-like.

The flavor is sweet, fragrant, and almost dessert-like, especially when they're perfectly ripe. A lot of people describe it as a mix between vanilla pudding and a tropical pear - but honestly, it just tastes like sugar apple and nothing else.

They're not easy to find in the U.S., but in Taiwan, they're everywhere when they're in season. Vendors will often help you choose a fruit that's ready to eat that day (versus one you need to let ripen for a bit). Some stands even peel or split the fruit open for you so you can enjoy it right away.

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