20 unique fruits to put on your food bucket list

Cherimoyas have a unique taste and texture. Coming mostly from Central America, cherimoyas taste like a cross between a banana and a pineapple, with a creamy texture not often found in fruits. 

From the outside, kiwano horned melons look a little bit like squash, but they’re totally surprising when you cut into them. These unique fruits have a vibrant green flesh that looks similar to a lime at first glance, which is fitting since the tastes are similar, too. 

You’ve probably heard of a guava, but you might not have been able to access one. These beautiful green fruits, native to Central and South America, have a stunning pink inside that looks similar to watermelon, although the tastes are much different. 

When you first see a rambutan, you may be alarmed. It looks more like a moldy eyeball than a fruit. But rest assured, rambutans are totally edible with a grape-like texture that you’re sure to love if you get to eat one. 

People love Pinkglow pineapples because of their sweet taste, but they’re so memorable because of their beautiful pink insides. It's a special designer fruit you don’t get to eat too often. 

From the outside, lychees and rambutans don’t look much alike. Lychees are smaller and don’t have the concerning tendrils. But from the inside, they look nearly identical. However, their tastes are a bit different, with lychees being a little more sour. 

Cactus pears have a very unique taste. While sweet and fruity, they’ve also been described as having a bubblegum-like taste. People love this fruit to eat, juice, and make syrup with. 

You’ve likely had an açaí bowl, but what about the berry? Açaí berries, known for their many health benefits, are small, dark purple berries that look similar to blueberries. Like blueberries, acai berries are rich in nutrients and are a great smoothie ingredient. 

A pitaya, more commonly known as dragon fruit, is perhaps the most fun fruit to look at in the entire world. It’s got a striking pink outside with a black and white spotted inside. Unsurprisingly, these little guys are not very accessible across the world as they can be quite expensive. 

Speaking of expensive fruit, the yubari king melon is one fruit you may never have the pleasure of trying. These Japanese melons cost around $200 each, and one even sold for $45,000. We live in a wild world. 

There should be more fruit in the world that look like basic shapes (other than spheres and ovals). On the outside, starfruit just looks like a bunch of weird triangles stuck together, but when cut into slices, it takes on the shape of a star. Tasty and unique. 

Mamey sapote is a wild fruit. It comes from Central America, and biting into it is like biting into summer and fall simultaneously. It has squash, potato, honey, peaches, cherries, almonds, and more flavors. It’s a unique tasting experience indeed. 

Loquats are also called Japanese plums, which is a great description. These orange fruits have a pit inside and taste like cherries and apricots. They’re known for their pleasant aroma and multitude of health benefits. 

A Buddha’s hand is a citrus fruit with tendrils that look like fingers. It’s got the scent and taste of a lemon, but it’s bitter and not the easiest to work with. However, it provides a great zest and can be used in cocktails. 

On the inside, hoa loc mangos look just like any other mango. But its dense pulp makes it very special. Like specialty fruits, hoa loc mangos can be very expensive, especially when they’re out of season or the crop is low. 

If you have the opportunity to eat durian, try to do so without smelling it. This fruit has a terrible odor that might turn you off from eating it entirely. If you want to taste it without fear of getting a whiff of its smell, try it in baked goods (ones that you didn’t bake yourself). 

Salak looks kind of like a nut, but it's not. It's a unique fruit that ranges from sweet to sour, depending on which one you get. If you have the chance to eat one, be sure to consult with an expert so you know what you're getting yourself into. 

For many, many years, mangosteens were banned in the United States. Since 2007, that ban has been lifted, and American citizens can now eat the sweet and acidic fruit without fear. Still, mangosteens are not widely accessible throughout the country, so many of us don’t have the chance even though we can eat them. 

Longans are another fruit with insides similar to rambutan and lychee, except these look even more like eyeballs. If you can get past that, you’ll find a sweet yet musky flavor accompanying a grape-like texture. 

In recent years, jackfruit has become increasingly available throughout the United States. This fruit is often used as a substitute for shredded meat in vegetarian and vegan recipes, as it has a neutral taste that can successfully take on bolder flavors.