Fruits, the nature’s sweet candies, have color, taste and feel that are synonymous with vibrancy, juiciness and pleasure. Still, not every fruit is equal when we discuss flavor. Some fruits break the common definition of pleasantness and provide a distinctly different flavor combination which most people can only appreciate after getting used to. Nonetheless, they feature somewhat questionable flavor profiles, but, of all, they still make it to the list of many outgoing people. Therefore, here you go, embark with the palate and gear yourself up as we take off towards the top 10 fruits that taste truly bad but still enthrall people’s minds globally.
Durian: The King of Polarizing Fruits
Ah, durian — the so-called “king of fruits” with a stench that can evict people from a room even faster than fire alarms. The good-for-nothing outer skin with the nasty odor reminding of skunks and sweaty socks is quite too much for the weak hearted folk. Lurking behind its impenetrable shell, however, has a texture and flavor that is occasionally described as like almonds, custard cream, or even garlic. The durian fruit with a poisonous reputation love it or hate it; has a cult following that believes it has a unique taste and many health benefits. Given this is the case, put your nose to the test and have a bite if you wish, though you might want to get ready as the experience will be both very memorable and somewhat controversial.
Jackfruit: The Meaty Monstrosity
Multi-precious jackfruit, with its dangerous green shell and bulky size, could scare the most excited fruit lovers. Though it is beautiful on the outside, what is encased inside is what makes it so unique. With a consistency similar to that of pulled pork and a sweet-savory flavor profile, jackfruit is a vegetarian substitute that is often hailed as an alternative to meat. If these downsides could be addressed, it will be more attractive to some people. In spite of its divisive nature, the cuisine has adopted variety of recipes, from curries to tacos, and despite being only about unknown fruits, it still has its day in the trendy food industry.
Kiwano (Horned Melon): Nature’s Oddity
Just in case, you are on the search for a fruit that, bizarre in both taste and appearance, is your best bet. Its name is the kiwano which also goes by the name horned melon. Shooting for a spiky, orange alien egg, the kiwano, possesses a jelly-like green interior decorated with edible seeds.Its taste? And if you can, try to picture a combination of cucumber, banana and lime, and also a measure of tartness for good taste. Some people may find the flavor of the dish extremely pleasant and exotic, while others may consider the icky texture and the confounding taste an eyesore. Indeed, the kiwano is a peculiar culinary exoticism that still puzzles and amazes the taste buds of people in all the world’s countries.
Starfruit: A Taste of the Tropics
First meeting starfruit, its celeb figure and the cracking flavor inside the palm may be breathless, like a quick fathom to the sea bottom. While for other individuals it is a nice fruit, for some unlucky ones, it can cause an unpleasant surprise if consumed. Starfruit is high in oxalic acid and therefore might serve as raw material for people having certain taste buds or suffering from medical conditions. Another possible danger is the neurotoxins present in starfruit that can cause problems to people with kidney problems. Along with these possible setbacks, starfruit is still a favorite fruit across tropical regions that are known for its distinct shapes and wide range of culinary uses.
Persimmon: An Effusive Intertwine of Sweetness and Bitterness
The orangey persimmons with their smooth richness give them an air of this kind of elegance. However, don’t let their looks deceive you—these fruits are capable of giving quite a bang in the world of flavors. Whether sungkhya or hachiya, persimmons can be either sweet and honeyed or ting-ting. While ripe persimmons contain tannins, these are much lower than the ones in uncooked persimmons. This is because the tannins in them are bitter and can make you feel like you’re licking wet wool. Even then, waiting patiently for persimmons to fully ripe, turns them into a sweet and creamy succulence that is always worth the wait. Therefore, practice restraint and be methodical as you discover these exotic fruits and you may be pleasantly surprised.
Rambutan: The Hairy Heartbreaker
It resembles a little spiky underwater creature, while being a tropical fruit, both memorable in appearance and strange in taste. The hairy exterior, similar to that of a mini hedgehog, is the perfect cover-up for the pleasant, juicy and slightly sweet, floral taste found in its fruity flesh. Others on the other hand, describing the texture of the plump jelly, say that it can be similar to the sensation of sucking on a slippery marble—which gives off the kind of frightening, odd, and altogether weird feeling. Although of its quoteries, the rambutan has devoted fans in areas where it is grown. By the way, these fans admire the rambutan for its exotic taste and odd features.
Pomelo: The Bitter Beauty
The pomelo is oftentimes unrecognized as its sweet citrus counterparts but its distinctive flavor profile and flexibility should make it a prominent fruit in any pantry. Preferably, the fruit resembles the giant size of grapefruit and has a thick skin full of pith, which together gives the pomelos a taste of sweet and bitter notes, with the fragrance of the flowers. Still, extremely bitter taste can be distasteful to those who are used to less aggressive sweetness of oranges and tangerines instead. However, when mixed with salty ingredients or used as a sharp aroma for salads and some desserts, pomelo’s shine bright, and one discovers that beauty can be found in the eye (or in this case, in the taste buds) of the beholder.
Noni: The Funky Fermentation
But if you are in search of a fruit as stinking as its taste, the choice is obvious – it’s the noni. Growing primarily in Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands, this fruit, originally, is known for its strong smell and acquired taste. I couldn’t help but imagine the mix of the cheese that has gone bad, of the vomit, and of the socks that had been worn at the gym every time I catch a whiff of the noni. Being off-putting by its odor and acquired taste, noni is still the fruit which people eat because of the reported health benefits, among other things, immune-stimulant properties and anti-inflammatory effects. However leery you are of the smell of it, the noni juice might turn out to be exactly the remedy you always hoped, but never dreamt, it could exist.
Bitter Melon: Eating a Piece of a Bitter Chocolate Cake
Bitter melon, as its name implies, is not a sweet vegetable, nor is it apt for those of delicate constitution. Roughly looking like a warty cucumber with an extremely bitter flavor, why not, for its claimed health properties plus its unique taste profile, bitter melon is often used in traditional Asian dishes. Nevertheless, it can be difficult when one is utilized to the intense bitterness, to experience eating bitter melon as that of chewing on a bitter humming herbs and unripe citrus skins. Bitter melon is a controversial ingredient due to its nasty taste. Nevertheless, this super food has managed to attract a devoted fan base who believes in the healing power of its alleged wondrous properties. Therefore, if you enjoy extreme flavors (and/or a bit of torture), try the bitter melon (but be ready for a trying sensational sensation that will leave you craving for water sooner than later).
Miracle Fruit: The flavor-dwrgoing enigma
Lastly but not the least, the miracle fruit represents a tiny reddish berry known all over the world for its unique quality to transform the taste sensations. Upon ingestion, the miracle fruit seals the taste buds by a protein called miraculin that attaches to sweet receptors on the tongue, resulting in the sugar-like taste of the bitter and sour flavors.The result? Lemons taste like lemony lemonade, vinegar tastes like apple juice, and even such unpopular fruits like that start to taste delicious and sweet. It is fascinating that despite the medical fruit itself having a rather bland, slightly sour taste, other foods are drastically changed because of this miracle fruit. Therefore, if a flavorful journey is what you seek, put in a miracle fruit berry and get ready to get amazed.
Lastly, these fruits may not be fiendishly pretty but when it comes to excitement of taste and breaking the illusion of everyday food we have to give them a credit for what they are doing. And so next time you feel ambitious taste other unconventional fruits. One never knows what a person might find is a new sweet treat or what kind of a taste he/she might develop for yet another intriguing combination of flavors.Bon appétit!
