There are hundreds of types of fruits in the world and they are popular foods in almost every culture.
In this article, we will take a closer look at some of them.
Some of them are common and you may not recognize some of the more exclusive varieties.
Nutritional Properties and Health Benefits
1. Mango
Sometimes referred to as the "king of fruits," mango is a tropical fruit with a very sweet and juicy flesh.
It is native to southern Asia and is a common fruit in countries such as India, the Philippines, and Thailand.
The mango has a pit (which makes a stone) surrounded by sweet yellow flesh; This flavor is slightly sweet, light and spicy.
In general, people eat the fruit in its whole, raw state, but there are also many recipes for smoothies and desserts.
The sweet taste makes sense when you consider that mango is one of the highest carb/sugar fruits.
per serving cup (165 g), serving mango (33);
Calories: 107 kcal
Carbs: 28.1 grams
Fiber: 3.0 g
Sugar: 24.4 grams
Fat: 0.4 grams
Protein: 0.8 grams
Vitamin C: 76% RDA
Vitamin A: 25% RDA
Vitamin B6: 11% RDA
Copper: 9% RDA
Vitamin E: 9% RDA
Learn more about mangoes here.
2. Watermelon
Continuing the fruits with more sugar, watermelon is another fleshy fruit with a sweet taste.
Surprisingly, watermelon is, botanically speaking, a type of berry. Not many people realize this because watermelons look very different from fruits like strawberries and blueberries!
There are many different types of fruit, and they are sourced from Africa and Southwest Asia.
Since watermelon is very juicy and refreshing, it is very popular during the summer season.
Nutritionally speaking, a cup of diced cantaloupe (170 g) contains the following nutrients (34);
Calories: 61.2 calories
Carbs: 15.5 grams
Fiber: 1.4 grams
Sugar: 13.8 grams
Fat: 0.2 grams
Protein: 0.9 grams
Vitamin C: 51% RDA
Potassium: 11% RDA
Folic Acid: 8% RDA
Vitamin B6: 7% RDA
Vitamin K: 6% RDA
3. Blackberry
Blackberries come in all shapes and sizes and are a common berry that grows all over the world.
There are many types of berries, but there are three main ones; Black, red and white.
The black and red berries are native to the United States, while the white varieties grow mainly in China.
Blackberries are popular in their fresh and dried form. The black and red berries are sweet and juicy with a slightly pungent flavor.
However, since white mulberries mostly come from China, we generally buy them in their dried state.
These berries are much smaller than the red and black types, and they also have a sweeter flavour.
Per 1 cup of raw blackberries, the nutritional profile looks like this (35);
Calories: 60.2 calories
Carbs: 13.7 grams
Fiber: 2.4 grams
Sugar: 11.3 grams
Fat: 0.5 g
Protein: 2.0 grams
Vitamin C: 85% RDA
Vitamin K 14% RDA
Iron: 14% RDA
Potassium: 8% RDA
Vitamin B2: 8% RDA
4. Olive
Most people do not realize that olives are actually a fruit.
This is likely because olives do not have that typical sweet taste that most fruits have, and instead provide a source of healthy fats.
Personally, olives are one of my favorite foods - there are many varieties and they all taste slightly different. Despite the belief that there are only "green" and "black" olives, there are literally thousands of olives.
There is a common belief that they originated in Italy millions of years ago, and since then olives have spread throughout the Mediterranean region. Nowadays, olives are grown all over the world.
People mainly use olives for cooking, as a snack, or to make olive oil. Depending on the type of olive, they can taste anything from bitter and salty to slightly sweet.
Olives are among the foods richest in polyphenols and are widely known for their health benefits.
Per 100 grams of olives provides (36);
Calories: 81 calories
Carbs: 5.6 grams
Fiber: 2.5 grams
Sugar: 0g
Fat: 6.9 g
Protein: 1.0 g
Sodium: 37% RDA
Iron: 18% RDA
Copper: 11% RDA
Vitamin E: 8% RDA
Vitamin A: 7% RDA
5. Orange
Orange is one of the most common fruits in the world.
The orange is a citrus fruit, and surprisingly, it is a hybrid rather than a native variety. If you weren't aware of this point, an orange is actually a combination of grapefruit and mandarin.
Oranges have a hard outer peel surrounding the smooth, juicy center. In general, the taste of the fruit is sweet and bitter (very little). However, there are hundreds of types of oranges and they can range from sweet, bitter, and sour.
Sweet varieties are generally the edible ones you can find in stores and in orange juice.
Oranges are a relatively rich fruit in carbohydrates and provide a decent amount of vitamin C.
large orange supplies (37);
Calories: 86.5 calories
Carbs: 78.8 grams
Fiber: 4.4 g
Sugar: 17.2 g
Fat: 0.2 grams
Protein: 1.7 grams
Vitamin C: 163% RDA
Folic Acid: 14% RDA
Vitamin B 1: 11% RDA
Potassium: 10% RDA
Vitamin A: 8% RDA
6. Papaya
a tropical fruit with an exotic name; papaya
Papaya has its origins in Central America and grows in most countries with tropical climates.
Although it was once considered "exotic", it is now easy to find in most countries due to the global fruit trade.
The fruit has a smooth outer peel and smooth reddish-orange flesh on the inside.
Papayas are also striking in appearance, appearing to be a cross between a giant pear and a gourd. In terms of flavour, it is not unlike mango, but it is less sweet in nature.
Like most brightly colored fruits, it is high in polyphenols and provides the following nutrients per cup (140 g) (38);
Calories: 54.6 kcal
Carbs: 13.7 grams
Fiber: 2.5 grams
Sugar: 8.3 grams
Fat: 0.2 grams
Protein: 0.9 grams
Vitamin C: 144% RDA
Vitamin A: 31% RDA
Folic Acid: 13% RDA
Potassium: 10% RDA
Vitamin E: 5% RDA
Learn more in this comprehensive guide to the nutritional values and benefits of papaya.
7. Passion Fruit
Passion fruit is another tropical fruit (technically a berry) native to the South American region, believed to be native to Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.
The fruit is now grown in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
The passion fruit is one of the most recognizable fruits and is roughly the size of a golf ball. A hard, brown outer shell is surrounded by a yellow, jelly-like, sticky and fleshy crust.
This sweet pulp is comparable to a tomato. It is very juicy and contains many edible seeds.
However, there are many different types of passion fruit, some (such as the "golden passion fruit") the size of a large grapefruit.
Although passion fruit is one of the highest carb fruits, about 50% of these carbs come from fiber.
Per serving of 5 fruits, passion fruit provides the following nutrients (39);
Calories: 88 calories
Carbs: 21 grams
Fiber: 9.5 g
Sugar: 2.0 grams
Fat: 0.1 g
Protein: 0.4 grams
Vitamin C: 45% RDA
Vitamin A: 25% RDA
Potassium: 10% RDA
Iron: 10% RDA
Phosphorous: 5% RDA
8. Pear
Pears are a delicious, sweet and juicy fruit.
It grows naturally all over the world, but its origin, like many other fruits, is in China.
There are many different types of pears in the world, from the classic European "pear-shaped" to the large, round Chinese/Korean pear.
However, all pears share the same thin, crisp skin and sweet, juicy white flesh.
Pears have the sweetness of apple mixed with a kind of mild citrus flavor and aroma.
The meat becomes crunchy when you bite down on it with a lot of water trapped inside.
In fact, pears have a water content of about 84% by weight, making them one of the highest water contents of any fruit (40).
The nutritional content of pears offers a good range of vitamins and minerals, but they are not particularly high in any specific nutrient.
Here is a profile of a medium-sized pear (41);
Calories: 103 kcal
Carbs: 27.5 grams
Fiber: 5.5 grams
Sugar: 17.4 grams
Fat: 0.2 grams
Protein: 0.7 grams
Vitamin C: 14% RDA
Vitamin K: 10% RDA
Copper: 7% RDA
Potassium: 6% RDA
Manganese: 4% RDA
9. Persimmon
Persimmon is a commonly available fruit and the typical cultivar is native to East Asia. Especially China, Japan and Korea.
Persimmons are bright orange in color and come in two different varieties.
First of all, the persimmon fuyo looks like a broad-shaped tomato and has a flesh that is crunchy and slightly sweet.
Secondly, khaki hachia are rounder in shape and longer. This particular persimmon has a strong, solid feel, while being fresh and having an incredibly bitter taste. As a result, they should not be eaten until fully ripened.
When the fruit is ripe it is very soft and when you squeeze it it should feel as if there is a large amount of water inside. Usually, this type of persimmon is eaten with a spoon because it is very tender.
Like most orange plant foods, persimmons are a good supplier of vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene (42). by fruit
Calories: 118 calories
Carbs: 31.2 grams
Fiber: 6 g
Sugar: 21 grams
Fat: 0.3 grams
Protein: 1.0 g
Vitamin A: 55% RDA
Manganese: 30% RDA
Vitamin C: 21% RDA
Copper: 9% RDA
Vitamin B6: 8% RDA
10. Pineapple
Pineapple is a sweet and slightly delicious tropical fruit that is native to South America.
It is now very common in the tropics of the world such as the Philippines and the Caribbean.
Pineapple has a firm yellow flesh that gives you a sweet and tangy flavour.
Like other tropical fruits, pineapple has many uses in cooking. For example, they are a popular choice in smoothies, smoothies, desserts, and even pizza.
Pineapple is very rich in vitamin C and the mineral manganese. serving pineapple per cup (165 g) (43);
Calories: 82.5 kcal
Carbs: 21.6 grams
Fiber: 2.3 g
Sugar: 16.3 grams
Fat: 0.2 grams
Protein: 0.9 grams
Vitamin C: 131% RDA
Manganese: 76% RDA
Vitamin B1: 9% RDA
Vitamin B6: 9% RDA
Copper: 9% RDA
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