You never really think about it unless you are trying to teach a toddler or you are gearing up for a trivia contest, but it is really interesting the number of fruits that have names starting with ‘A’.
Some of these are obvious everyday fruits like apples, whereas others are very exotic and unheard of, like akebi.
Depending on where you live, you might not be able to taste all the fruits on this list, but you can surely learn about them.
Here’s a comprehensive list of fruits that begin with the letter A:
Apple
Apples are the first fruit that comes to our mind when we think of fruits that start with A. There are many different varieties of apples and they differ in color and taste. From very sweet to tart and sour, there is a variety of apples for every taste bud.
Everyone loves munching on fresh ripe apples. They have a nice crisp texture and can be used to liven up a variety of meat dishes. There is no dearth of desserts that use apples, from jelly to pies and cakes. Applesauce and apple juice are a huge hit with children too.
Avocado
Given that most people consider avocados to be vegetables, you might be surprised to find them on this list. They definitely taste very different from how fruits typically do, but they are still fruits. They taste creamy and have a neutral flavor since they contain so many healthy fats.
They may be added to toast, consumed raw, or mixed into guacamole. Guacamole needs to be handled carefully since it may spoil in an instant.
Due to its many health advantages, including its positive effects on the heart, avocado oil is particularly well-liked.
Apricot
Apricots look exactly like a smaller version of peaches. Their skin is silky and is completely safe to eat, but many people remove it as it is covered with fuzz.
They are juicy and sweet on the inside. The flavor of apricots and the sweetness gets deeper and richer the riper it gets. Some varieties of apricots can be slightly sour or tart.
You can eat them as they are or use them for making jams or pies. Dried apricots are very popular all over the world.
Amla
Amla is another name for the Indian gooseberry. They are small, round and green. The skin is translucent and the sections are marked clearly, making it easier to cut them.
They are very sour and can even taste bitter, depending on how ripe they are. Amla is not usually eaten raw. It is either seasoned with salt or made into a jam to make them more appetizing.
Asian Pear
Asian pears are halfway between an apple and a pear. They are circular and yellow, and the fruit’s flesh is extremely juicy. They have a crisp consistency like an apple and a grainy texture like a pear.
The taste is very subtle. There is a hint of sweetness and the texture accounts for the rest of the flavor. Most people like eating them raw, though they also taste great in salads, fruit bowls, and cheese plates.
Akebi
The akebi fruit is similar in shape to an eggplant. It has a deep purple hue and an elongated oval shape. The skin of the fruit is very taut and splits open when the fruit is overripe.
The insides are filled with tiny brown or black seeds, each with a squishy layer around it, sort of like chia seeds after they’ve been soaked in water. The seeds are safe to eat, but most people discard them the same way as watermelon seeds.
Amaou Strawberry
Amaou strawberries are native to Japan. They are a lot juicier, richer in flavor and sweeter than the tart, mildly flavored strawberries most of us are used to. They aren’t all that common and are quite expensive, even for an exotic fruit.
They can be eaten raw just like regular strawberries and greatly enhance the flavor of desserts like tarts, cakes and pies.
Amanatsu Orange
Amanatsu is a specialty version of oranges originating in Japan. They have the appearance of oranges but are much larger in size. Like most citrus fruits, they have a tangy and sour flavor.
They spoil easily, so they are not that readily available outside of Japan. They can be eaten raw or made into jam, jelly or juice.
Annatto
Annatto is technically a seed and not a fruit. They grow in achiote trees and are primarily found in South America.
They have a very complex flavor that is a mixture of earthy, wooden or smoky undertones and fruity or floral citrusy overtones. The flavor goes very well with cheese and since they are bright red, they are used to dye and flavor South American dishes.
Ambrosia Melon
Ambrosia melons can easily be mistaken for cantaloupes. Cantaloupes are bigger and have a milder flavor than ambrosia melons.
Ambrosia melons have a very sweet and floral flavor. The skin is light brown and heavily textured on the outside, while the fruit’s flesh is light orange and sweet.
Ambarella
Ambarella is a Malaysian fruit. It is plucked while it is still raw and green. They turn sour and yellow when they ripen. People enjoy them both unripe and ripe. A lot of people like the crunchy texture that the unripe ambarella has.
The flavor is very neutral when they are unripe and sours as the fruit matures. People like to snack on them seasoned with chili powder or a special fish sauce.
Asam Kumbang
Asam Kumbang is a very unique-looking fruit. They look like pebbles when they are unripe and take on a deep purple or black color as they ripen.
The taste is very different from their appearance because they are a lot like mangoes in flavor. They are yellow and sweet on the inside and there is a large pit at the center.
Sometimes, they can be quite sour, so people like to eat them seasoned with salt or chili powder. They are also used as an ingredient in savory dishes and made into pickles.
Asam Payak
Asam payaks are extremely sour. So much so that they make your face pucker up when you eat them. They are a little odd-looking as they grow in clumps and have very flaky skin that almost looks like dragon scales.
The fruit itself is light yellow or cream and divided into smaller sections. They are either eaten seasoned with spices or added to savory dishes for their sour flavor.
Arava Melon
Arava melons are halfway between cantaloupes and honeydew. They are small in size but very juicy and full of flavor. The skin is yellow and the flesh inside is different shades of green depending on the ripeness.
They are mostly eaten on their own or as an accompaniment to spicy sides or main courses.
Annona
Annona is more commonly known as a sugar apple. They look like small pinecones and range from pink to purple. They have a nice flavor, but they need to be handled with caution as the seeds are poisonous.
They are structured like pineapples and the fruit is either yellowish or white. They go nicely with smoothies, yogurt and ice cream.
Parting Thoughts
You might think that you know them all, but there are actually a lot of exotic fruits most of us have never heard of. Which of the above is your favorite fruit starting with ‘A’?