Nature is the most skillful artist, sculptor and cook. Her creations amaze with their appearance, cause bewilderment, delight with taste and aroma. Far Asia and the tropical forests of South America have become home to many amazing fruits that never come across on the shelves of our stores. Get to know them unusual taste You can only travel around the world. Round and long, covered with thorns, hairs and scales, painted with all kinds of colors, fruits growing on trees, vines, cacti are the most curious objects for study. The presented eight exotic fruits of overseas trees are quite popular in the regions of growth, and some are so tasty that they have won recognition in all corners of the world.
On cacti in South Asia, China, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia, an unusual fruit of an elongated shape and bright pink color grows. On the surface of the peel, growths resembling fleshy petals are visible. The pulp is white and fragrant, it is strewn with small black seeds. This fruit has several names, because of its appearance it was called the dragon fruit or dragon's eye, the second option has no connection with legends, it comes from the name of the cactus - pitahaya or pitahaya.
The taste of the fruit is not saturated, but pleasant and refreshing, it is used in salads and cocktails. The flesh may be raspberry in color, it has a more pronounced taste. The fruit is easily cut, it is eaten in slices like a melon or taken with a spoon, the original appearance serves as a decoration fruit salad. The ripeness is determined by pressure, the immature hard fruit is tasteless, it is not worth tasting. Pitahaya retains its properties for 6 days, it is difficult to transport, so it is very difficult to try in countries where it does not grow.
Kiwano looks like a melon with pimples or thorns, and in the context it looks like a cucumber with large seeds. The fruit is small 15 cm, grows on a grassy vine, its homeland is Africa, is now grown in many countries where the temperature does not drop below 0 degrees:
South America, New Zealand, it appeared in Europe and Israel, special varieties are developed for growing in cool climates. Popularity contributes to unpretentious care and high yields. The pulp is jelly-like, green, it is used in sweet cocktails and in salads with salt, because the sweet and sour taste resembles both a cucumber and a banana. Low in calories, recommended for weight loss.
Akebia five - one of the types of vines, it has beautiful fragrant inflorescences and is common on the Black Sea coast and in the Crimea as an ornamental plant. In China, Japan and other countries of East Asia, akebia fruits are eaten. The fruits are small, only 6-8 cm long, the peel is purple with a white wax coating, it opens itself during the ripening period. The taste of this unappetizing fruit resembles raspberries.
In the tropical jungles of South America grows wonderful platonia, its brownish round fruits have a thick skin rich in latex. Their core is white, with large bones. The pulp is filled with minerals - iron, phosphorus and vitamin C, jelly and marmalade are prepared from it. This fruit is practically unknown to the world due to the impossibility of exporting it.
5. African pear - dacryodes
Dacryodes edible grows wild in the rainforests of Africa, its cultivated variant is grown on plantations in Angola and Nigeria. Purple fruits have blue flesh filled with fatty acids. They are very nutritious, they contain a lot of vitamins, and fats account for half of the weight. The fruits are eaten raw, fried and boiled, the seeds are used as livestock feed. The allotment of significant areas for plantations of dacryodes would help solve the food problem of starving Africa.
Mammaya americana is an evergreen tree native to tropical America. Today it is grown throughout the Americas, South Asia and Africa. The fruits resemble the taste and color of the pulp, apricot, but they are larger up to 20 cm in size and have a hard peel. Fruits are eaten only after full ripening, it is best that they themselves fall to the ground. Good varieties of mammei have a rich taste, the rest are either very sweet or sour. Inside are large brown seeds used in medical purposes. Fragrant fruits are preserved, jelly and marmalade are made, wine is made from the juice. The low-calorie fruit is rich in folic acid and iron, essential for pregnant women.
The fruits of the cherimoya tree were known even to the indigenous peoples of South America; over time, it spread north across its native continent and was transported across the ocean to India, Australia, and Egypt. In Spain and Portugal, the tree has taken root best, in local markets the fragrant fruit is sold along with oranges and apples. The fruits are large, reach from 0.5 to 3 kg, have an unusual scaly peel. Chilled fruit core replaces ice cream, serves as a filling for cakes and desserts.
The pulp is sweet and fragrant like a cream, combines the tastes of several fruits at once: pineapple, papaya, banana and passion fruit, despite the fact that half of the names are as exotic as the cherimoya itself, believe it is very tasty. In the Japanese market, the price of the fruit is $40, but the demand for them exceeds the supply, just as in other countries where the crop is not grown. The complexity of transportation limits the amount of fruit exported. Huge demand makes people look for possible solutions for the cultivation of cherimoya in other countries and its transportation, soon exotic fruit, considered the king of desserts, will be available on a par with oranges.
Jaboticaba is an unusual tree, its fruits do not hang from the branches, but grow from the trunk. This Brazilian miracle is first covered with white flowers, and then the trunk and large branches are strewn with small purple round fruits. This feature is used by the plant to spread its species, the fruits located low on the trunk become available to a larger number of animals. Today it is not only wild trees, in Peru, Cuba, Panama it is grown on plantations. The tree is harvested twice a year. The fruits are soft, under a rough, unsuitable peel, a light core, it is elastic and very sweet.
It will not work to save the fruit for a while, after three days it will ferment and become intoxicated. The main use of Brazilian grapes is to make wine, which is not surprising, since our grapes are grown for the same purpose.
Fruits - and in Africa, America, Brazil - fruits, they are useful and necessary for our body, from them we get vitamins, antioxidants and essential minerals. The fruits that cause us surprised exclamations are familiar in their homeland, not all of them will like their unusual taste, you need to be more careful with exotics, but at least they are worth a try.
This is an exotic fruit from New Zealand. Reminds me of a strange hybrid of cucumber and melon. But it is unusual not only from the outside, but also from the inside, as its green mucous insides evoke associations with horror films.
dragon fruit (pitaya)
Let's start with the fact that this is the fruit of a cactus. Which in itself is amazing. Bright fruits are more like some kind of root crops, but, nevertheless, it is a fruit. It comes from Mexico, but is now grown all over the world, even indoors.
durian
Probably the most controversial fruit of all. On the one hand, the aroma of this fruit is so disgusting that it is even forbidden to bring it into public places. But those who were able to overcome disgust and tried the pulp of this fruit note that they have never tasted anything tastier in their lives.
Buddha hand
This fruity "octopus" looks like a mutated lemon with a very thick rind. Sometimes, apart from the crust, he has nothing at all. You can't squeeze juice out of it, it doesn't have seeds. Why is it needed? And as a home talisman, as, for example, it is used in China.
passion fruit
Known around the world as "passion fruit". Passion fruit has an unusually tasty juice, and the pulp often serves as an additive to various confectionery.
pandanus
Another name for the plant is screw palm. Such unusual fruits, among other things, are very versatile in use: make paint and eat.
Rambutan
Such a mysterious fruit: under the hard, prickly skin, surprisingly tender pulp is hidden, which is often used to make jams and jellies. The seeds are roasted and eaten.
Akebia quinata
Here, oddly enough, but this plant is called "climbing cucumber". But the fruits, at the same time, are more like sausages, and taste like raspberries.
Atemoya
This is a hybrid, "fruit of botanical love" cherimoya and sugar apple. The pulp resembles the taste of mango and pineapple at the same time, and the consistency is similar to sour cream or gentle cream- just melts in your mouth.
snake fruit
The peel of the fruit is surprisingly similar to the skin of some reptile. Actually, hence the name. Under the skin, the fruit looks like an onion or a large clove of garlic, but has a sweet and fragrant pulp with a specific taste. True, it is not so easy to get to the pulp: the peel is already very prickly.
Pitanga
Although it is a wild berry, its cultivation is gradually mastered in many countries. It is very similar to ordinary cherries, only very ribbed. And it ripens much faster - 3 weeks after flowering.
Chinese strawberry
In appearance, these pimply balls can hardly be called strawberries. They look more like candied round sweets that, for some reason, grow on a tree. And the taste is quite specific. So much so that trees often serve only as decoration for parks and gardens. In general, it is not clear why this fruit was called a strawberry.
star fruit (carambola)
And here it is clear where the name comes from: the fruit in the context resembles a regular five-pointed star. It is sweet and sour. The sour variety is used in salads. And sweet can be eaten so simply, the taste of the fruit resembles a mixture of lemon, mango and grapes.
forbidden rice
It is one of the types of black rice grown in China. Initially black, it turns dark purple as it cooks. Has a nutty flavor, very useful, thanks to the content a large number trace elements. And he got his name because once only members of the imperial family could eat it.
watermelon radish
It feels like an ordinary radish was taken and turned inside out: white on the outside, red on the inside. The size of the root crop is quite large - about the size of a baseball. A close relative of cabbage, which makes it slightly bitter. In general, sliced radishes resemble small slices of watermelon, especially when crushed with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
Blue corn (hopi)
This is a special variety of corn, notable for its unusual color. Even in ancient times, blue corn was grown by the Hopi Indian people, who gave this species its name. Although blue corn has existed for several thousand years, it is, for some reason, not very popular in our time. Although it is sweeter and has a nutty flavor.
Romanescu (coral cabbage)
This is not just a cabbage, but a real natural fractal visual aid. Closer in relationship to cauliflower, but more tender and tasty. Everyone will like the vegetable, even those who do not like cabbage. At least check out the look!
Kanistel (egg fruit)
The fruits can be of various shapes and sizes. They can be round, oval, similar to hearts. The color can vary from the lightest shades of yellow to pale orange. What is it, a fruit or a vegetable - decide for yourself. On the one hand, it tastes like sweet potato and can be added to soups and salads. On the other hand, it is eaten fresh, with ice cream and fruit desserts.
And there are many, many more of these fruits. You can write about them for a long time. But, you see, no article can convey their taste. And yet, I would like to try it.
We always recognize tomatoes and potatoes, no matter how unusual the varieties are. But there are vegetables and fruits in the world that will baffle even specialists. It is impossible to say whether it is a fruit or a vegetable, and whether it can be eaten at all.
DURIAN
It has such a disgusting smell that tourists with it are not allowed not only in the hotel, but even in public places. The fruits themselves are covered prickly green shell, inside which hides a juicy yellow flesh. Those who overcame disgust and tried this fruit noted that they had never tasted anything tastier in life.
KIWANO
This exotic fruit from New Zealand appearance resembles a hybrid of cucumber and melon. The color is like that of a melon, and the thorns are like those of a cucumber, and even on the cut, the flesh resembles a cucumber.
Everyone will like the taste of kiwano. Its green flesh resembles a jelly with white seeds.
Kiwano is also called horned melon and even African cucumber.
The plant itself is a vine that serves both as a food product and as an ornamental crop. Its stems are quite strong, and reach a length of 3-6 m. One plant can braid huge areas. To grow kiwanos, special nets are stretched, and over time, the foliage fills them completely, creating a solid green carpet.
DRAGON FRUIT
Sometimes dragon fruit is found on store shelves. It is interesting because it is the fruit of a cactus. It is bright red. It looks like an elongated apple, only covered with large scales. Its flesh is white or purple, in which there are many small black seeds evenly distributed throughout the fruit.
Dragon fruit is native to America. There it is very popular with the Indians, since it does not need to be cooked. 5-6 dragon fruit crops are harvested per year.
HAND OF THE BUDDHA
This fruit is also called the octopus. The fruit resembles a mutated lemon with a very thick skin. And often in the fruit there is nothing but the skin. It cannot be squeezed out of juice and it does not contain seeds. The question is, why is it needed? But just like a talisman. For these purposes, for example, it is grown in China.
PASSION
Passion fruit is a completely different matter. They have extraordinary delicious juice, and the pulp is used as an additive to various confectionery products. Interestingly, passion fruit translates as " delicious fruit».
Those who have tried it say that it is impossible to forget the taste and aroma. Fruits can differ in size, taste and shape, as there are several hundred varieties. There are forms with fruits the size of a pea, and there are the size of a small melon.
The peel of the fruit is hard and inedible, but the sweet pulp with seeds is valued all over the world.
PANDANUS
Pandanus is also often referred to as screw palm. Its fruits are universal. They can be eaten or made into paint. It is often grown on our windowsills and sometimes even bear fruit. No special conditions are required for this culture. Her plants are very unpretentious and able to grow even in Spartan conditions.
RAMBUTAN
This enigmatic fruit is often referred to as the hairy fruit because of its tough outer skin and hairy spines. But under the peel hides a very tender pulp with a unique taste.
At home in fresh rambutan is rarely eaten. It is mainly used to make jams and jellies.
And the seeds are even fried, and only after that they are eaten.
Having bought rambutan, remember that it does not store well. It should not be kept in the refrigerator for more than one week.
CLIMBING CUCUMBER
This plant vaguely resembles a cucumber. But even more it looks like bluish bursting sausages. The fruits of the climbing cucumber taste like raspberries.
This plant comes from Japan, but is also grown in China and Korea. This vine grows very quickly, and in wild environment during the season it easily grows up to 10 m. The flowers are collected in large cluster inflorescences. The scent of chocolate radiates from the flowers. Therefore, this plant was also called the chocolate liana.
ATEMOYA
It is a hybrid of cherimoya and sugar apple. Outwardly, the fruit resembles a green cone, and the taste is something between a mango and a pineapple. The consistency of the pulp is similar to sour cream and just melts in your mouth.
SNAKE FRUIT
Nicknamed so for the peel of the fruit, which surprisingly resembles snake skin. Under the skin, the fruit resembles a clove of garlic, but, unlike the latter, has a sweet, fragrant pulp with an exotic taste. But getting to the pulp is not so easy - the peel is very strong and prickly.
PITANGA
This fruit resembles an ordinary cherry, only its fruits are very ribbed. Considered wild. But now in many countries they are trying to cultivate it. This is because the fruits of this curiosity ripen much faster than cherries or sweet cherries - they can be eaten already three weeks after flowering.
CHINESE STRAWBERRY
In appearance, these pimply balls can hardly be called strawberries. Most of all, they resemble candied sweets. And the taste is quite specific. Therefore, the trees of this plant are used not so much for the sake of fruits, but for the sake of decorating parks and gardens.
STAR FRUIT (CARAMBOLA)
Carambola, or tropical star, got its name from the fact that its yellow fruit in the context they resemble five-pointed stars. There are two varieties: sour is used in salads, and sweet is used as a dessert.
It tastes like a cross between lemon, grapes and mango. The trees of this plant reach 3-10 m in height and bloom throughout the tropical summer. The flowers are a delicate pink color, and the fruits themselves, as it were, glow from the inside with a yellow light. A very beautiful sight.
FORBIDDEN RICE
Quite an unusual plant. It is a type of black rice grown in China. It is black in color, and after cooking it becomes dark purple. Previously, it was used only by members of the imperial family. This rice has a nutty flavor and is very healthy, as it contains many trace elements.
WATERMELON RADISH
Reminiscent of an ordinary radish turned inside out: white on the outside, red on the inside. The taste is slightly bitter, although somewhat more tender than the usual radish. The fruits themselves are the size of a baseball. But most of all, the color of the fruit attracts attention: cut, they resemble small watermelons.
BLUE CORN (HOPI)
This corn is remarkable not only for its color - it is sweeter than usual and has a nutty flavor. Despite this, it is almost not common and is extremely rarely grown. Apparently because of the unattractive color.
ROMANESCU (CORAL CABBAGE)
This variety of cauliflower was bred in Italy, where it gained wild popularity due to its unusual appearance. Its heads resemble corals, collected from thousands of green pyramids.
In addition, the new variety of cabbage turned out to be very tender and tasty. Romanescu is liked even by those who do not like cabbage. The only pity is that its seeds are hard to find in our country.
CANISTEL (EGG FRUIT)
It is not known why the canistel was nicknamed the egg fruit. Its fruits can be of various sizes and shapes - round, oval and even hearts. The color is usually pale yellow. It tastes like sweet potatoes, so it is added to soups and salads, but more often it is eaten with ice cream.
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This is interestingThe most exotic vegetables in the world
It would seem that we all know the standard set of vegetables: cucumber, tomato, potato, carrot and more. But, for sure, none of you suspected that almost every vegetable that we eat every day has its own exotic brother. I want to introduce you to the 13 most, in my opinion, exotic vegetables in the world.
1. Purple carrot
More than one generation of people is convinced that carrots are only orange, but purple is the original, primordial color of this vegetable.
The Times reports that the color of carrots is due to beta-carotene with some addition of the pigment alpha-carotene. They contain the purple pigment anthocyanin, which acts as an antioxidant.
Purple carrots are depicted in drawings made in an Egyptian temple as early as 2000 BC. In the tenth century, purple carrots were grown in Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern Iran. In the fourteenth century, crimson, white and yellow varieties were imported into southern Europe. Black, red and green carrots were also grown.
Recently, Dutch growers have studied beneficial features purple carrots. They believe that the purple-colored vegetable provides the body with additional protection against cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
2. Black tomatoes
A unique variety of tomatoes appeared on sale in the British market. According to some experts, the vegetable contains a certain substance that greatly enhances sexual desire.
The new variety of black tomatoes was named "Kumato". It is a relative of the wild plant Lycopersicon cheesmanii. It is the same size as regular tomatoes, but sweeter and has a brownish-black skin. It took six years of scientific research to improve this vegetable and start selling it in Europe. When tomatoes were first grown by the Aztecs and Incas in the 8th century, they were not only red, but also yellow, green, red, white, and black. They were grown in what is now Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Mexico.
This mixture of tomato and blackberry can prolong the life of mice prone to colon cancer by 30%. In addition to the advantages that ordinary tomatoes have - high level vitamin C and antioxidants.
3. Rainbow cabbage
"Rainbow" cauliflower appeared in England. The British company Syngeta has launched a new variety of cauliflower - Rainbow Cauliflowers - which has bright orange, green and purple flowers. To taste, this is exactly the same cabbage, but it adds color to cooked dishes - the new variety does not lose its rich color even after cooking.
Another advantage of the most cauliflower in the world is that the orange variety contains 25 times more beta-carotene than ordinary cauliflowers, and purple is loaded with anthocyanin, which is good for the prevention of heart disease, as it slows blood clotting.
The representative of the company, Andrew Cocker, emphasized that the unusual colors of cabbage are not at all a product of genetic engineering, but the result of traditional selection, which took more than a dozen years.
4. Strawberry Pineberry
The berry, whose name comes from pineapple (pineapple) + berry (berry), will go on sale in UK Waitrose stores today. Gourmets will have to hurry: Pineberry will only be on the shelves for the next five weeks.
The fruit, which has the same genetic structure as the common strawberry but tastes and smells like a pineapple, originated in South America. There it was discovered by Dutch farmers and has been successfully grown in greenhouses for seven years. The unique species was on the verge of extinction when Dutch farmers revived it in greenhouses. When unripe, the berries are green, and their ripeness is indicated by a white skin and red seeds.
5. Purple potatoes
In the UK, a new variety of potatoes with a rich purple color has gone on sale. All derivatives from this vegetable also remain purple - chips, mashed potatoes etc. Called Purple Majesty, the potato tastes just like its more familiar cousins, but is loaded with anthocyanins, which give blueberries, blackberries and eggplants their distinctive flavors.
A new variety is grown in Scotland. This year, about 400 tons of crops were harvested, which is not very much, but next year the producers plan to increase the figure.
Blue potatoes are divided into several types. So, for example, the Franzosische Truffel-kartoffel and Linzer Blaue varieties do not lose their color during cooking, remain dark blue and boil very softly. Whereas the other two Linzer Roze and Kipfler cook for a long time and do not boil soft, but, during the cooking process, they lose their unusual color. They are usually used raw with Jerusalem artichoke in the preparation of salads.
6. Red cucumbers
These vegetables are only conditionally called "red cucumbers". Actually with classic cucumbers they have nothing in common. They do not have their own taste and are used more for decorative purposes.
This vegetable is very similar in appearance to a cucumber, although it has a bright red color. But it just tastes "none". In fact, this fruit belongs to the family of gourd plants and is called "red cucumber" or "doubtful tladianta". This miracle was brought to Europe from Southeast Asia, and is considered more of an ornamental plant than an edible one. However, if you plant this beauty in your dacha, then in a couple of years your entire garden will be solid thickets of red cucumber.
It is a close relative of broccoli and cauliflower. If you love cabbage, then you will surely enjoy this fantastic vegetable. In addition, this amazing vegetable is literally crammed with antioxidants.
Romanescu, or Romanesque broccoli, cauliflower. Designers and 3D artists are raving about its exotic fractal-like shapes. Cabbage buds grow in a logarithmic spiral. The first mention of Romanescu cabbage came from Italy in the 16th century.
Romanesque broccoli has the most subtle taste that cabbage can have. Romanescu is not crumbly, tastier than broccoli, sweetish with a nutty rather than sulphurous flavor. A fresh head of Romanescu cabbage should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 4 days. Since the cabbage is hard, the head is cut into pieces with a serrated knife.
A casserole is prepared with pieces of Romanescu cabbage, served with bechamel sauce and Roquefort cheese. Romanescu cabbage is rich in antioxidant carotenoids, vitamin C.
This exotic vegetable is easy to grow for those who have experience in growing broccoli, as the farming technique is identical.
8. Kiwano melon (Cucumis metuliferus)
Kiwano melon (Antillan cucumber, horned melon, anguria). Kiwano, a fellow kiwi, is originally from New Zealand. Outwardly, the fruit resembles a yellow-orange cucumber with numerous horns. In fact, the nod is not as formidable as it seems: the spines are soft, the crust is loose. The best way eating fruit - cut it in half and slurp the green pulp. Kiwano is like a cucumber and a lemon at the same time - refreshing. It contains vitamins of the PP group, and there is more than enough vitamin C in it.
The average fruit weight is 300 g, the average length is 12 cm. The fruits are extremely decorative and can be used to create original compositions and even as Christmas tree decorations.
9. Hand of the Buddha
These are the fruits of one of the representatives of the citrus subfamily (the Rut family), popular in Asia. The content of this fruit under the thick skin is very much like a lemon. It has the largest of all citrus fruits. Their length is 20-40 cm. Diameter - 14-28 cm. We have already considered it in more detail in the topic of the most terrible plants in the world.
10. Durio
The durio fruit resembles some kind of "alien" fruit the size of soccer ball, covered with a hard prickly skin. The flesh inside the fruit is pale yellow. The smell is like dirty, worn socks, rotting meat, or sewage (take your pick). However, this fruit tastes amazing and elegant. The first European explorer who tasted this fruit for the first time in the 1700s called it the "king of fruits". “It was worth going on a dangerous journey just to taste this fruit,” added the brave traveler.
11. Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
Monstera grows in many homes. In nature, this plant forms delicious fruits. The ripe core of the monstera fruit, despite the unpleasant pungent smell, is tasty and tastes like pineapple.
12. Star fruit
The cross section of this fruit forms an almost regular star. This fruit is juicy, sweet with a sour tinge. It tastes like grapes, mango, lemon - all in one. It contains a lot of oxalic acid in its composition, so it is not recommended to abuse this fruit for people with kidney failure. Homeland fruit - Sri Lanka
13. Goat beard
Goat beard root. It tastes like oysters.
It would seem that we all know the standard set of vegetables: cucumber, tomato, potato, carrot and more. But, for sure, none of you suspected that almost every vegetable that we eat every day has its own exotic brother. I want to introduce you to the 13 most, in my opinion, exotic vegetables in the world.
1. Purple carrot
More than one generation of people is convinced that carrots are only orange, but purple is the original, primordial color of this vegetable.
The Times reports that the color of carrots is due to beta-carotene with some addition of alpha-carotene pigment. They contain the purple pigment anthocyanin, which acts as an antioxidant.
Purple carrots are depicted in drawings made in an Egyptian temple as early as 2000 BC. In the tenth century, purple carrots were grown in Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern. In the fourteenth century, crimson, white, and yellow varieties were imported into the south. Black, red, and green carrots were also grown.
Recently, Dutch growers have studied the beneficial properties of purple carrots. They believe that the purple-colored vegetable provides the body with additional protection against cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
2. Black tomatoes
A unique variety of tomatoes appeared on sale in the market. According to some experts, the vegetable contains a certain substance that greatly enhances sexual desire.
The new variety of black tomatoes was named "Kumato". It is a relative of the wild plant Lycopersicon cheesmanii. It is the same size as regular tomatoes, but sweeter and has a brownish-black skin. It took six years of scientific research to improve this vegetable and start selling it in Europe. When tomatoes were first grown by the Aztecs and Incas in the 8th century, they were not only red, but also yellow, green, red, white, and black. They were grown in what is now Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Mexico.
This mixture of tomato and blackberry can prolong the life of mice prone to colon cancer by 30%. In addition to the benefits that ordinary tomatoes have, high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants.
3. Rainbow cabbage
"Rainbow" cauliflower appeared in. The British company Syngeta has launched a new variety of cauliflower, Rainbow Cauliflowers, on the market, the inflorescences of which are colored in bright orange, green and purple. To taste, this is exactly the same cabbage, but it adds color to cooked dishes - the new variety does not lose its rich color even after cooking.
Another advantage of the most cauliflower in the world is that the orange variety contains 25 times more beta-carotene than ordinary cauliflowers, and purple is loaded with anthocyanin, which is good for the prevention of heart disease, as it slows blood clotting.
The representative of the company, Andrew Cocker, emphasized that the unusual colors of cabbage are not at all a product of genetic engineering, but the result of traditional selection, which took more than a dozen years.
4. Strawberry Pineberry
The berry, whose name comes from pineapple (pineapple) + berry (berry), will go on sale in UK Waitrose stores today. Gourmets will have to hurry: Pineberry will only be on the shelves for the next five weeks.
The fruit, which has the same genetic structure as the common strawberry but tastes and smells like a pineapple, originated in South America. There it was discovered by Dutch farmers and has been successfully grown in greenhouses for seven years. The unique species was on the verge of extinction when Dutch farmers revived it in greenhouses. When unripe, the berries are green, and their ripeness is indicated by a white skin and red seeds.
5. Purple potatoes
In the UK, a new variety of potatoes with a rich purple color has gone on sale. All derivatives from this vegetable also remain purple - chips, mashed potatoes, etc. Called Purple Majesty, the potato tastes just like its more familiar counterparts, but is loaded with anthocyanins, which give blueberries, blackberries and eggplants their distinctive flavors.
A new variety is grown in Scotland. This year, about 400 tons of crops were harvested, which is not very much, but next year the producers plan to increase the figure.
Blue potatoes are divided into several types. So, for example, the Franzosische Truffel-kartoffel and Linzer Blaue varieties do not lose their color during cooking, remain dark blue and boil very softly. Whereas the other two Linzer Roze and Kipfler cook for a long time and do not boil soft, but, during the cooking process, they lose their unusual color. They are usually used raw with Jerusalem artichoke in the preparation of salads.
6. Red cucumbers
These vegetables are only conditionally called "red cucumbers". In fact, they have nothing to do with classic cucumbers. They do not have their own taste and are used more for decorative purposes.
This vegetable is very similar in appearance to a cucumber, although it has a bright red color. But it just tastes "none". In fact, this fruit belongs to the family of gourd plants and is called "red cucumber" or "doubtful tladianta". This miracle was brought to Europe from Southeast Asia, and is considered more of an ornamental plant than an edible one. However, if you plant this beauty in your dacha, then in a couple of years your entire garden will be solid thickets of red cucumber.
7. Romanescu
It is a close relative of broccoli and cauliflower. If you love cabbage, then you will surely enjoy this fantastic vegetable. In addition, this amazing vegetable is literally crammed with antioxidants.
Romanescu, or Romanesque broccoli, cauliflower. Designers and 3D artists are raving about its exotic fractal-like shapes. Cabbage buds grow in a logarithmic spiral. The first mention of Romanescu cabbage comes from the 16th century.
Romanesque broccoli has the most subtle taste that cabbage can have. Romanescu is not crumbly, tastier than broccoli, sweetish with a nutty rather than sulphurous flavor. A fresh head of Romanescu cabbage should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 4 days. Since the cabbage is hard, the head is cut into pieces with a serrated knife.
A casserole is prepared with pieces of Romanescu cabbage, served with bechamel sauce and Roquefort cheese. Romanescu cabbage is rich in antioxidant carotenoids, vitamin C.
This exotic vegetable is easy to grow for those who have experience in growing broccoli, as the farming technique is identical.
8. Kiwano melon (Cucumis metuliferus)
Kiwano melon (Antillan cucumber, horned melon, anguria). Kiwano, a kiwi countryman, comes from. Outwardly, the fruit resembles a yellow-orange cucumber with numerous horns. In fact, the nod is not as formidable as it seems: the spines are soft, the crust is loose. The best way to eat a fruit is to cut it in half and sip on the green flesh. Kiwano is like a cucumber and a lemon at the same time - refreshing. It contains vitamins of the PP group, and there is more than enough vitamin C in it.
The average fruit weight is 300 g, the average length is 12 cm. The fruits are extremely decorative and can be used to create original compositions and even as Christmas tree decorations.
9. Hand of the Buddha
These are the fruits of one of the representatives of the citrus subfamily (the Rut family), popular in Asia. The contents of this fruit under the thick skin are very reminiscent of. It has the largest of all citrus fruits. Their length is 20-40 cm. Diameter - 14-28 cm. We have already considered it in more detail in the topic
10. Durio
The durio fruit resembles some kind of "alien" fruit the size of a soccer ball, covered with a hard prickly skin. The flesh inside the fruit is pale yellow. The smell is like dirty, worn socks, rotting meat, or sewage (take your pick). However, this fruit tastes amazing and elegant. The first European explorer who tasted this fruit for the first time in the 1700s called it the "king of fruits". “It was worth going on a dangerous journey just to taste this fruit,” added the brave traveler.
11. Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
Monstera grows in many homes. In nature, this plant produces delicious fruits. The ripe core of the monstera fruit, despite the unpleasant pungent smell, is tasty and tastes like pineapple.
12. Star fruit
The cross section of this fruit forms an almost regular star. This fruit is juicy, sweet with a sour tinge. It tastes like grapes, mango, lemon - all in one. It contains a lot of oxalic acid in its composition, so it is not recommended to abuse this fruit for people with kidney failure. The homeland of the fruit is Sri Lanka
13. Goat beard
Goat beard root. It tastes like oysters.
