Living in Singapore Tasting Singaporean Delicacies: Whenever I arrive in a city, I can always find something related to food that makes me feel that living here is an incredibly happy thing. For example, in Paris, I encountered baguettes, red wine, and the deep purple cherries of summer. In Singapore, I found everything related to tropical fruits. Yes, Singapore, this island nation on the edge of the tropics, as the busiest trade port in Southeast Asia, has supermarkets filled with a wide variety of fruits from Southeast Asia and even all over the world.
Let us take a look at the top ten must-eat tropical fruits in Southeast Asia.
1. Durian
Known as the "King of Fruits," the durian is a tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia. Its unique, pungent odor and formidable, spiky shell make many people shy away. However, its creamy, juicy flesh has a texture similar to ice cream, which makes many people addicted after the first bite and highly fond of it. Those who love it adore it, while those who hate it cannot even stand its smell. Such polarized reviews are a good excuse to give it a try. Although delicious, durian should not be consumed in excess due to its extremely high cholesterol and sugar content.
2. Mangosteen
A great companion to durian is the mangosteen, as eating them together can help avoid the discomfort of "heatiness." This "Queen of Fruits" is native to Southeast Asia. This fruit, which resembles a persimmon, has a relatively hard shell, and the most interesting thing is that the small segments at the bottom of the peel have the same number as the segments inside the fruit. After peeling it, you can see several segments of white, crystal-clear flesh, clustered together like peeled garlic cloves. This snow-white, tender, and smooth flesh is fragrant, sweet, and refreshing, helping to relieve fatigue and quench thirst. Because it is cooling in nature, it has the effect of "reducing heatiness." It is also rich in protein, providing excellent nourishment for the body.
3. Jack Fruit
I believe many people will be impressed by the size of the jackfruit. As the largest and heaviest fruit in the world, it is known as the "Queen of Tropical Fruits." Its appearance, which is very similar to durian, and its massive size are among the characteristics of the jackfruit. I would like to remind everyone to wear gloves when peeling a jackfruit, otherwise, the sap it contains might make your skin itch for quite a while! Fortunately, many supermarkets sell it in pre-cut portions. This fruit, native to India, is currently produced in abundance in Taiwan, Guangdong, and Guangxi. The jackfruit found in the U.S. market is mostly produced in Mexico. Its thick, soft, sweet, and fragrant flesh is not only delicious but also has considerable nutritional and medicinal value. It promotes fluid production to quench thirst, tonifies the middle and replenishes qi, cleanses the digestive tract, and has beauty and health benefits; it can even alleviate symptoms such as sore throats caused by colds.
4. Cherimoya / Sugar Apple
The cherimoya, also known as the sugar apple, is named for its resemblance to the head of a Buddha statue. The cherimoya produced in Taitung is particularly famous. This uniquely shaped fruit is native to tropical America. This fruit, with its excellent flavor and high sweetness, is rich in vitamin C and fiber. It can not only assist in dietary therapy but also be used to treat diabetes, and has the effects of promoting bowel movements, beautifying the skin, and anti-aging.
5. Passion Fruit
Many people love drinking passion fruit tea beverages, but have never had the chance to see the actual passion fruit itself, and the flowers of the passion flower are also quite beautiful. Passion fruit has a sweet and sour taste and a pleasant aroma. This fruit, known as the "King of Fruit Juices," contains over 132 types of aromatic substances, making it very suitable for processing into juices and ice creams, and it is perfect for mixing with other fruits. Its nutritional value is also highly commendable; not only can it deeply cleanse the body, but its rich active genes can help the body thoroughly eliminate harmful substances, thereby improving the skin and providing beauty benefits. Furthermore, consuming passion fruit can increase satiety in the stomach, promote metabolism, and inhibit the body's absorption of fat, playing a certain role in shaping a healthy physique.
6. Rambutan
This tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia, the rambutan, has a peculiar appearance—covered in spikes, it has a fragrance similar to a mix of lychee and grape. With a sweet and sour taste and delicate, juicy flesh, it is delicious whether eaten fresh or processed. Because it is rich in various vitamins and mineral elements, long-term consumption can moisturize the skin, beautify the complexion, clear heat and detoxify, and enhance the body's immunity.
7. Horned Melon
The first time I saw this fruit, I felt like I was seeing an alien creature. In fact, this fruit is called the "Horned Melon," also known as the "African Horned Cucumber" or "Kiwano." This fruit, native to the African desert, now also appears in California and New Zealand. This fruit has a hard skin with uneven, short spikes. When opened, the flesh inside is delicate and seedy, with a beautiful blue-green color. It is gelatinous like a cucumber and has a refreshing, sweet taste that leaves a lingering fragrance in the mouth after eating. It can be cut in half and the flesh scooped out to enjoy, and it is also very suitable for juicing.
8. Carambola / Star Fruit
This fruit, which is abundant in Asia, is also known as "Star Fruit" because its cross-section forms the shape of a five-pointed star. This fruit is extremely juicy, with a refreshing and crisp taste. Its skin is crunchy, and it is sweet and sour, making it perfect for cooling down in summer. It has a unique flavor when used for brewing wine. It has the effects of promoting urination, relieving alcohol toxicity, aiding digestion, clearing heat, and soothing the throat. However, star fruit contains a neurotoxin, so patients with kidney disease should avoid it. Also, because it is cooling in nature, it is best not to consume it with ice.
9. Wax Apple / Wax Jumbo / Bell fruit
This tropical fruit, native to Southeast Asia, is named for its bell-like appearance and resemblance to an apple. It has a sweet and sour taste with a hint of apple fragrance, and the best part is the lingering fragrance it leaves in the mouth after eating. This fruit, which is sweet and neutral in nature, is suitable for long-term consumption. It not only moistens the lungs, relieves coughs, and removes phlegm, but can also be used to relieve alcohol toxicity and even has a calming effect.
10. Double Coconut
The juice inside the hard shell of the double coconut is very thick, almost gelatinous. Its mellow and authentic fragrance can be used for brewing wine or making soup. The flesh is white, delicate, and delicious, and it has the effects of nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, clearing heat, and relieving coughs.
