Fruits in the Philippines

Known by many names across various regions, the fruit is popularly referred to as Kamias in Tagalog, Iba in Bicol, and Balimbi in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. Despite being ripe, the fruits retain a light to dark green color and carry an inherently sour...

Among the myriad tropical fruits, one that has always intrigued me is the Santol, also known as the Cotton Fruit. This unique moniker is credited to the fruit's dense, cotton-like white pulp that envelops its seeds. The Santol tree is a marvel, growing rapidly and...

Pomegranate, a highly popular and antioxidant-rich fruit, is a seasonal fruit-bearing shrub first introduced to the Caribbean and Spanish America by Spain. Its cultivation and consumption spread worldwide, including in the Philippines. The pomegranate is classified as...

The Cacao fruit, the source of all things chocolate, presents itself in the form of pods akin to the shape of a football. With a tough exterior that necessitates using a sharp instrument such as a machete for opening, these pods house the cacao beans – the very...

Tamarind, known as Sampaloc or Sampalok in Filipino, is a versatile fruit with a history rooted in Africa. The tree it grows on bears giant, pod-like fruits that can vary in taste from sour to a more balanced sweet and sour profile when fully ripe. The utility of this...

Known as Calamansi in English and Kalamansi in Tagalog, this citrus fruit boasts various names in different regions, such as "Suwa" in Bicol. It is a distinctly Filipino fruit, as the Philippines is the primary producer of Calamansi worldwide. Resembling limes in...

Emerging from the lush landscapes of Southern China and Hainan Island, the Lychee, also known as Litchi in Filipino or Lecheas in other regions, is a delightful tropical fruit. The lychee tree is adorned with glossy white, succulent fruits, enveloped in a rigid but...