Exotic Colombian Fruits: Tried & Tested by Dan

The exotic fruits of Colombia are what keep drawing me back.

In this guide, I’ll introduce you to some of the incredible fruits I’ve discovered (and still enjoy daily) while exploring this country.

The best part of traveling to Colombia is to enjoy fruits packed with unique flavors and health benefits that I simply can’t find when I’m back home.

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Exotic Colombian Fruits

If you didn’t already know, Colombia’s bio-diversity is so rich that it allows the country to produce a wide range of exotic fruits all year round.

I’ve spent hundreds of hours backpacking Colombia over recent years, and found it to be the best country in Latin America outside of Brazil for fruits.

Here’s a list of my favorite:

1. Guanábana Fruit

Guanabana is a beautiful fruit tree and a member of the Custard Apple family. It’s no secret that this fruit and its leaves are highly beneficial for their anti-cancer properties and powerful healing qualities.

2. Guama Fruit

The guama fruit is also known as the ice-cream-bean, which is definitely an interesting way to put it and perfectly describes its sweet flavor.

It’s part of the legume family and looks like a green bean from the outside but tastes entirely different offering an unexpected dessert-like surprise.

The pulp on the inside of this bean is sweet and smooth and a favorite as a snack entirely on its own. The seeds, when cooked create an additional snack ingredient, making it versatile for both sweet and savory dishes.

3. Granadilla Fruit

Granadilla is a type of passion fruit. There is no exact translation in English and is known for its hard, round, and orange casing. It’s a please to crack one open like an egg and slurp up the crunchy seeds from within.

4. Badea Fruit

Also known as the giant granadilla, barbadine, grenadine, or giant tumbo (depending on where you are). This fruit is produced on a beautiful flower.

It starts as a flower but turns into an oblong fruit that includes an edible pulp. This fruit is used to make drinks, as a snack and as an ingredient in vegetable curry.

5. Anona Fruit

Known as a Sugar Apple in English this fruit is truly special. It really does taste like sweet custard or cotton candy depending on your palate.

There are different variations of this fruit but you’ll find they are usually creamy white inside. It can be found in Colombian towns for cheap.

6. Uchuva Fruit

This goldenberry is a brilliant yellow when it’s done growing. Though, you wouldn’t know it from the protective casing that remains around it for protection.

These fruits can be eaten as they are or they can be used in sauces, pies, jams, and even ice cream. It’s also used as a garnish because of the unique look of the fruit.

Best fruit tours in Colombia

• Tropical Exotic Fruits Tour in Laureles
• Gastronomic Experience With Fruit Tour in Cali
• Learn more about Colombian fruits in Medellin
• Fruit Tour and Coffee Workshop in Bogota

7. Gulupa Fruit

This is a passion fruit how most people know it. It’s used for cocktails and other specialities, bringing tropical flavor to your favorite dishes.

These are very cheap in Colombia and you can find them readily in the supermarkets making them perfect for everyday consumption.

8. Chontaduro Fruit

The best-selling fruit in all of Colombia! The peach palm fruit is high in protein as well as other natural vitamins and minerals like zinc, copper, calcium, iron, and beta-carotene. It even has omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

It’s considered an energy booster and it gives you a taste similar to a squash or sweet potato that comes from a type of palm tree.

9. Carambola Fruit

The fruit has the shape of a five-point star. This fruit is very nutritious and jam-packed with vitamin C. You’ll find the fruit is usually yellow or green(ish) in color and you can eat the skin by all means.

10. Nispero Fruit

This fruit is actually quite large and pear-shaped, growing in the spring and early summer. The unique flavor of the Nispero itself is actually similar to a combination of mango, citrus, and peach mixed into one.

Its unique flavor makes it great for fruit salads, jams, jellies. The high level of sugar and acid makes it a great contrast for wines and other drinks.

11. Borojó Fruit

The Borojo fruit, known as ‘Love Juice’ a natural aphrodisiac is one fruit that you will only find in pulp form; ready to be juiced.

It’s a local specialty of many Afro Colombians from the Pacific and rife with vitamins and keep you feeling recharged all night long. I tried this in San Cipriano where it is usually made into a drink.

12. Lulo Fruit

This fruit may look like something of a cross between an orange and a tomato on the outside. But, the inside is entirely different.

There’s a citrus flavor to the inside that is used as a raw snack or can be used to make a popular drink or juice. The plant itself is unique as well, with beautiful large leaves and sensitive nature.

13. Mangostán Fruit

Being full of vitamins and minerals, the Mangosteen is known in parts of the world as the king of fruit and can be used as a medicine. This fruit is easily found in Colombia, the fruit is sweet and juicy with a tangy tone to it.

14. Curuba Fruit

Also known as the banana passionfruit. You’ll find this fruit first as a beautiful, tropical-looking flower and vine that grows at high elevation.

From there it turns into a large, oblong fruit that’s green in color and can be used in many different recipes. The shells of the fruit are also used for a number of different applications, including ceramics and more.

15. Cacao Fruit

Known as the food of the gods in parts of Latin America. This is one of my favorite fruits and is the key indegredient that is used to make chocolate.

After cracking open the hard shell you remove the seeds and suck on the flesh to enjoy this fruit in its raw form.

16. Pitaya (Dragon Fruit)

The dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is a truly unique-looking fruit. Not to mention a great tasting one as well. You’ll find some that have white flesh on the inside and some with red.

They both taste slightly sweet, however, the red actually has a deeper flavor and even more nutritional value.

If you want a unique fruit that you can enjoy anywhere, the Pitaya is a great option because it’s available in many different parts of the world.

17. Zapote Fruit

One of the brightest fruits I’ve ever cut into being bright orange inside. This fruit should be very sweet and has black seeds you spit out as you chew on its juicy fruit fibers perfect for enjoying fresh while exploring.

18. Feijoa Fruit

These small fruits are sometimes referred to as pineapple guava and they actually grow on a small shrub or tree.

The green exterior is small, close to the size of an egg, but the inside is very juicy and even the fruit has a strong smell.

You don’t even have to pick them because they’ll drop to the ground as soon as they’re ready, so there’s no question.

19. Guayaba Fruit

Guayaba is used to refer to the guava tree, which is a fruit that many have heard of even if they’ve never tried it.

You eat Guava raw or it can be candied, preserved, jellied, and more.

Guayaba can be used as a sauce or juice and the sweet flavor is one that definitely makes it a popular choice around the world.

20. Higo Fruit

The Higo is a type of fig, but it’s green on the outside with a light red or pink on the inside. Naturally, these fruits are sweet and they create great desserts.

What’s unique here is that this is actually the second crop of a single tree, which also produces something called the breva.

21. Mamoncillo Fruit

These small green fruits (known as Spanish Lime) grow similar to grapes on their stems, but they’re definitely more unique.

You can peel open the shells and get a tangy and sweet pulp in the center that tastes great entirely on its own. You want to avoid eating the seeds, but you can suck on them to get all of that great-tasting pulp.

22. Papaya Fruit

Have you heard of the popular term “No dar Papaya”? Well, this is another fruit that’s very familiar with locals and has a great sweet flavor.

They’re actually healthy for you in a number of ways. I found these fruits in abundance whilst exploring Jardín as small town in the Antioquia region.

Papayas can be eaten in just about any way that you might like. Just scoop out the pulp and eat it on its own or add it to a dessert, a fruit salad, or your favorite drink. Papaya seeds also have many potential health benefits.

23. Tomate de Arbol Fruit

The Tamarillo (not to be confused with a tomatillo) is the fruit of a small tree. It looks somewhat egg-shaped, but in a pale red, orange or purple.

Different colors of fruits are slightly different in flavor. However, each fruit is slightly sweet and has a great source of vitamins and iron in them, so they’re a great snack to enjoy. I suggest you try one while in Colombia.

Eating Exotic Fruits

Knowing what type of fruits to eat at what time of day and which to mix with others may not be so important to you but if you want to reap the health benefits, it’s something you should definitely look into further.

I hope these exotic fruits have inspired you, whether you are planning a trip to Colombia right now, or just looking for some healthy fruit ideas.

See my backpacking Colombia guide to learn more about my travels.