It might be the end of August, but the summer still feels ripe and packed with sunshine — just like our exotic fruit boxes! Here are some vibrant tropical fruits to help you savour the last flavours and sunny vibes of the season.
Sweet Jumbo Passion Fruit
The juicy jumbo passion fruit is at its most ripe when its green skin turns a distinctive deep purple — and unlike your post-summer complexion, the more wrinkled, the better. The super sweet pulp is aromatic and slightly tangy, and also packed with immune-boosting vitamin C. It’s delicious spooned over yoghurt, mixed into cocktails, or simply as a snack on its own.
Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit has striking pink and green scaly skin that makes it the star of any fruit bowl. The white seed-speckled flesh within has a subtle sweet flavour. It pairs very well with other fruits such as citrus and pineapple, because it doesn’t overpower the flavours. It’s an ideal ingredient for fruit salads and smoothies.
Lychees
The rough pinkish red skin of a lychee belies the smooth white flesh within. Lychees are high in vitamin C, and also a good source of copper and potassium. They are the perfect size for a lunch box snack for kids, who will love the juicy texture and delicate sweet flavour.
Otherwise, they make a sophisticated cocktail or iced tea garnish (and also great fake eyeballs for those Halloween drinks in a couple of months’ time).
Thai Yellow Mango
The Thai mango is ripe when the skin turns a vibrant yellow colour, and it is slightly squeezable. The juicy flesh is soft and very sweet, and looks and tastes like sunshine. It is traditionally enjoyed as a snack on its own, or used as an ingredient in both sweet and savoury dishes.