Mark Abadi/Business Insider
Southeast Asia is home to fruits that many people from other regions have never seen before.
- Southeast Asia is home to several fruits that most Americans probably haven't heard of.
- They include the durian - the pungent "king of the fruits" - and the unusual-looking rambutan.
- I compiled 14 of the most bizarre fruits that I tried during my two-year stay in Malaysia.
Trying new foods is one of the best parts of visiting Southeast Asia.
In the two years I lived in Malaysia, I came across dozens of fruits I had never even heard of in the United States, let alone tasted. Some of the most notable were durian - the so-called "king of the fruits" whose smell is so strong it's banned from hotels - and rambutan, nature's answer to the Koosh ball.
Nothing can compare to tasting these exotic fruits for the first time, but after one bite it's clear to see why they are so beloved throughout the region.
Here are 14 fruits from Southeast Asia that the average American didn't know existed.