I spent 2 years living in Malaysia - here are 14 of my favorite fruits Americans probably wouldn't recognize
The quintessential Southeast Asian fruit is the durian. Malaysians call it the 'king of the fruits' and it's a source of national pride.
Durian has an incredibly pungent taste and smell that many outsiders can't tolerate. Anthony Bourdain once said of durian, "your breath will smell as if you'd been French-kissing your dead grandmother." The fruit is banned in many Malaysian hotels.
Source: Business Insider
Speaking of forbidden fruits, the mangosteen is another popular one.
It has a tough purple husk and soft, juicy flesh inside. It doesn't stink like durian, but it's banned in many buildings because the rind leaves a purple stain on anything it comes in contact with.
The rambutan, covered in soft bristles, looks like it comes from another planet.
Source: Mother Nature Network
'Rambutan' comes from the Malay word for 'hair.' On the inside is a pleasantly sweet fruit that tastes somewhat like a red grape.
Source: Mother Nature Network
Salak is sometimes called "snakefruit" in English because of its scaly exterior.
Source: Smithsonian
The flesh isn't juicy like the other fruits — it's much dryer. It tastes sweet and slightly acidic, like a citrus fruit.
Source: Smithsonian
Dragon fruit is notable for its psychedelic appearance. Its texture is reminiscent of kiwi, and its taste is mildly sweet. The pink version is often used to give color to smoothies and other drinks.
Source: Natural Food Series
Peel back the thin skin and you'll find a translucent, juicy orb inside with a sweet and sour taste.
Source: Purdue
Jackfruit looks like a durian from afar, only much bigger — imagine two watermelons side by side. There's no putrid smell with this fruit, either.
Source: Epicurious
The inside of a jackfruit contains dozens of pods of thick, chewy flesh — it's sometimes used as a meat substitute in cooking. The taste is something like a banana and pineapple.
Source: Epicurious
Another gargantuan fruit from Malaysia is the cempedak — pronounced with a "ch" sound. The pods inside a cempedak are a lot harder to reach than those of a jackfruit.
Source: Migrationology
The flesh is also much more mushy and custardy than a jackfruit, although the appearance is similar.
Source: Migrationology
On the inside is a juicy sphere that has a complex flavor that's fragrant, sweet, and slightly tangy.
Source: Purdue
Lychee is an Asian fruit many Americans may be familiar with. It's common for Malaysians to put lychee in their iced tea.
Source: Food Facts
And the taste of a soursop might catch you off guard — it's thick, somewhat creamy, and a mixture of sweet, sour, and musky.
Source: Soursop Store
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