7 Exotic Fruits in Jamaica

Pineapples, bananas, melons, papaya (or according to Jamaicans paw-paw), are all fruits you're familiar with and can find just about anywhere on your next trip to Jamaica.

However, there are a host of other exotic fruits that you may never have even heard of but they're growing across the island on hillsides, in backyards and even on the sides of the roads.

Many Jamaican fruits you smell before you taste and some do require a bit of patience and dedication but I promise you, they are all worth it. Here are some interesting options to try on your next visit.

Naseberry (Neezeberry)
Known as Sapodilla in other countries, with brown skin, brown flesh and small black seeds, naseberries are widely loved for their succulent sweet taste and alluring aroma. It is native to the Caribbean and can be found in Jamaica between March and May.

Tamarind (Tambrin)
It is naturally a somewhat sour fruit and grows in pods that turn brittle and brown when it's ripe. The flavorful flesh grows over small brown seeds and is either sucked off or scraped off and mixed with sugar to make juice or a popular candy called tambrin balls. Tamarind season in Jamaica is between January and March.

Guinep
Guineps can be found all over during the summer but don't you dare get the juice on your clothes, or you've got a stain for life! Although, the sweet mouthwatering taste is definitely worth the risk. They are small and green filled with pink flesh over a cream colored seed, and is usually sold in bunches tied together by the stems.

Guava
Used to make jams and jellies and even cheese, all parts of a guava is edible. As it ripens the skin turns from green to yellow with an inner pink flesh full of tiny seeds. It's packed with vitamin C and has a striking scent that beckons to you around corners.

June Plum
This is one fruit that can be eaten before it's fully ripened. Throw it against a hard surface, or patiently peel off the skin to reveal a crispy white flesh inside. Ripe plums are orange-yellow, juicy with a sweet and sour taste and a strong striking scent. The seed is cream colored and spiky but that is no deterrent from sucking it clean.

Jackfruit
This is the largest tree borne fruit in the entire world and can reach a size of 80lbd (36kg). Yes, it's a family feeder. The skin is green and spiky when fully ripe and once cut open delivers and unforgettable aroma that just might just make you not want to share. Inside is soft yellow flesh with seeds inside that are sometimes boiled and enjoyed as a side dish.

Mango
Mangoes are a royalty in the fruit family and loved by everyone. There's a wide variety to try, each kind with its own specific taste, texture and smell. One all round favorite is the East Indian but many may argue that they prefer the Number 11, Bombay, Blackie or East Indian. ?Mangoes are so popular in Jamaica it is said that cooking stops when it is Mango Time, there's even a song:

Inna di height a di mango crop, when di fruit dem a ripe and drop, wash yuh pot tun dem dung, MANGO TIME!

Of course I can only describe them in words and provide pictures but to experience each of these fruits; their significant tastes and smells, is an adventure in itself.