21 Tropical and Exotic Fruits Cultivated in Kerala

Kerala is the only place in India where unique, rare and exotic fruits are grown in large amount. The state is growing tropical and exotic fruits such as Purple Passion fruit, Rambuttan, Pulasan, Loquat, Persimmon, Burmese grape and Maprang fruit.

Exotic fruits grown in Kerala also include Salak or snake fruit, Baccaurea ramiflora, Baccaurea motleyana, Eugenia stipitata, Rollinia deliciosa and Chrysophyllum cainito.

Vazhakulam town is famous as Pineapple City, known for large scale cultivation of pineapple in India and credited with geographic indication fruit.

Musa Banana

Banana plant is known as Vaazha in Malayalam language, Musa banana is native to Southeast Asia but also grown in southern Indian state of Kerala and West Bengal.

Different varieties of banana grown in Kerala are Palayam kodan, Annaan, Kappa Pazham, Nendra Pazham, Morris, Rasakadali and Red banana. Red banana or Chenkadali are known for its softer and sweeter taste, commonly available in markets.

Durian

The fruit is known as king of fruits in Southeast Asia and commonly cultivated in a wide region if South India, from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Durian fruits looks thorny and resembles jackfruit from outside but has a distinct taste.

Pulasan

Pulasan tropical fruit is closely related to rambutan but sweeter than the lychee and rambutan. The pulasan is native to Malaysia and now the exotic fruit is grown in Kerala along with Mangosteen and Durian.

Longan

Longan fruit is sweet and juicy just like other fruits of soapberry family, lychee and rambutan. Currently longan fruits are grown in southern state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Rambuttan

Rambuttan tropical fruit is native to the regions of Southeast Asia, closely related to lychee and longan. The evergreen tree is now commonly grown in various countries and grown in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala.

Purple Mangosteen

Purple mangosteen grows mainly in Southeast Asia but now also grown in India, known for its slightly sweet and sour flavour.

Passion Fruit

Passiflora edulis common names include passion fruit, native to southern Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The vine species of passion flower and Purple passion fruits are now cultivated in Kerala.

Pitaya/Dragon Fruit

Pitaya fruit is commonly known in English as dragon fruit, native to a region of Mexico and Costa Rica but now also cultivated in Southeast Asia and Australia.

Jaboticaba

Jaboticaba is an exotic tropical fruit that grows on the tree trunk, used to make jellies, juice or wine. The fruit is a thick skinned berry and native to different states of Brazil.

Santol

Santol tropical fruit is native to Southeast Asia but now introduced to Sri Lanka and India. The santol grown in the Kottayam district of Kerala.

Langsat

Langsat originates from Malaysia and the tree is now cultivated in Thailand, Vietnam and India. The fruit is quite sour and sweet, Cultivated only in the regions in East and South India.

Avocado

Avocado fruit originated in Mexico and known as butter fruit in parts of India. Currently there are limited south Indian states that grow avocado in India, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Pomelo

Pomelo citrus fruit grown in hills of Munnar in Kerala and closely related to Grapefruit. The Citrus grandis fruit has many health benefits, just like Grapefruits.

Soursop

Soursop usually found in the tropical regions of America and the Caribbean. The soursop is known as an oranic cancer killer fruit and called as simply mullaatha.

Gac Fruit

Gac fruit is native of Southeast Asia and now found a new home in Kottarakkara, Thodupuzha and Perumbavoor of Kerala. The fruit is imported to India and also used as a medicine in Southeast Asian countries.

Egg Fruit

Egg Fruit is native to southern Mexico and Brazil, now cultivated in India and Sri Lanka too. From Maharashtra to Western Ghats region of Kerala and Tamil Nadu are now growing eggfruits in India.

Cocoa Fruit

Cocoa Fruit from cocoa tree is native to tropical regions of the Americas but now grown in suitable regions of Kerala. Cocoa mainly cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu state of India

Wax Apple/Chambakka

Rose Apple or watery rose apple is commonly sold in Indonesia and Malaysia. The fruit has slightly sweet taste and the tree sometimes used in herbal medicines.

Abiu Fruit

Pouteria caimito is another famous tropical fruit from Amazon region of South America. Kanjirappally town in Kottayam district of Kerala is known to grow 32 varieties exotic of tropical fruits in India.

Mamey Sapote

Pouteria sapota fruit is used to made milkshakes and ice cream in Cuba and Central America. Farmer’s from Kerala and Mangaluru are grows 400 types tropical fruit from across world, including mamey Sapote and Maprang.

Apart from the above list of tropical fruit, exotic fruits and local fruits of Kerala, the state also cultivate Biriba/Rollinia deliciosa, Witch Finger Grapes, Mulberries, Tamarillo Fruit, Carambola/Star Fruit and Red Custard Apple.

Cempedak

Cempedak fruit is looks like breadfruit and jackfruit, native to southeast Asia. The taste of the fruit is similar to jackfruit but an exotic fruit in India, found mostly in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Jackfruit is the official state fruit of Kerala, the largest tree borne fruit in India. The jackfruit tree is a widely cultivated in tropical regions and Kerala is the largest producer of jackfruit in the world.

Anjili Chakka or Artocarpus hirsutus is the variety of wild jack fruit from Kerala, but also found in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Some of the main fruit grown in Kerala are Star gooseberry, Mangifera indica,Grapefruit, Vazha banana,Bilimbi fruit, Indian hog plum, Cannonball Tree, Custard Apple, Betel nut, Palmyra fruit, Coconut, Sapodilla, Cashew, Jungle Jack, Indian Gooseberry, Papaya and the spices of Kerala also include coffee bean, Nutmeg, Kudampuli, Cardamom and black pepper.