TOP Dominican exotic fruits

Are you looking for something super delicious, aromatic, and healthy? If so, you have to try Dominican fruits! Fresh, ripe, full of flavor, sweetness, and juice! If you compare them to all imported products, that are available in stores, you will get a huge disproportion.

Fruits from local markets, from trolleys, small vendors and from corner shops are unique! Here, is our list of the best exotic and local fruits in the Dominican Republic, that you should try. Some of them are well-known and also popular in other countries and

regions. But even though, they are still worth being tried in their motherland – in the Dominican Republic. The amount of sun that allows them to ripe in a natural and balanced way, seasonal rains and the special climate that is characteristic for this island, make them sweet, juicy, and aromatic.

TOP 15 Exotic fruits you MUST try in the Dominican Republic

1. Mangos

Plenty of them. Some of them are really tiny, but some of them are enormous. Different sizes, shapes, colors, flavors, and aromas. Round, oval or with a flattened oblong shape. Green, yellow, orange or with multiple, changing colors. Sweet, fruity, and juicy. With a firm or with a smooth texture. Whatever you want, you can get here. For a milkshake, juice, salad, dressing or dessert. Choose Keitt mangoes with little fibers and with a firm flesh if you are looking for a quick snack. Or try one of the most popular and native Dominican mangoes like Banilejo, Grano de oro, or a sweet, medium size Mingolo with a smooth flesh.

2. Pineapples

Full of vitamins, dietary fiber and so juicy. Ideal for all kinds of juices, shakes, or just eaten raw to quench your thirst. Aromatic, sweet and extremely juicy! You will never buy any pineapple like that, if not in its country of origin. Only there, it can naturally ripen, profit from the local soil and weather. 

3. Papayas

Even if you are not the biggest fan of papaya, you should try it in the Dominican Republic too. Just to know how it tastes, and whether its maybe different from all other you have already tried. Papayas in the Dominican Republic are green from outside, oval shaped and relatively small but thick. Papayas are one of the most available fruits in the country. Apart from that, thanks to their delicate, soft, tender flesh and thanks to their thin skin, papayas are also one of the most popular and liked snacks in the Dominican Republic. If you do not detest it, incorporate it into your diet and prepare something that might be at least a little bit tasty. Mix it with other aromatic fruits like pineapples, limes, oranges, or kiwi. And how is it? Good? Is it the right time to change your attitude towards that fruit? 

4. Avocados

Although it is not the most popular fruit in the Dominican cuisine, avocado is still very liked and comes in abundance. It is added to some main courses or simply eaten alone. However, despite its good quality, aroma and texture, avocado is not such a staple as it is for example in Mexico. 

5. Coconuts

Nothing else than a coconut water, will quench your thirst or let you regain energy after a long, tiring day. Packed with vitamins and minerals, Dominican’s coconuts are wonderful. Sweet, juicy, fleshy, and sold in so many places. That is really good. Keep an eye on the preparation method. Learn how to choose a good, fresh coconut, that is both ripe and healthy. Finally, observe the opening technique, that lets win the battle between you and the hard coconut shell-like skin.

6. Chikoo AKA Sapodilla

This energizing, tropical fruit is one of the most popular fruits in the Dominican Republic. It is round or oval and has a brownish, rather inedible skin. Chikoo is rich in dietary fiber and in vitamins such as A and C. Eating it regularly will let you improve your immunity system and your skin's condition.

Chikoo seeds are used for making oil that is beneficial for your hair. Calcium, phosphorus, and iron will keep your bones strong. If it still does not convince you, maybe chikoo’s anti-inflammatory compounds will do it? Still not, think then about antioxidants, about vitamin A and vitamin B that will both help you protect yourself from different cancers. 

7. Nispero - loquat

This round, orange fruit is extremely aromatic. It is both sweet and sour. It can be eaten raw, or it can be used for preparing jams, marmalades, or juices. You cannot also forget about loquat’s health benefits like improving digestion and the possibility of decreasing the bad cholesterol level. Apart from that, loquat is recommended for persons with hypertension and diabetes. Nispero is rich in vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C. finally, it has a good amount of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron. 

8. Chinola

This magical fruit is one of the most popular and liked fruits in the Dominican Republic. It is both sweet and sour with an interlacing aroma. Juicy, but also with a lot of relatively big seeds. It is full of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. It is recommended for all those that are on diets. Chinola might be confused with a passion fruit if you analyze it only basing on the flesh and the taste. But after you compare these two fruits from outside, you would not have doubts, which fruit is which. While passion fruit has a dark, purple skin, chinola has a green, yellow, or orange skin.

9. Guanabana - soursop

Guanabana tastes a little bit like pineapple. The taste is an interesting composition of opposite flavors. It is a little bit like a strawberry, banana, and apple, but at the same time, it is like an orange or grapefruit. Guanabana is sweet, but on the other hand has citrus flavor notes. Soursop is also very popular in Costa Rica.

10. Zapote

Mamey sapote is mainly used in milkshakes and ice cream. Although it is not very aromatic, it is still very popular, liked and added to many shakes. Zapote has a nice, orange-red flesh, and although it looks tasty and juicy, it is not. Zapote’s texture and flavor are a little bit similar to those of papaya. 

11. Tangerines

Is it Christmas time? No, not the whole year round! These Dominican flat and relatively big tangerines can be a good and a healthy snack always when you are looking for something sweet and juicy. Instead of buying a soft drink, grab a tangerine!

12. Oranges

Sweet or sour. Ideal for juices, or to eat alone as a refreshing snack. With a lot of seeds, hard skin or delicate, almost seedless, and extremely sweet. Go to the Dominican Republic and learn how to choose a good one. 

13. Bananas

Good for everybody. For persons on a diet, as they promote good gut’s health and are rich in a dietary fiber. For those that are all the time hungry, as they are energetic and satiating. Finally, for those that want to gain wight and be strong. 

14. Melons

This fruit family is really big. Depending on the season and the country you are staying in, you will get another list of available melons. If you are in the Dominican Republic during Spring, try at least one of these four varieties: Canary melon, Charentais, honeydew, or cantaloupe.

15. Watermelons

Sweet, juicy and with a vibrant red color. Choose them if you are really thirsty. or try to mix them and serve with rum and ice!

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