Are you wondering which exotic fruit from Asia you should try? You have found the right person then! From the smelly durian to the succulent mangosteen, there are so many delicious Southeast Asian fruits to try but if you only have a limited time then I recommend the 13 fruits listed below.
Who Am I and Why Do I know So Much About Southeast Asian Fruit?
Before we dive into the list, let me introduce myself. My name is Georgia, and I'm well known on TikTok and Instagram for my passion for trying a wide variety of tropical and exotic fruits from Asia! I've been living in Southeast Asia for eight years (since 2017), and for five of those years, I've been in Malaysia—the ultimate tropical fruit paradise. So yes, you can definitely trust me on this topic!
Some Things to Note:
- This list is a general guide to Southeast Asian fruits, but I've also created a separate list of must-try fruits in Thailand.
- These top 13 fruits can all be found in Malaysia (where I live), but most of them are available across Southeast Asia during the right seasons.
- No trip to Southeast Asia is complete without trying the ultimate Asian fruit—durian. I could talk about it forever, so instead, I wrote a detailed post about the different types of durian and my experience trying it.
- I've also dedicated a full blog post to rambutan—that cool, red, spiky fruit!
- One of the most popular fruits on my blog is papaya, and I constantly get asked how to eat a papaya and how to cut a papaya!
- Another common question I get is how to cut a dragon fruit—and the answer is that there are actually a few ways!
1. Durian
The first fruit on my list has to be durian! Dubbed the king of all Asian fruits, durian is famous for its distinctive flavor and aroma. People go absolutely nuts over it, and it’s considered a pricey delicacy that gets shipped worldwide. However, to truly experience durian at its best, I believe you must try it fresh in its home country—Malaysia!
My Experience With Durian
The first time I tried durian was at a roadside stall in Singapore, and—no surprise—I hated it! If you're a tourist in a foreign country, DO NOT DO THIS! Durian should only be eaten fresh. You want to go somewhere where you can pick the durian, and they open it right in front of you. (This is exactly what I did for my first real durian experience!)
Where and when to try durian, durian types, as well as what durian tastes like, is something I cover in more detail in my ultimate guide to durian.
2. Ciku (also called Sapodilla in Indonesia)
Ciku, as it’s called in Malaysia (also known as Sapodilla in other parts of the world), is a small brown fruit that actually looks a bit like a potato. When ripe, it becomes soft to touch and reveals a rich dark-orange color on the inside.
Ciku Taste
Ciku is deliciously sweet, juicy, and soft. Its sweetness is often compared to maple syrup, while its texture is similar to that of a very ripe pear. Personally, I love ciku! But I have to admit—it’s not for everyone. This fruit can be quite polarizing; some people adore it (like me), while others just don’t!
We tried ciku in Cambodia, which was also the first time my American friends got to taste it. However, my own first experience with ciku was in Malaysia. The first few times were a bit of a fail for me—it was either not ripe enough or too ripe!
Choosing a Ripe Ciku
If you're unsure, ask someone to pick a ripe one for you—this fruit can be tricky to get just right! If you've been following me for a while, you’ll know that it took me three tries to get it right… but once you do, it’s AWESOME!
3. Rambutan
The hairy exterior of rambutan may turn some people off, but the taste is worth it! The rambutan tastes similar to lychee but in my opinion better! Make sure to try it while on or while exploring Southeast Asia - you won’t regret it!
Where To Buy Rambutan
You can easily buy rambutan from road side stalls in Malaysia or at any wet market. I bought mine from the local wet market, also known as a pasar. Just be careful of the ants! Rambutan is actually one of the three fruits that I had never heard of until moving to Malaysia! Apparently for 2 million people on TikTok thought this was unbelievable?!
Types of Rambutan
Rambutans come in red and yellow varieties. In Malaysia, the red ones are common and available almost year-round, while the yellow ones are much rarer. If you want to try a yellow rambutan, your best bet is Thailand, where most wet markets and fruit stalls sell both the red and yellow varieties.
4. Dragon Fruit
Dragon Fruit: A Unique and Colorful Fruit
Dragon fruit is one of the most fascinating fruits out there! It comes in three varieties—red, white, and yellow. Inside, it has bright white or deep purple flesh, speckled with tiny black seeds.
Taste of Dragon Fruit
The texture is similar to kiwi, but the sweetness varies greatly! Some dragon fruits are incredibly sweet, while others taste like… nothing. If you get a bland one, don’t give up—keep trying, and you’ll eventually find a juicy, flavorful one. This is especially true for red and white varieties, while yellow dragon fruit tends to be the sweetest and most flavorful.
Fun fact: The purple-fleshed variety can turn your urine and poop dark red—don’t panic like I did the first time!
Red vs. White vs. Yellow Dragon Fruit
Wondering how to tell red and white dragon fruit apart? Unlike the yellow variety, which has a distinct yellow skin, red and white look nearly identical from the outside. I made a quick TikTok showing how to tell the difference—once you know, you’ll never get them mixed up again!
5. Mangosteen
Mangosteen is easily one of my favorite tropical fruits! I can't believe I had never heard of this delicious, sweet fruit until moving to Southeast Asia. Inside, it looks a bit like garlic at first glance, but the flesh should be plump, juicy, and pure white. Nothing like garlic!
How To Eat Mangosteen
There is a knack to opening the mangosteen. Opening a mangosteen takes a little technique—press firmly and twist. Just be careful not to get any of the dark purple juice on your clothes—it stains!
Where and When To Buy Mangosteen
Mangosteen is in season from June to August and December to January. During these months, you’ll find plenty of fresh mangosteens at markets across Southeast Asia. You can get it outside of these months but it may not be the best mangosteen.
Cool Fact About Mangosteen
You can actually tell how many segments are inside by counting the tips of the star at the base of the fruit! If you're a visual learner, I explain better here.
6. Longan
Longan is a close relative of the lychee, but it has a thinner, lighter-colored shell. Inside, it looks similar to lychee, rambutan, and pulasan, with juicy, translucent white flesh that’s deliciously sweet.
Where To Find Longan
Longan is extremely popular in Malaysia and is easily found at pasars (wet markets) and roadside stalls.
Longan VS Langsat
Longan and langsat look very similar, and even I’ve confused them before! While their exteriors are hard to tell apart, the difference is inside—longan has a single, round, juicy flesh, while langsat peels away in slices, like garlic or mangosteen.
I don’t have a longan photo, but here are some langsat photos instead!
7. Pulasan
Pulasan is closely related to rambutan, with a similar taste and texture. Once peeled, its juicy, sweet, and slightly tangy flesh resembles lychee. However, pulasan is known to be chewier and even tastier than rambutan!
Where To Find Pulasan
Pulasan is much rarer than rambutan—I’ve only come across it a handful of times in Malaysia! However, I’ve recently spotted it being sold at Jalan Alor food street (the most famous street food market in Kuala Lumpur). I've seen it there several times throughout the year. If you are not in Malaysia, then keep your eyes out for this fruit because it grows all over South East Asia.
If you find this spiky fruit, you must buy it! You can use my photos and videos as your reference!
How To Open Pulasan
"Pulasan" in Malay means "twist"—and that’s exactly how you open it! I love this about the fruit and always share it with my guests when they visit Malaysia.
"Pulasan" in Malay means "twist" and thats exactly how you open this fruit! I actually love this about this fruit! I share it with all my guests when they come to Malaysia.
8. Soursop
Soursop, also known as sugar apple or custard apple, has a spiky green exterior and a creamy white interior. Its sweet and tangy flavor is often compared to a mix of pineapple and strawberry. Packed with vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, it’s well known as a superfruit.
Where To Buy Soursop
Soursop is widely available across Southeast Asia. I’ve personally had it in Malaysia and Cambodia, but I’ve also seen it everywhere while traveling through Thailand and Indonesia.
9. Papaya
Papaya is a tropical fruit with soft, orange flesh and a sweet but mild flavor. Its smooth texture is similar to rock melon.
Papaya is likely available where you live, but if you're visiting Malaysia, you must try it! It’s actually Malaysia’s national fruit, and the papayas here are truly special.
I love sprinkling a bit of salt and lime juice on fresh papaya—it’s absolutely delicious! You have to try it! I share more about ways to enjoy papaya here.
I was also surprised by how amazing papaya tastes in a smoothie—this simple papaya smoothie recipe honestly tastes just like a milkshake or thick shake!
10. Starfruit
Starfruit is a tropical fruit with a distinct star shape when sliced—hence its name! Its sweet and tangy flavor is often compared to a mix of apple, grape, and citrus.
I’ve only ever tried green starfruit, which was very tart—I didn’t like it at all! However, I’ve heard that the sweet variety can be quite delicious.
11. Jackfruit
Jackfruit is a large, spiky fruit native to Southeast Asia, with a sweet, tropical flavor and a meaty texture. It belongs to the same family as durian and cempedak, making it one of Asia’s infamous “stinky” fruits!
At first, the smell can be overpowering, but honestly, you get used to it—and might even start to enjoy it!
How To Eat Jackfruit
Jackfruit can be eaten fresh (ripe jackfruit), or cooked in curries and stews, or used as a filling for tacos and sandwiches. However, it is important to note that the jackfruit that is used in curries or vegan dishes is often a young jackfruit. This is white in colour and the is harder to touch. The ripe jackfruit is bright yellow and very soft to touch.
Where To Buy Jackfruit
Since jackfruit is huge, it’s rare to buy a whole one. Instead, fresh jackfruit is usually sold pre-extracted, which is what I recommend if you want to try it while in Asia.
Jackfruit Recipes
I'm well known on Instagram and TikTok for sharing unique jackfruit recipes. One of my most viral creations is my jackfruit cheesecake! I also make a delicious jackfruit sorbet and jackfruit ice cream.
Young jackfruit is incredibly versatile—I love using it as a chicken substitute in my deep-fried vegan chicken recipe!
12. Cempedak
Cempedak is a tropical fruit closely related to jackfruit and durian, with a sweet, musky flavor and a soft, creamy texture. It looks like jackfruit, but it’s not the same! I actually use cempedak to gradually introduce durian to foreigners.
Fresh cempedak can be hard to find, but in Malaysia, it’s easily available deep-fried as Cempedak Goreng—one of the country's most famous street food dishes!
I’ve made several viral cempedak recipes, including Mandai, healthy cempedak cake, cempedak seed chocolate spread, and more!
13. Snakefruit
Snakefruit, or Salak, is a tropical fruit native to Indonesia and grown across Southeast Asia. It gets its name from its scaly skin, which resembles a snake’s. The flesh is firm and crunchy, with a taste that’s a mix of apple, pineapple, and banana. Inside, it has a single large seed.
I really enjoyed the unique flavor of snakefruit! It reminds me of eating an apple or banana as a snack. Its crunchiness would be perfect in a salad.
Leave a Reply