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There is something satisfying about having a bite of fresh fruit picked directly from the tree. Tropical fruits are vibrant in color and flavor, and in Antigua, there is an abundance of fruits available in stores, markets, and at fruit stands along some roadways. Below are 23 fruits native to Antigua that we encourage you to try when you visit. 1. MangoesThere are over ten different types of mangoes that grow in Antigua and Barbuda. Mango is such a beloved fruit in Antigua that we have an entire festival for it. Mango season is between May to July and when it is peak season you see mangoes almost everywhere. How to eat: Peel the skin off or cut into slices Flavor & texture: Firm, sweet, and juicy Best enjoyed: As is, as a drink, jams, hot sauces 2. Sugar AppleSugar Apples or sweetsops are stone-like fruits that grow on trees. Just like their names suggests they are very sweet. You can tell a sugar apple is ripe when the pods begin to separate. How to eat: Break in half and enjoy the individual pods Flavor & Texture: Sweet and smooth Best enjoyed: As is, ice pops, as a drink 4. RaspberryThe West Indian raspberry has many different names depending on which island you are visiting. Another name is called star gooseberry, or just gooseberry. Raspberries grow in bunches and are plentiful. How to eat: As is Flavor & texture: Sour , juicy, smooth Best enjoyed: As a drink, jams 5. TamarindTamarind trees grow to be very big. They aren't commonly grown in local yards, but Antiguans have found a way to make them into delicious treats. These fruits have hard shells on the outside with soft pods on the inside. How to eat: Shell the pod, remove fibers Flavor & Texture: Sour or sweet , smooth Best enjoyed: As a drink, jam, tamarind balls 6. Guava (white & pink)Guava is another exotic fruit that is grown on Antigua. There are two types of guavas, but the most common one is the pink guava. The Guava season is between the months of May and November. Unlike some other fruits the skin of guava can be eaten. How to eat: Directly from the tree Flavor & texture: Sweet & gritty Best enjoyed: As is, jams, drinks 7. Antiguan Black PineappleThe Antigua Black Pineapple is Antigua's national fruit. Compared to the other pineapples the Antiguan Black Pineapple is less acidic and more sweeter. Interestingly, pineapples grows upward atop of their plants. How to eat: Remove the skin and slice Flavor & texture: Sweet, juicy, slightly firm Best enjoyed: As is, drinks, jams 8. SoursopThe flavor of soursop is not too far from it's name. It is sour, however it is not acidic like citrus. The skin is slightly prickly, with a semi-firm skin. Soursops are on the larger end and can grow up to 12 inches (30cm) long. How to eat: Cut in half, scoop out with spoon Flavor & texture: Sour / sweet, slightly thick and creamy Best enjoyed: As in, drinks, ice pops 9. Golden AppleThis fruit goes by many names, Ambarella, cythere, or June plum. However if you're in the Caribbean, the common name for it will be Golden Apple. The Golden Apple was first introduced to Jamaica, but as since populated surrounding Caribbean islands including Antigua. How to eat: Peel & remove skin Flavor & texture: Slightly crunchy, sweet and a little sour, with a rough seed Best enjoyed: As is, drinks 10. SapodillaSapodilla trees can grow to be around 100 ft. (30 meters) tall. It is not as common as the other exotic fruits, but it is still a treat. An extract from the bark was once a main ingredient to chewing gum. How to eat: Peel skin and enjoy Flavor & Texture: Sweet, slightly tangy Best enjoyed: As a drink 11. GuinepGuinep is another fruit that is popular in Antigua and Barbuda. Guinep isn't strictly grown in the Caribbean and it can be found in warmer climates like South America, or the southern part of North America. The seed is large, which means there is less flesh to enjoy. Guinep is also known as Spanish Limes on some Caribbean islands. How to eat: hold one end, bite to remove half of the skin, remove seed by squeezing Flavor & texture: Flesh is soft and sweet Best enjoyed: As is 12. DumsDums is another fruit that goes by many names. The names are so various that they will differ between Caribbean island. In Antigua we know them as dums, and they are small circular fruits that grow wildly in the Caribbean. Because they can grow to be quite big and have thorns people often remove them from their yards. Dums can be eaten at anytime during their ripening cycle, green is tart, yellow is just right, red is mushy and sweet. How to eat: As is Flavor & texture: Soft to mushy with a small seed in center, tart to sweet Best enjoyed: As in 13. BananaBananas are bananas wherever you go, there isn't much variety in terms of taste when it comes to a standard banana. There is a famous road in Antigua that is know as Fig Tree Drive, where there used to be an abundance of banana plantations. Fig, is shorter name for another type of banana that is also grown on the island - fingerrolls. How to eat: Peel and enjoy Flavor & texture: Soft to firm Best enjoyed: As is, fritters 14. FingerrollsFingerrolls, banana figs, or just plain figs are cousins to the standard banana. They are smaller, and thicker, and should not be confused for the purple fig, which is a different fruit. Fingerrolls are often richer and sweeter in flavor when compared to a standard banana. How to eat: Peel and enjoy Flavor & texture: Soft to firm Best enjoyed: As is 15. Plums (three types)How to eat: Flavor & texture: Best enjoyed: 16. West Indian CherryHow to eat: Flavor & texture: Best enjoyed: 17. PomegranatePomegranate is another fruit that is grown on the tropical island of Antigua. It is not as common, and it is not mass produced like banana, oranges or mangoes. You will typically find pomegranates grown in local's personal gardens. Pomegranates are mostly seeds, which is fine, because they are edible. How to eat: Split into half, pour seeds into bowl Flavor & texture: Tart, crunchy and juicy, Best enjoyed: As is, drinks 18. OrangeOranges are another standard fruit that is grown in Antigua. They are perfectly juicy and sweet when they are picked ripe, directly from the tree. How to eat: Peel and enjoy Flavor & texture: Soft and juicy Best enjoyed: As is , drinks 19. CoconutsIf you are a traveling to a tropical island, drinking coconut water directly from the shell feels like a natural thing to do. The coconut tree is one of the different types of palm trees that grown on the Island of Antigua. In addition to trying fresh coconut water, we encourage you to try coconut jelly, which is fermented coconut water. How to eat: Peel and drink or eat Flavor & texture: Mild and crunchy Best enjoyed: As is, local meals, sweets and drinks 20. Mammee Support (Mammee Apple)How to eat: Flavor & texture: Best enjoyed: 21. Papaya22. Star FruitHow to eat: Flavor & texture: Best enjoyed: 23. CashewHow to eat:
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