There are many different types of green fruit. Some you may know, some you may not have heard of. This article will introduce the most common and easily recognized green fruits out there.
Green fruits have a large variety of flavors, shapes, and sizes. Some are tart, while others are sweet. Some have smooth skin, while others have bumpy skin. No matter your preference, there’s a green fruit for you!
Other than their delicious taste, there are important health benefits to green fruit that you should consider.
According to Rush, eating green fruits and vegetables can help you maintain vision and bone health.
Types of Green Fruit
Here are the names and pictures of popular green fruit. How many can you list by memory?
Green Apples (Malus Domestica)
The most common type of green fruit is the apple. Apples come in many different shades of green, from a light lime to a deep emerald. They have smooth skin and crisp flesh.
Here are some examples of green apples:
Granny Smith: This apple is large, juicy, and tart. People generally love eating Granny Smith apples fresh as well as baking them in delicious desserts.
Green Dragon: This apple is small and ovular with dark green skin and a yellowish cast. It’s sweet with a hint of mint and often used in salads.
Rhode Island Greening: This apple is similar to the Granny Smith and is also great in dessert-type recipes. You can find Rhode Island Greening apples at specialty markets on the east coast of the USA.
Newton Pippin: This New York City apple is a popular variety that works great in apple pies and other desserts.
Pound Sweet: This apple looks quite similar to the Granny Smith apple, however, it lacks the tart flavor. As the name suggests, the pound sweet apple is very sweet. This makes it great for apple butter recipes.
Crispin (Mutsu): This apple is large and round with green skin that has a yellow cast. It’s crisp and sweet, making it an excellent all-purpose apple.
Kiwi (Actinidia)
The kiwifruit is a small, oval fruit with fuzzy brown skin and bright green flesh. It’s named after the kiwi bird, which it resembles in color. Kiwifruit is sweet with a tart flavor and a soft, delicate texture.
Kiwis are often eaten raw, peeled, and sliced. They can also be used in pies, jams, and other desserts.
Pears (Pyrus)
Pears are another type of green fruit that is popular around the world. They come in many different varieties, from the small and delicate Asian pear to the large and juicy Bartlett pear.
Pears have smooth flesh with a sweet flavor. They can be eaten raw, cooked, or used in desserts.
Here are some of the most common types of pears:
Asian Pear: This pear is small and round with thin, green skin. It’s crispy and juicy with a sweet flavor.
Bartlett Pear: This pear is large and oval with yellow-green skin. Bartlett pears work great in syrups, chutneys, and preserves.
Concorde Pear: This pear is small and round with green skin. It has a vanilla-sweet flavor.
D’Anjou Pear: This pear is large and oval with green skin. It’s used as an all-purpose pear and is said to have lemon-lime tasting notes.
Green Grapes (Vitis vinifera)
Grapes are small, round fruits that grow in clusters on vines. They can be green, red, or purple in color. Grapes have sweet, juicy flesh and thin skin.
Green grapes are often used in salads or eaten as a snack. They can also be used to make wine, jams, and jellies.
Some of the most common types of green grapes are:
Sauvignon Blanc: These grapes are small and round with a thin, green skin. They have a tart flavor and are used to make white wine.
Muscat: These grapes are large and oval with a thin, green skin. They have a sweet flavor and are often eaten as a snack or used in desserts.
Sylvaner: These grapes are small and round with a thin, green skin. They have a crisp, dry flavor and are used to make white wine.
Riesling: These grapes are large and oval with thin, green skin. They have a floral, fruity flavor and are used to make white wine.
Melons
Melons are large, round fruits that come in many different varieties. The most common type of melon is the watermelon, which is green on the outside and red on the inside. Other types of melons include cantaloupes, honeydew, and casaba.
Melons have sweet, juicy flesh and are often eaten as a snack or used in desserts.
Some of the most common types of green melons are:
Watermelon: This melon is large and round with green skin and red flesh. It’s very juicy and has a sweet flavor.
Cantaloupe: This melon is small to medium-sized with green skin and orange flesh. It’s juicy and has a sweet flavor.
Honeydew: This melon is large and round with green skin and white flesh. It’s juicy and has a sweet flavor.
Casaba: This melon is large and oval with green skin and white flesh. It’s crisp and has a sweet flavor.
Limes
Limes are small, round fruits used to add flavor to food or make drinks. They have a sour, acidic taste and are usually green in color. Limes can be eaten raw, cooked, or juiced.
Key Limes: These limes (Citrus aurantiifolia) are small and round with green skin. They have a sour, acidic flavor and are used to make key lime pie.
Persian Limes: These limes are large and oval with green skin. They have a sour, acidic flavor and are often used in cooking or to make limeade.
Tahitian Limes: These limes are small and round with green skin. They have a sweet, citrusy flavor and are often used in cocktails or to make limeade.
Finger Limes: These limes (Citrus australasica), also known as “lime caviar” stray from the traditional round shape.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are long, green vegetables that belong to the gourd family. They have crisp flesh with a mild flavor. Cucumbers can be eaten raw or pickled.
Here are some common types of cucumber:
Pickling cucumbers are small and round with smooth, green skin. They have a sour, salty flavor and are often used in salads or condiments.
Slicing cucumbers are large and oval with smooth, green skin. They have a mild flavor and are often used in salads or as a garnish.
Burpless cucumbers are long and slender with smooth, green skin. They have a mild flavor and are often used in salads or as a garnish.
Avocados
Avocados are large, green fruits that belong to the berry family. They have creamy flesh with a nutty flavor. Avocados can be eaten raw or used in dips and sauces.
Hass Avocados: These avocados are small and round with dark, green skin. They have creamy, rich flesh and are often used in guacamole or as a spread.
Fuerte Avocados: These avocados are large and oval with light, green skin. They have a creamy, mild flesh and are often used in salads or as a garnish. Some people have noted Fuerte avocados to have a hazelnut flavor.
Pinkerton Avocados: These avocados are large and oval with dark, green skin. They have firm, creamy flesh and are often used in dips or as a garnish.
Green Oranges
Green oranges are a type of citrus fruit that is green in color. They are less ripe than other oranges and have a tart, acidic flavor. Green oranges can be eaten raw or used in juices and marmalades.
Limequat: This orange is small and round with green skin and lime-green flesh. It has a tart, citrusy flavor and is often used in juices or as a garnish.
Sour Green Plums
Sour green plums are a type of stone fruit that is green in color. They are less ripe than other plums and have a tart, acidic flavor. Sour green plums can be eaten raw or used in pies and jams.
Some of the most common types of sour green plums are:
Greengage: This plum is small and round with green skin and yellow flesh. It has a tart, sweet flavor and is often used in pies or as a garnish.
Japanese Green Plum: This plum is small and round with green skin and red flesh. It has a lovely sweet flavor, making it great for sugar substitution.
Ugli Fruit (Jamaican Tangelo)
Ugli fruit is a type of citrus fruit that is green in color. It is a cross between a grapefruit, an orange, and a tangerine. Ugli fruit has a sweet and tangy flavor and can be eaten raw or juiced.
Gooseberries
Gooseberries are small, green fruits that belong to the berry family. They have a tart, acidic flavor and can be eaten raw or used in pies and jams.
Green Gooseberry: This gooseberry is small and round with green skin and white flesh. It has a tart, acidic flavor and is often used in pies or as a garnish.
Starfruit (Carambola)
Starfruit is a type of fruit that is green in color. It is star-shaped with yellow or green skin and white flesh. Starfruit has a sweet, tangy flavor and can be eaten raw or used in salads and desserts.
Jackfruit
Jackfruit is a type of fruit that is green in color. It is large and oval with thick, green skin and yellow flesh. Jackfruit has a sweet, exotic flavor and can be eaten raw or used in curries and desserts.
Breadfruit
Breadfruit is a type of fruit that is green in color. It is large and round with thick, green skin and white flesh. Breadfruit has a starchy, potato-like flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked.
Durian
Durian is a type of fruit that is green in color. It is large and oval with thick, green skin and yellow flesh. Durian has a strong, pungent flavor and is often used in Southeast Asian cuisine.
Rambutan
Rambutan is a type of fruit that is green in color. It is small and round with hairy, green skin and white flesh. Rambutan has a sweet and creamy flavor.
Caribbean Guava
Caribbean guava is a type of fruit that is green in color. It is small and round with smooth, green skin and red flesh. Some describe the flavor of guava as a hybrid of strawberry and pear.
Zucchini
Zucchini is a type of squash that is green in color. It is long and cylindrical with smooth, green skin and white flesh. Zucchini has a mild, earthy flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked.
Noni (Morinda citrifolia)
Noni is a type of fruit that is green in color. It is small and round with bumpy, green skin and white flesh. Noni has a strong, pungent flavor people describe as “cheesy” and is often used in Southeast Asian cuisine.
Custard Apple
Custard apple is a type of fruit that is green in color. It is large and oval with bumpy, green skin and white flesh. Custard apple has a sweet, creamy flavor and can be eaten raw or in ice cream.
Kiwano (Horned Melon)
Kiwano is a type of fruit that is green in color. It is small and round with spiky, green skin and yellow flesh. Kiwano has a mild, lightly sweet flavor and can be eaten raw or used in salads.
Final Thoughts
There are many types of green fruit available to enjoy. Each type of fruit has its own unique flavor and texture that can add a new dimension to your meals and snacks.
So, next time you’re at the grocery store, be sure to pick up some of these delicious green fruits! As always, thanks for reading.
