Exotic Fruit

(A) The Banana

The banana is a fruit which is actually a berry, and in some countries, bananas are used for cooking. The fruit is variable in size, colour and firmness, but is usually elongated and curved, with soft flesh. It is rich in starch, and covered with a rind which may be green, yellow, red, purple, or brown, when ripe. The fruit grows in clusters hanging from the top of the plant. Banana plants are grown in at least 107 countries, primarily for their fruit, and to a lesser extent to make fibre, Q.8 banana wine and banana beer, and as ornamental plants. Bananas are an excellent source of vitamin B6 and though Q.7 many people think they have a very high potassium content, that is not the case. In 2016, the leading producer of bananas was India with 32 million tons.

(B) The Mango

The mango is a juicy fruit with a stone inside, which is native to South Asia, from where it has been distributed worldwide to become one of the most popular fruits in the tropics. Q.5 It is the national fruit of India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, and the national tree of Bangladesh. Over 400 varieties of mangoes are known, many of which ripen in summer, while some give a double crop. The most common variety of mango grown worldwide is the Tommy Atkins mango, and it's estimated that mangoes are the most daily eaten fruit around the world. It takes three to six months to ripen, and Q.9 it does not survive freezing and drying. Mangoes contain a variety of nutrients, but the only vitamin present in significant amounts is vitamin C. Mangoes were being grown and harvested in India going back to 2000 BCE, and some mango tree species can live up to 300 years and continuously produce fruit.

(C) The Kiwi

The Kiwi is a fruit with an oval shape. It is green on the inside with small black seeds that can be eaten. The kiwi has furry brown skin which can also be eaten, but is usually removed, and is relatively thin. The kiwi is native to South China. Q.10 It was named in 1959 after the kiwi, a bird and the symbol of New Zealand. Q.6 Before that, its English name was Chinese gooseberry. The kiwi is extremely healthy and contains many vitamins and minerals. Kiwis are rich in vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and fibre, Q.2 and they have more vitamin C than the same amount of oranges. They are very useful, and can be eaten raw, turned into a juice, added to baked goods or used to season and garnish food dishes. Most of the kiwis bought in local grocery stores come from Australia, but the fruit originally came from central and Eastern China.

(D) The Coconut

The coconut is very strange because it is a fruit, a nut, and a seed, all at the same time. Q.1 Its name comes from the Spanish word for head because it looks like a human head. They also used this name because the dark spots on the fuzzy brown coconuts look like a monkey's face. Coconuts are known for being very useful, as they are widely used in cooking and frying, Q.4 as well as in soaps and cosmetics. The coconut also has cultural and Q.3 religious importance in certain societies, particularly in India, where it is used in Hindu religious ceremonies. Coconuts are different from other fruits because of the large quantity of water they contain, and when they are green, they are harvested for their potable coconut water, which is a good source of vitamin C, Riboflavin and Calcium, but is very high in Sodium. Pacific Islanders believe coconuts can cure all diseases.

The Tribune