16 Unusual Peru Fruit You Have to Try

Passion Fruit

There are two types of Passion Fruit: Maracuya and Granadilla. This is one of the most common fruits in all of Peru. From the Maracuya variety, the inside of passionfruit can be scraped out and strained to make passion fruit juice or smoothies. This distinctly sour nectar is an extremely common ingredient in both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, as well as in various desserts.

The tumbo variety of passionfruit is called the banana passionfruit in English as it is shaped like a banana. These ones can be consumed raw but are most commonly consumed as a sweet and sour juice as most people think they are too tart to eat on their own. These seeds are edible.

Avocado

Although avocados are not native to Peru they are found there today. Hass Avocado has been grown in Peru since pre-Colombian times and is an important part of the national diet. Hass avocados thrive in the mild Peruvian coastal climate. They’re typically grown in natural river valleys and modern irrigation districts in areas running nearly the entire length of Peru.

A major advantage is their seasonality for fruit export, which runs from May to August. This helps to complement the Mexican export season for avocados which run from August to May.

Dragon Fruit

The Pitahaya is a fruit that is found all over Peru. It is a sweet fruit grown on a night-blooming cactus. It is grown as the typical pink exterior with a pink interior or yellow with a white interior. It contains a texture that is often compared to the kiwifruit due to its multiple seeds and similar taste profile. The fruit grows in the regions of Amazonas and San Martín, though you can easily find it in markets around Lima.

Prickly Pear

When looking for Prickly Pear in Peru you will need to look for the name Tuna. This is the edible fruit of the Indian fig cactus. It is essentially found anywhere where cacti grow. Tuna is the shape of a pear with thick skin and is yellowish-green to orange-red color. The inside is bright pink or red and tastes very sweet like a mixture of berries and figs. It is said to be useful in preventing and treating hangovers. It is most commonly used in juices but the seeds can also be eaten after cutting into the fruit.

Mango

If you’re eating a mango, there is a good chance that it came from Peru, despite that they are not native to Peru. However, the Spanish conquistadors brought them from India and they have thrived in Peru. Peru is one of the largest exporters of this popular fruit in the world. Most commonly they most commonly have reddish skin with orange pulp. They are most commonly found eaten raw, in ice cream, juice, and smoothies.

Mangoes are grown in the North and Central regions of the Peruvian coast. The season lasts from November to April which is the Peruvian summer. There are more than 24,000 hectares of mango plantations in Peru, making this one of the largest Peruvian exports.

Cacao Fruit

If you like chocolate (and who doesn’t?), Peru is one of the largest producers and exporters of the cacao bean in the world. The export is usually processed as the cacao bean or other product after it has been taken off the cacao bean. Cacao is used during chocolate-making processes and is one of the most nutrient-dense beans in the entire world. Now, if you are looking to try the actual cacao fruit, you will need to make a trip to Peru. It’s nothing like chocolate. It has a white flesh that is sweet and sour.

Lucuma

Lucuma fruit is by far the most popular fruit in Peru. It’s so popular that it is officially the national fruit of Peru. It was a favorite of the Inca and was nicknamed “the last gold of the Inca” by them. It is a subtropical fruit of the Andes valleys with a green skin while it has bright yellow flesh and tastes slightly like a sweet potato mixed with maple syrup therefore is very rarely eaten raw. It is grown on the Pouteria lucuma fruit tree. It is very commonly eaten with ice cream and has become Peru’s most popular ice cream flavor.

Guava

Guava is a delicious fruit that is found in many parts of Central and South America. In Peru, the most common variety is one with green skin with a pink center. While traveling in Peru you will likely commonly come across the juice for breakfast because it has four times the vitamin C than orange juice contains.

Passion Fruit

The Granadilla version of passion fruit has been found to have beneficial digestive effects. It is also a great source of fiber, calcium, several essential vitamins, and contains many beneficial antioxidants.

Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit is very high in nutrients and antioxidants. Because of this, it found that eating dragon fruit can help to fight heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. The high levels of fiber also help to fight diabetes and colon cancer. It is also a very good source of magnesium and can help to fight low iron levels.

Cacao

The cacao fruit contains a mood-enhancing compound know as anandamide which helps to increase feelings of happiness and euphoria. This helps to increase serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins which helps you to feel happy and relaxed. This is why eating chocolate makes you feel good.

It is believed that the antioxidants in cacao can lower LDL cholesterol which is the bad kind of cholesterol and increase HDL which is the type of cholesterol that is good for your heart. It also contains polyphenols that help strengthen your arteries and prevent arterial damage. The antioxidants in cacao have also been found to promote healthy skin and hair and to help regulate blood glucose levels.

Finally, cacao is also high in PEA, phenethylamine, which helps to increase the release of endorphins which increase libido and improve sex drives. This is why chocolate is the candy of love.

Where can you go to Buy Fresh Fruit in Peru?

Because of the variety of fruit all over the county, it is actually quite easy to find fresh Peruvian fruit when you are traveling. You can find them at the markets, at restaurants, and at your hotels. Often the fruit is made fresh into different types of drinks and juices.

One of the best places to buy fresh fruit in Peru is the San Pedro Market in Cusco. The market is approximately an eight-minute walk south from the Plaza de Armas at the center of the city. You’ll find many of the exotic fruit that we discussed at this market including lucuma, granadilla, pepino dulce, and cherimoya.

You will also be able to eat many of the superfoods that make up the Peru fruit options. You can even expand into trying products of vegetable superfood drinks like Chicha Morada which is a traditional Peru drink made from corn.

Cherimoya

In the US this is known as custard apple. The name chirimoya is translated from Quechua to English as “cold seeds.” This was a favorite of Mark Twain “the most delicious known fruit to man.” The chirimoya contains a smooth and creamy texture with a sweet taste. However, be sure to not eat the seeds, if they are crushed they are poisonous.

It is commonly used in mousse, pie, juice, ice cream, and fish sauce. It is one of Peru’s healthiest fruits as it contains extensive vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants and is said to help immunities, inflammation, and prevent anemia.