Ahh, Summer. She comes and she goes but we always revere here with a type of nostalgia reminiscent of a long lost lover. Summer is the season of memories; a timeless space of days at the beach, barbecues, and stargazing in the cool, temperate nights. Summer is a time to be out and about and to enjoy oneself, and what better way to enjoy the company of friends and family than with some exotic fruit to decorate your platters. Here are our top 5 exotic fruits to round out your Summertime with.

1. Jackfruit – This exotic fruit often elicits confusion from shoppers when they first see it. While Jackfruit can be small, it is not unusual to see Jackfruit exceed 50lbs, it is the largest fruit that can grow on a tree. If you’ve been living in South FL for long enough, you’ve surely seen this fruit in local stores. The Fairchild’s Tropical Fruit Program has been helping Jackfruit become a South Florida staple since 1987. The taste of jack fruit is sweet but not overly so. Jackfruit also contains a robust amount of vitamins and minerals. Due to the high fiber content and relatively low sugar by weight, it makes an excellent addition to platters to round out the more sugary choices and fill space.
2. Rambutan – Rambutan is a tiny fruit native to Southeast Asia. It wouldn’t look at all out of place in your fish tank or perhaps on the sea floor and many people often comment that it looks like a sea urchin. Don’t let that fool you though, this fruit packs a sweet, nutty punch in a small package. Many people often mistake rambutan for lychee and vice versa. Like many fruits, don’t let this sweet treat fool you—it’s a boasts some powerful antioxidants and has a host of nutritional benefits associated with it, just don’t go overboard!
3. Lychee – Cousin to the Rambutan (or is rambutan cousin to lychee?) Lychee is an extremely popular treat in Southeast Asia. It’s flavor profile and an array of nutritional benefits are similar to that of rambutan. However, most people would agree that the texture of Lychee is a bit more similar to a grape and it also boasts a sweeter flavor than Rambutan does. However, there is enough difference to make lychee stand out on its own at parties. It makes an excellent Summer snack and makes an easy going snack in South FL where finger food is a popular choice at beaches and parks.
4. Dragon Fruit – This is perhaps a fruit that needs no introduction. This gorgeous fruit looks like something straight out of a fantasy film. Also called pitahaya, this fruit is cultivated in Southeast Asia,  the Carribean and…you guessed it, South FL. It is perhaps impossible to live in the West Palm Beach/Boca Raton area and to have not seen this fruit heading up displays in stores. The vibrant pink exterior might trick you into thinking that this is going to be a hyper-sweet delight, but it gives a surprisingly subtle taste. The seeds are nutty, while the flesh is mildly sweet at most. Overall, Dragon Fruit is fairly low in calories, with 100 grams being approximately 60 calories.
5. Cotton Candy Grapes – I can’t think of a single fruit that is as quickly sold out as cotton candy grapes are. Notoriously hard to keep in stock, these grapes offer up a sugar kick that ordinary grapes do not. They are noted for tasting like cotton candy (big surprise) and due to this reason are a huge hit with children and adults alike. You might think that these grapes are some Frankenstein concoction bred from GMO’s, but they are not. They are created from an elaborate and intense series of cross-breeding and fertilization that results in this hybrid grape. Due to the intricate and painstaking growing process that these grapes require to come to fruition, it is difficult to create enough to meet demand.

Throwing a Party in South Florida?

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