As a tropical country with a year-round warm climate, Sri Lanka is a perfect place for fruit plantations. Sri Lanka considers as a tropical fruit paradise with an abundance of different kinds of yummy fruits. You’ll find many authentic fruits, as well as numerous exotic fruits on the island. Most of the Sri Lankan fruits are unbelievably sweet and delicious because they are growing in tropical warm weather in perfect soil. Pick your favorite ones and definitely, you’ll realize that they are highly rich in sweet flavor.
Fresh fruits are available in markets and roadside fruit shops in the country. They are selling lots of local fruit species you might have never tasted. You’ll see that the local fruit sellers are extremely friendly and helpful. They will peel off the fruits for you to taste them easily. Making a pit stop to taste some yummy fruits is one of the simplest joys of visiting Sri Lanka.
In this post, we are going to show you the top yummy fruits we like to taste in Sri Lanka. We hope this guide will help you to select the best ones among lots of Sri Lankan fruits.
1. Red Banana
You’ll see varieties of bananas in Sri Lanka. Although yellow bananas are a common fruit available all over the world, Sri Lanka is home to rare red bananas that are more delicious than their yellow counterparts. The color of the peel varies from deep reddish to purplish. If you see red bananas in a fruit shop, remember to taste them. Because this delicious banana variety is rare to find even in Sri Lanka.
2. Papaya
Papayas are widely available in many countries, including Sri Lanka. You can find them everywhere in local markets. The most delicious variety of papaya in the market is known as the Pink Lady. Their interior is deep pink to reddish in color. Pink lady papaya tastes very sweet, without the slightest watery taste.
3. Mango
Mangoes are available all around the world, but one of the best places to taste yummy mango is definitely Sri Lanka. There are many varieties of mangoes with different sizes, colors and tastes are available. Among them, the most delicious variety calls as Alphonso. Alphonso mango is a seasonal fruit, available from mid-April through the end of July.
These fruits are large generally weighing between 200-300 grams. Their skin is golden-yellow with a tinge of red on the top of the fruit. They have a rich, creamy, tender texture. You’ll feel it’s more delicious than any mango you have ever tasted, with a sweet juicy pulp. These Alphonso mangoes are one of the yummiest fruits not to miss in Sri Lanka.
4. Mangosteen
Mangosteen is a segmented fruit contained in a purple rind. It’s known as one of the sweetest and tastiest Sri Lankan fruits. It is also a seasonal fruit available in the mid-period of the year. They grow well in the southern part of Sri Lanka.
To open the Mangosteen, press it firmly on the outside of the shell and twist until it breaks apart. The fruit inside is succulent and sweety, you may want to taste them more and more.
5. Wood apple
Wood apple is a quite common fruit you’ll find in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. This fruit consists of a hard outer shell and a soft, seeded brown color center. This hard outer shell is difficult to break and the best way to break it is by smashing the shell against a hard surface.
It is mostly used to prepare a juice by blending it with some sugar and milk. Despite the looks of this wonder fruit, wood apple juice tastes pretty good. It is wildly popular in Sri Lanka. Wood apple juice tastes pretty good, both sour and sweet. It is definitely worthy juice to try in Sri Lanka. You’ll find tasty Wood apple jams in super markets.
6. Durian
Durian is the king fruit widely available in many tropical countries. Sri Lanka also produces durian and it is available only in the season from July-August. Although Durian is widely available throughout the whole year in countries like Singapore, you can taste them only a few months in Sri Lanka.
During the Durian season, people like to buy and enjoy this delicious fruit. They are so sweet and succulent. Although Durian is famous for its bad smell, people who like them really get excited to see Durians in the market. If you happen to be in Sri Lanka during Durian plucking season, don’t forget to taste this yummy king of fruits.
7. Soursop
Soursop or Anoda is also one of the yummy fruits in Sri Lanka. With an odd oval or circular shape, this fruit is green in color with thorns in the outer shell. Its inside is white and flesh is decorated with black oval seeds. This flesh is soft, grainy and so sweet.
Soursop can use to prepare a delicious glass of juice that has a yummy creamy flavor. it has the right balance of sweet and sour taste. You can buy them in Sri Lankan fruit markets.
8. Rambutan
Rambutan is an interesting fruit with lots of tiny spikes in the outer rind. When they are ripe, they turn into deep red color. You’ll find a white lychee-like fruit inside the spiky rind. You can pop it whole in your mouth, but make sure you don’t eat the seed. It is a very sweet fruit, one of the kids’ favorite fruits.
The Sri Lankan season for rambutan runs from April to July. At this period, you’ll see many stalls set up on the side of the road selling bunches of this wonderful fruit. Usually, Rambutan isn’t available outside of picking season. But you can buy canned rambutans from supermarkets any time, they are delicious too.
9. Jambu
Jambu is known as the rose apple. There are many varieties of Jambu available in the country, with different colors, sizes, and shapes. Sri Lankan Jambu has a crispy texture and a mild flavor. It contains a lot of water, hence gives a cooling effect on the body. Jambu is best to enjoy during a hot sunny day. Kids love this fruit a lot.
10. Pineapple
Pineapples are one of the most delicious fruits you’ll find in Sri Lanka. They are large in size and so sweet with a nice aroma. When you are traveling through the Gampaha area, you’ll see many Pineapple selling shops. Remember to make a pit stop to taste a piece of this yummy fruit.
The outer skin of Pineapple features a rough scaly rind. It should be removed before tasting this yummy fruit. Pine Apple is juicy and fleshy with a sweet flavor. It uses to make drinks, salads, as well as curries in Sri Lanka. I one of the best appetizers to eat before your meal.
11. Passion Fruit
In Sri Lanka, there are several varieties of Passion Fruits are available in yellow, red, or orange color shells. Passion fruits mainly use to prepare tasty Passion fruit juice. This fruit can blend with some sugar to prepare a nice juice within few minutes.
12. Avocado
You’ll find several varieties of Avocados in different sizes. Much heavier avocados are quite common in Sri Lankan fruit markets. Avocados mature on the tree and are ripe after their harvest. Once Ripen, their color turns from light green to deep-green or purple color.
Sri Lankan Avocados have quite a creamy and buttery texture. Since Avocado is rich in nutrients, it has many health benefits and good for your immunity. Avocado can use to make a yummy juice by blending with some sugar.
13. Guava
Guava is round or oval in shape with light greenish or yellowish skin. Mainly their flesh is white, where you can find some Guava varieties from pink to the dark red interior. Guavas are incredibly delicious and packed with nutrients.
Guava is widely available throughout the country. You’ll find many Guava selling fruit shops in Kandy around Peradeniya. The literal meaning of Peradeniya is “Land of Guava” and they are particularly delicious.
14. Watermelon
This fruit features a smooth, deep green striped exterior rind. Inside this thick rind, its flesh is juicy and deep pink or red in color with numerous small black seeds. Watermelon can eat or drink after preparing a yummy juice.
Watermelon is the best fruit to keep you cool during the hot daytime. It contains lots of electrolytes and water. When you are visiting the dry zone area of Sri Lanka, watermelon is quite useful to stay hydrated. It helps to quench the thirst easily, better than drinking water.
15. King coconut
King Coconuts are locally called ‘Thambili’ and it has a bright-orange colored husk. It is a variety of coconuts indigenous to Sri Lanka. You’ll find clusters of King coconuts in roadside huts, sell-by street vendors.
The king coconut water is rich in electrolytes and famous for its cooling effects. None of the other juices are so refreshing like king coconut water. It has a magical power to cool your body during the heat of day time. Don’t forget to drink some King coconut water and stay hydrated, while traveling under the hot tropical sun in Sri Lanka.
Of course, the above-mentioned 15 fruits aren’t the only ones available in Sri Lanka. There are plenty of other local fruits sold in markets around the country. According to the seasonality, you can buy them for a cheaper price. As well as, you’ll get the opportunity to taste Sri Lankan fruits on your hotel’s buffet every morning. Taste the Sri Lankan fruits and discover new flavors. Welcome guys, Enjoy yummy fruits in Sri Lanka!
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. Images from Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, Dreamstime, and Twitter. All copyrights reserved by original authors.
