The mood-overhauling magic of seasonal fruits, be it the summer fruits, winter fruits or rainy season fruits is undeniable! Everyone relates to that feeling of dreading the upcoming summer season, only to be delighted the next second that plentiful mangoes would the hit the market soon! This blog post uncovers all seasonal fruits in India.
There is virtually no season that a fruit seller is out of business. The variety of fruits change with seasons, but business is brisk as ever no matter what season, thanks to the seasonal fruits!
As seasons roll each year from summer to rainy to winter, we see a different variety of fruits hit the market. Each of these sets of fruits represent the particular season’s fruits that we will delve in depth soon!
What are Seasonal Fruits?
Seasonal fruits are those fruits that are available for a limited time during a particular time or season of the year. This means we have the winter fruits, the rainy season fruits and the summer fruits. What about the fruits we get to see all year? Aren’t there those too?
Fruits For All Seasons: Perennials or Evergreens
Indeed there are fruits that are available all year round. For instance, the ubiquitous banana or the coconut. Such fruits are referred to as evergreen fruits or perennial fruits.
In the past few years, Indian horticulture and farming methods have undergone rapid advancements like greenhouse cultivation, due to which we see many more fruits all round the year. For instance, sweet limes and oranges!
Perennials abound when the typical climates that they need to thrive find a good match in a region. In milder climates apples are perennial just as the banana is a perennial in India’s climate! So also, berries such as strawberries and blueberries in many nations.
For now though, let’s dive into fruits for all three major seasons in India. Let’s explore what seasonal fruits in India hit the carts and store shelves each year! Remember, all fruits are not available summer to rains or season to season!
India’s Perennial Banana
India’s Evergreen Sweet Limes
Let’s view the seasonal fruits and learn a few things about them!
WINTER FRUITS
Ah, the cozy feel of winter in India – the rains make way for crisper air and the sun shines down kindly, not too harsh, just right! From November to February, people begin to take sweaters and mufflers out of storage as the chill begins to grow! Up north it’s much chillier than down south but cold it is!
One of the best things though is the sense of joy and anticipation that incoming winter brings in, heralding the arrival of a new season and fresh winter fruits in India enter the market.
The winter fruits name list includes oranges, guavas, apples, grapes, pears, bananas (yellow and red), pomegranates, papayas, tangerines, clementines, custard apples, kiwis, etc,.
Apple
Fun Fact: There are over 7,000 different types of apples.
Undoubtedly, apples are adored for their crunchy, sweet taste but they are a lot more than just good taste. A good source of vitamin C, and its fiber is good for digestion too.
Wash the skins well if you suspect chemical spraying on them! Natural skin is full of good fiber and nutrients.
Guavas / Amrood
Fun Fact: Among the fruits today, guava is the least likely to be chemically treated for preservation or through transport.
Another delicious one among winter fruits in India, it can be eaten semi-ripe or fully ripe. It packs good amounts of vitamin C, fiber and anti-oxidants.
Guavas are tropical gems with a fragrant aroma and a sweet, juicy flesh bursting with flavor. Inside, they can be in various colors, from cream to golden yellow and even pink. Native to Central and South America, guavas now thrive in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
Red Bananas
Fun Fact: Red bananas are also called “Passion Bananas” because of their fiery red color.
Bananas are the friendly yellow or red fruit with a creamy, delicious taste that grows in all tropical regions. Note: Image of Red Bananas belongs to PharmEasy.
Bananas also offer vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants. What a blessing that this healthy fruit is available all year!
Custard Apples / Sitaphal
Custard apples, also known as sugar apples and similar but not the same as sweetsops.
They are like creamy custard in fruit form, with a sweet, tropical taste that’s downright dreamy.
They grow all over India, South America and Southeast Asia.
Papaya
Fun Fact: Raw papayas have digestive enzymes so strong that they are used to tenderize meat in dishes!
The papaya is a powerhouse of nutrients with vitamin A, C and digestives enzymes too. It is supposed to be good for vision too.
Key Limes
Key limes are smaller and more acidic than regular limes. They are used in the same manner as Indian limes are, and full of vitamin C.
They are essential in popular dishes like key lime pie and in refreshing beverages.
In countries like the United States, key limes are transported mostly from Florida and sold between June and September. In India, however, key limes, locally called kaghzi nimbu, are available almost the entire year.
There are many others on the winter fruits name list, like oranges, pomegranates, guavas, strawberries, and grapes, winter fruits are available in plenty. Winter in India is a delightful season that gets even better with the abundance of these winter fruits.
Add a burst of color, flavor and nutrition to your lives by relishing these entrants on the curated winter fruits name list! We hope you enjoyed knowing about the many winter fruits of India! Let’s turn our attention now to delightful rainy season fruits.
RAINY SEASON FRUITS
The rainy or monsoon season in India is often described as a time when the heavens have thrown open their doors of bounty and mercy on the land dwellers! Farmers rejoice with the rain, everything seems livelier. We, of course, have our eyes trained on rainy season fruits!
From June to September, the country experiences an onslaught of monsoon fruits like pears, guavas, grapes, key limes, passion fruit, pineapple, Sharon fruit or persimmon, sugar apple, kumquats, huckleberries, and so on.
The rainy season fruits arrive like a balm after scorching summers – a true blessing! Let’s also look at some rainy season fruits in other parts of the world as well.
Crab Apples
Crab apples are tiny and tart, often smaller than even gooseberries. They are often used in jams, jellies, and cider–making due to their high pectin content.
They grow in luscious bunches an nearly color the trees red rather than green!
Sharon Fruit / Persimmon
Persimmons are of vibrant orange color and sweet with a honey-like flavor.
They have a firm texture similar to an apple. That makes them perfect for slicing and snacking. Originally, they’re from East Asia but now available nearly anywhere.
Kumquats
Kumquats, tiny citrus fruits eaten whole, have a sweet skin and tart flesh, creating a burst of flavor.
Don’t they look like packaged candy, ready to be popped and relished!
Huckleberries
Huckleberries, small and sweet-tart, are foraged and used in pies, jams, and syrups. They are prized for their intense flavor.
Pineapple
Pineapple, tropical and juicy, has a sweet-tart taste and fibrous texture. It can be enjoyed fresh, grilled, or in desserts.
Then there are those who like it candied. However, fresh is nutritious.
Indeed, there are more monsoon fruits in India like the the Indian blackberry (jamuns), plums, peaches, cherries, and pomegranates, which are available between June and September winter months of India.
As the enchantment of monsoon comes to a close, and as the rains and storms pass by, let’s remember to enjoy the blessings and good things in life too! And that includes getting your healthy share of winter fruits in India.
SUMMER FRUITS
Welcome to summer in India – a time when the sun shines bright, and the mercury climbs higher and higher with each passing day.
The March to April availability of spring season fruits in India range from jackfruit, limes, apricots, bitter melons, strawberries, oranges to the first mangoes of the year! From March to June, the country struggles with the unrelenting heat. We suspect that’s what makes us Indians so resilient and tough in life!
They say nothing is truly terrible, and yes, with scorching summers come dreamy summer fruits in India like the mangoes, muskmelons, watermelons, ice apples (tadgolas), blackberries, blueberries, limes, jackfruits, mangoes, honeydew melons, grapes, figs, sour cherries, nectarine, peaches, and so on.
Let’s shower some attention on the fantastic summer fruits in India!
Watermelon
Fun Fact: A watermelon is considered a fruit as well as a vegetable!
This natural hydrant also packs in vitamin C, lycopene, and anti-oxidants along with great taste.
A staple at everyone’s home in the summer months, it helps to beat the heat! It’s sweet flavor refreshes a parched mouth instantly!
Muskmelon / Cantaloupe
Did you know? Cantaloupes are relatives of cucumbers and pumpkins!
Muskmelons, also known as cantaloupes, are sweet, juicy fruits with a fragrant aroma and a soft, light to dark orange flesh.
Cantaloupes are available in plenty in summer. They grow in warm, sunny climates around the world too.
Jack Fruit
Jackfruit is a tropical giant, known for its massive size and sweet, tropical flavor reminiscent of pineapple and banana!
It has a chewy, meaty texture. In India, it’s grown extensively in Kerala. Its fibrous texture makes it a versatile ingredient in both savory and sweet dishes. Native to South and Southeast Asia, jackfruit trees now grow in tropical regions worldwide.
Bananas
Fun Fact: Bananas are actually berries!
Bananas are the friendly yellow fruit that’s always a filling, ready snack!
They’re creamy and delicious and full of sweetness.
Bananas grow in tropical places like India, South America and entire Southeast Asia. They hang in big bunches from tall banana trees. They’re good for eating raw, but can also be used in dishes like pancakes, muffins or cakes.
Blackberries
Blackberries, known for their dark color and sweet-tart flavor, are rich in antioxidants and versatile in desserts and jams.
They grow in farms as well as in the wild. They are considered a low maintenance plant that adapts well to climates.
Red Plum
Red plum, with its smooth skin and juicy flesh, offers a sweet-tart flavor. Its flavor has some floral undertones and the taste varies across geographies.
Blueberries
Fun fact: Blueberries are one of the only fruits that are truly blue!
Blueberries are deep blue hued with a sweet-tart taste. They grow on bushes in places like North America and Europe.
Grapes
Grapes come in various colors and flavors, are juicy and sweet, and can be relished fresh or be used to make wine and raisins
Sweet Limes
Sweet limes, with their mild sweetness and fragrant aroma, are often juiced or used in cocktails and desserts. They are available in plenty in India!
Sour Cherries
Sour cherries, tart and bright red, they are prized for pies and preserves because of their distinctive tangy flavor. With that, we wrap our coverage of summer fruits in India.
Lastly, when the seasons throw summer at you, remember to bask in delicious summer fruits and lassis. Heat notwithstanding, summer is still a time of sweet indulgence, as the Indian states burst forth with their luscious bounty of seasonal fruits.
FAQs
Why should we have seasonal fruits when we can have so many vegetables?
Nature has a way of balancing nutritional needs by giving us different forms of food. Partaking from them all in the right portions meets our bodily requirements of vitamins, minerals and keeps us energetic.
What is the way to choose winter fruits?
No matter what the fruit, always check them for freshness, ripeness, and firmness to the touch. Fruit that has gone soft is either stale or spoiling from the inside. Look for healthy skin and even texture.
Conclusion
All seasonal fruits, ranging from the crisp freshness of winter fruits like apples to the juicy hydration of summer’s bounties like watermelons and the verdant abundance of the rainy season fruits like guavas, good nutrition through fruits is just at a stone’s throw! These seasonal fruits not only tantalize our taste buds but also serve us with many health benefits.
So let’s raise a toast to the ever-changing seasons and the delicious seasonal fruits they bring, celebrating the diversity and abundance of our land of India.
We welcome you to check out our other blogposts on fruits!
- Fruits Name in English With Pictures
- Discover 20 Exotic Fruits: in India and Beyond
- Color Riot: 20 Festive Green Fruits Yellow Fruits Red Fruits
- Discover 14 Single Fruits
- All About 28 Dry Fruits Name, Picture and Fun Facts
- Verb Forms V1 V2 V3 to Master All Tenses Till V5
- Picture Composition for Class 6
- Happy Weekend: Vocabulary & Talk Drill
