Unique Fruits and Vegetables from Colombia
Do you consider yourself a seasoned South American traveler? Here’s a quick little test for you. Read the description, then try to guess the name of the fruit or vegetable described. You can check your answers later in the article.
Can you guess the names of these strange foods?
1. I am long and yellow but I am not a banana. You can boil or roast me while I’m green or later when I’m sweet and yellow. Can you guess what I am? That’s right! __________ Enjoy me grilled plantain with cheese.
2. What is red inside and out with thorns all over it? Even my juice is red. My juice is used in food coloring, body paint, and makeup. Do you know what I am? You can say __________?
3. Hey, I bet you’ve eaten me many times before. I am very hard and brown on the outside and I have water inside of me. I have white meat and you can also make “milk” with me. It’s me? Easy! I am a __________, of course. You often find vendors selling my milk by the glass in Quito, Ecuador. Sometimes I have a rarely seen seed that grows inside my hard shell and causes it to sprout.
4. I grow on a vine in clusters but I am not a grape because I am orange with little seeds inside me. My leaves grow around me and you must peel them before you eat me. What is my name? Come on, guess… We are __________!
5. If you like green peppers, you should too. You can stuff me and bake me and I’m delicious. You know my name? My name is __________ I am often stuffed and baked with meat, rice, vegetables and seasonings – yum!
6. My orange peel is thick but easy to break. I have a “jelly” like texture inside with lots of little crunchy black seeds. Do you know what I am? In __________, that’s what
7. This one is harder to guess. Which is a tuber similar to a carrot, but smaller, slightly curved and purple on the outside. No, I’m not sweet either, but you’ll like it cooked with milk and cheese. Did you guess __________? Great!
8. My English name is “dragon fruit“but more commonly known by another name. My thick, creamy insides are filled with extremely hard little black seeds. Don’t eat too much of me at once, though, or I’ll give you “loose intestines”! I’m small or big , I am a delicious yellow exotic fruit.
9. My name means “happy apple” and I am smooth and creamy on the inside with smooth and hard black seeds. I come in segments that make it easier for me to eat. Even though I’m a weird looking punk-rocker style fruit, you’ll love my sweetness. What is my name? I am a _________. Enjoy my sweet and creamy softness.
10. Just imagine a giant bean and you’ll have a close idea of what I look like outside. Inside, I have segments that each have a large black seed. My pulp looks like cotton and tastes sweet. It’s me? You know? I am a __________
11. I bet at one point or another you lay under my branches on the beach. This swaying tree has me as its fruit. We grow in clusters of up to 500. To eat us you have to boil them for a couple of hours, then peel them. We are great with a little salt or bathed in honey. We have a very high level of cholesterol, so you should not eat too much or consume too often. Do you know what we are? That’s right, we are __________
12. You’ve probably never seen another fruit like me. I am white, smooth and creamy on the inside and have spiky green skin on the outside. My thick meat is also very sweet. A great way to eat me is to mix it with milk to make a wonderful and tasty shake. I’m often so big and heavy that you can’t use all of me at once. It’s me? I am a __________
How did you do guessing the names of these exotic fruits and vegetables?
Now check your answers
1. That’s right! “Banana“
2. Can you say “achiote“?
3. Easy! “Coconut“, of course
4. Come on, guess… We are “cape gooseberries“!
5. My name is”archucha“
6.A”Passion fruit“, that is what
7. Did you guess?ullucos“?Great!
8. I’m a”pitaya“
9. I’m a”Custard apple“
10. I am a “guama“
11. That’s right, we are”chontaduros”.
12. I’m a “soursop“
Travel in Colombia and Ecuador
Among the joys and benefits of traveling abroad is the opportunity to try exotic fruits, vegetables, and other local foods. When you travel to Colombia or Ecuador, you can try these unique flavor experiences for yourself. Bon Appetite!