The Wild World of Colombian Fruits

Last updated on July 3, 2025.

Discovering new exotic Colombian fruits is just one of the things that makes a visit to Colombia so worthwhile.

 

Colombian Fruits Quiz

Just about every time I walk through a market in Colombia, I discover a new fruit I’ve never seen before. Of course, there are more common fruits like bananas, apples, grapes, and pineapples, but those are just a few of the over 70 fruits that grow in the country. Some of them are completely unknown outside of Colombia.

If you can guess half of the Colombian fruits in this post, you’re a true expert. I only knew about four of them when I first came to the country in 2014. As I mentioned, I discover a few new fruits every year, some which I’ve seen only once and others that are only available in certain places.

How many of the following fruits can you name? Have you tried any of them? If so, what did you think? Click the link after each fruit to jump to the answer!

 

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Answers to Colombian Fruits

And here are the answers! While you’re here, check out this page for some exotic fruits from around the world.

 

#1: Guama (ice cream bean)

At first glance, guama looks like a giant pea pod. Crack it open and you’ll find huge black seeds encased in a white pulp. The pulp tastes sweet, and some have described it as a vanilla ice cream flavor. It’s native to the Amazon rain forest. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#2: Tomate de árbol (tree tomato, tamarillo)

This egg-shaped fruit native to the Andes Mountains, tomate de árbol is similar in texture to a tomato. It can come in red, orange, or yellow. The red version is more acidic while the orange and yellow versions are sweeter. A good source of vitamin C and iron, tomate de árbol is a refreshing fruit to eat on a hot day by biting off the tip and sucking out the flesh. It also tastes great as a juice. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#3: Guayaba (guava)

There are different types of guava, with sweet or sour flavors and soft or hard seeds, but all have great nutritional value. One single guava can have four times the Vitamin C of an orange and is high in dietary fiber. The fruit comes from northern South America, Central America, and Mexico. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#4: Granadilla

Granadilla is a type of passion fruit rich in vitamins C, A, and K, along with calcium and iron. It tastes semi-sweet and is native to the Andes Mountains. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#5: Borojó

This pulp of the borojó fruit, which is jam packed with nutrients, is sold wrapped in plastic bags. It’s thought to have aphrodisiacal properties and is commonly eaten in jams or juices. It’s grown in the humid tropical rainforests on the west coasts of Colombia and Ecuador. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#6: Uchuva (Cape gooseberry, Peruvian cherry, Inca berry)

The uchuva comes wrapped in its own papery sheath. Unwrap it and pop into your mouth to enjoy the interesting flavor. Uchuvas are low in calories and have moderate levels of vitamins. They are said to be good for digestion and killing stomach parasites. Uchuvas are native to Peru. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#7: Carambola (starfruit)

Carambola is originally native to southeast Asia, but is widely cultivated in Colombia. The entire fruit can be eaten and is high in antioxidants, vitamin C, and potassium. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#8: Lulo (naranjilla)

Lulo is a super sour fruit that is loaded with vitamin C. It can be eaten plain, with salt, or more commonly as a juice. It’s one of the most popular fruits for juices in Colombia, delicious in both water or milk. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#9: Mamoncillo (Spanish lime)

Biting the soft shell of a mamoncillo will reveal a tangy, creamy, pulp-covered seed orange in color. To eat it, take the seed into your mouth and suck the pulp. Mamoncillos are native to northern South America. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#10: Chontaduro (peach palm)

This fruit grows on a type of palm tree in tropical Central and South America. A 100 gram serving has 1500% of the daily recommended allowance of vitamin A. Chontaduro is an acquired taste. To me, it tastes like a sweet potato that sucks all the saliva out of your mouth. They can be eaten with honey or salt to improve the flavor, but taste great as a soup. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#11: Camocamo

The acidic Amazonian camocamo fruit is second in the world in vitamin C content and is thought to possess other health benefits. It’s eaten by popping open the soft shell with your teeth and sucking the pulp off the seed. It tastes best in a juice or by eating it with a little salt. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#12: Pitahaya (dragon fruit)

Pitahaya is a cactus fruit native to Mexico but is heavily cultivated in Asia and Central America. There are three different versions. The one pictured is pitahaya amarilla (yellow dragon fruit), but there are red versions as well. It has a mildly sweet taste and is said to be good for digestion. It’s consumed by cutting it in half and eating it with a spoon. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#13: Aguacate (avocado)

Avocados are one of the most important and most valuable fruits in the world. They’re originally from Mexico but now several versions are cultivated all over the world. The biggest avocados I’ve seen are in Colombia, but the popular and tasty Hass avocados are also cultivated here. Avocados have rich nutritional value, high in B vitamins and vitamin K, and have a diverse composition of fats. It’s said that a diet with a higher consumption of avocados can lower LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and increase HDL (good cholesterol). (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#14: Guanábana (soursop)

At first glance, this gigantic fruit looks like something from outer space. Guanábana is native to northern South America, Central America, and Mexico, but is cultivated in southeast Asia and Africa as well. In Colombia, it’s often used in fruit juices (more commonly in milk) and ice creams. The flavor is sour and slightly creamy. It has a high content of vitamin C, and vitamins B1 and B2. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#15: Papaya

Papaya is native to Colombia and Central America, but is now cultivated in just about every country with a tropical climate. The smell can be unpleasant to some people. It’s said to aid digestion and is a great source of vitamin C. The seeds are usually not eaten but they can be. They have a spicy flavor to them. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#16: Maracuyá (passionfruit)

The most common type of passionfruit in Colombia is the popular maracuyá. It’s a favorite in juices and ice creams, but can be eating by spooning out the jelly-covered seeds. It’s a natural sedative, is thought to be good for digestion, and is also very high in vitamin C. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#17: Mango

Native to southern Asia, the mango is now widely cultivated in Colombia. It contains a significant amount of vitamin C. Mangos are commonly consumed in juices, both in milk and water. They’re also cut into strips and sprinkled with salt and lime juice, making for a refreshing treat for Colombia’s tropical climate. There are different versions of mango, such as the tiny mango criollo shown below. The mango criollo can be eaten without removing the skin. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#18: Higo (prickly pear, cactus fruit)

Higos are a version of cactus fruit high in vitamin C and fiber. They’re native to Mexico but also cultivated in South America, the Mediterranean, and Middle East. They have a sweet taste with very hard seeds. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#19: Curuba (banana passionfruit)

Curuba is a small, banana-shaped passionfruit very high in antioxidants. They’re eaten raw or in a juice. The fruit is native to the Andes Mountains and has a sweet and slightly acidic flavor. (GO BACK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

#20: Sapote

Sapote is native to the Amazon rainforest with other variations native to Mexico and Central America. Also known as chupa-chupa, the fruit is cracked open to reveal an orange fibery flesh. It’s eaten by sucking the flesh off the seeds inside and peeling the rest of it out of the shell. It’s available in Colombia near the end of August and September. (GO BACK)