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Most Famous Fruits In Thailand

Sweet Yellow Mango – Ma-Muang / มะม่วง

Known as Ma-muang in Thai, the Mango, king of fruits, is one of the most popular fruits in Thailand. Used in both, sweet and savoury dishes, mangoes in Thailand have attracted tourists from all over the world.

Tourists cannot wait to get on the streets of Bangkok or Phuket and indulge in a dish of mango with sticky rice or a mango chicken salad. Thai mango is unique in flavor from the rest of the world, and that’s what makes it such a crowd favorite.

Rambutan – Ngoh / เงาะ

Rambutan is a particular favorite with Thais and foreigners alike. Spiky green stalks and pinkish skin guard this cloud-white refreshing fruit with care, which when peeled reveals a sweet, slightly acidic oval delight.

Veteran ngoh eaters will be adept at peeling with a simple thumb squeeze, but beginners may need to make an incision with a knife.

Be careful not to chow down on the hard seed in the middle.

Mangosteen – Mung Koot / มังคุด

Mangosteen is wonderfully sweet, with a touch of sour caused by the thick skin that tightly encases the fruit. It is known as the “queen of fruits, due to its extensive health benefits.

Dragon Fruit – Gael Mungon/ แก้วมังกร

Dragon fruit is actually a type of cactus, which explains its colorful yet alien-like appearance. The fruit comes in three colours: two have pink skin, but with different coloured flesh (one white, the other red), while the other type is yellow with white flesh.

Rose Apple – Chom-Poo / ชมพู่

This Thai fruit is pretty easy to remember; just think of the beautiful Thai actress of the same name. And like Chom Poo (the actress), this fruit is delightfully refreshing, and therefore best consumed on a hot day.

If overripe, the fruit can be a little acidy, so don’t leave it in the fridge for more than a day. To eat, cut through the skin, as you would an apple, and remove the hard core.

Durian / ทุเรียน

Durian is dubbed the “King of Fruits” and, like Marmite, you’ll either love it or hate it. This rather pungent fruit may offend some, and is often banned from entering hotel rooms.

Durian comes in many different varieties, with Morn Thong, Kan Yao and Chanee being the most commonly purchased.The fruit is housed in a hugely stalked, pendulous skin, and the fruit seated in a capsule that is split into 3 to 5 segments. Each segment contains l to 5 seeds, each of which is embedded in a sweet, rich and creamy pulp.

Pomelo – Som-O / ส้มโอ

Pomelo is a little like grapefruit in many ways, albeit more sweet than bitter. It’s a member of the citrus family and comes in pink and yellow varieties.

You’ll usually find som-o ready peeled in a pack, but if you buy a whole one, simple carve off the outer green skin, peel away the white fleshy bits and enjoy. Arroy!