Fruits That Start With A

I’m sure most of us know about apples, but quickly name what other fruits start with the letter A? Maybe you’ve named a couple more, but I have a whole list for you! I’ll also give you a short description of each fruit.

Many of these fruits I have actually written full-length articles about, which I will link. Let me know in the comments if there are any you would like to hear more about!

Abiu

This fruit is similar to Star Apple (Caimito), a fruit I grew up eating in Jamaica. It is native to South America and is a bright yellow fruit described to have a caramel and vanilla flavor.

Abiu can be eaten fresh or made into sorbet or smoothies. Since it can only be grown in tropical climates, it is not commonly found in America.

Açaí

The açaí is around or elongated oval purple fruit of a palm tree that is commonly mistaken as a berry. It is in fact a stone fruit, similar to fruits such as peaches, mangoes, and dates. Açaí is known to be a particularly rich source of antioxidants, hence its recent rise in popularity.

Açaí has a tart but rich taste that is described as a mixture of berries and chocolate. The fruit is so delicate that it can’t be exported whole, but is commonly found in the US as frozen purée, freeze-dried powder, or juice.

Acerola Cherries

Also known as Barbados cherries, these are different from any cherry you’ve tasted in America. They are quite sour with a unique flavor.

Acerola cherries are delicious as a juice on their own or with other fruits. They are an amazing way to add lots of vitamin C to your diet. Read More.

Acorn Squash

You may be confused as to squash is included in this list; what you will learn is that many commonly known vegetables are actually botanically known to be fruits. Squashes are the perfect example of such an item.

The acorn squash is one of the dozens of varieties of winter squashes that can be found in grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and gardens.

It is commonly baked on its own or stuff, and can also be used interchangeably with other winter squashes such as pumpkins or butternut squash.

African Bird Pepper

This pepper is closely related to the more commonly known cayenne pepper. It is native to Africa and is therefore used in many traditional African cuisines.

African bird pepper is a good source of vitamins A and C and plenty of antioxidants.

African Horned Cucumber

Also known as kiwano or horned melon, the African horned cucumber is a yellow oval-shaped fruit, with small spines on its outer surface. The inside is similar to a very seedy cucumber, and when the horned melon is green it also tastes like cucumber.

When it is ripe, the skin turns yellowish-orange, and it is said to have a mildly sweet flavor reminiscent of bananas and kiwis.

Almonds

Yes, almonds are a fruit! Or rather, it is the seed of one. Almonds are a drupe, like apricots, plums, or cherries, but their outer fruit is hard and inedible. Instead, the nut inside has become a household favorite all over the world.

Almonds, native to Iran, have become a culinary staple in sweet and savory dishes in probably every continent. It is incredibly versatile, making almond milk, Almond Butter, almond syrup, Almond Flour, marzipan, and more.

I love almonds, and they are invaluable to both vegan and gluten-free diets.

Alphonso Mango

As I’m sure many of you will agree, there not much better than a fresh deliciously ripe, and juicy mango. This wonderful fruit originated in India and is now grown in most tropical countries.

Because of its exquisite taste, it has become very popular in many tropical countries and is popularly used in many desserts and beverages. There are hundreds of varieties of mango, with wildly different tastes and textures, but Alphonso mangos are one of my favorites. They are small, round or oval, and yellow-skinned when ripe, with a creamily sweet interior.

I love Alphonso mangos because they are usually sweeter than most found here in the US, and they don’t have many fibrous “strings” on the seeds. These strings tend to get stuck in your teeth when you’re eating the mango, and while I will bear some strings for a juicily sweet Jamaican mango, one cannot deny the convenience of a mango without them. Read More.

Ambarella

This fruit, which I grew up calling June plum, is one that can only be described as weird. It is crunchy like an apple, tart but sweet with a flavor like a pineapple and a mango, and the pit is covered in spiny fibers.

Ambarella is commonly eaten with salt and spices in Southeast Asian countries, while in the Caribbean it is eaten as is when ripe, or with salt, lime, and various herbs while green. Preparations differ by country and even by family, but they are all quite delicious. In Jamaica, it is also made into a popular juice, with ginger added. Read More.

Amla

Amla, also known as Indian gooseberry, is probably most commonly known as a hair treatment. It is native to India, and is traditionally used as a hair mask to promote healthiness and growth.

The fruit is actually a powerhouse, packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. It is commonly used in Ayurveda, which is Indian traditional herbal medicine, and for good reason.

While the fruit can sometimes be found frozen in Indian grocery stores, the taste is said to be a mixture of sour and bitter. Sometimes it is pickled, candied, or added in small quantities to cooked dishes. However, it is more commonly used in powder form for topical usage, or as a capsule for supplementation.

Consult your doctor before adding amla as a supplement if you are on blood thinners or have diabetes, as it has been known to be an anticoagulant and lower blood sugar.

Annatto (Achiote)

Annatto is commonly known to be a bright red pigment that gives food a yellow or orange color. What you may not know is that it is made from the pulp of the fruit from the achiote plant.

It is native to South America, where indigenous cultures used it to make body paint and cosmetics. It has now become commonly used in many Latin-American cuisines, and also commercially as a natural food dye. Read More.

Annona

Annona is a grouping of a few fruits common to the Caribbean and other tropical areas. These include but are not limited to soursop, Sugar Apple, and custard apple.

Apple

Apples are such a quintessential fruit that I can confidently say everyone has seen and probably tried. While probably commonly associated with North America and Europe, apples actually originated from Asia.

As they slowly migrated across the world, they have evolved into literally thousands of varieties. What you can find in grocery stores, farmer’s markets and even orchards are only a tiny sample of apples that you can try, with there being such a variety in tastes as well.

Apricot

I love these little fruits! They are small, round and orange, with a thin edible skin and juicily sweet flesh. They are found fresh and also dried. Apricots are a good source of vitamins A and C.

Argan

Argan, probably known by most for its oil, is a nut native to Morocco and Algeria, where it thrives in the desert climate. The nuts are essential to the region for cooking and as the main source of food for goats.

Argan oil, while mostly used cosmetically in the US, is commonly used as a cooking oil in Morocco, since many grow and extract the oil making it very accessible. However, it is not popular as an export in cooking grade form, because of its flavor.

It is still no wonder why it is popular for skin and hair since argan oil is a miracle aid for a myriad of skin conditions and is a great aid for hair styling.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is mostly known as a supplement, which is actually made from the root of the plant, but it also produces fruit. It is also known as Indian ginseng, poison gooseberry, or winter cherry.

Originating in Indian, ashwagandha is a staple in Ayurveda, and has become popular in the US as well. It is an adaptogen, meaning that it adapts your body to handle stress to the body and brain. It is a common supplement for cognitive function and as support for symptoms of various mental illnesses.

Asian Pear

Asian pears, also known as Korean pear, Japanese pear, Chinese pear, apple pear, and quite a few more names, are a life-changing experience. This may sound like an exaggeration but they are so wonderfully crisp, sweet, and refreshing, that they are a favorite in Asia and everywhere else they are found.

Because they are quite delicate, they are more expensive than European or American pear varieties. In various Asian cultures, they are known to be so special that they can be presented as a gift, or served as a sweet treat for guests.

In America, they can be found in Asian markets, and sometimes in grocery stores, especially in cities with higher Asian populations.

Aubergine

This purple egg-shaped fruit (yes, a fruit!), is also known as eggplant in America and brinjal in Southeast Asia. While usually round or oval with dark purple skin that’s nearly black, it also comes in white, or light purple with an elongated shape. It is a member of the nightshade family, similar to tomatoes and potatoes.

There is no limit to the different ways that aubergine can be cooked. I have used it in pasta, in sandwiches, fried on its own, in stir-fries, and more! It is common in Mediterranean, Indian, Chinese, Caribbean, and Italian cuisines, to name only a few.

Eggplant is another fruit that is invaluable to those who are eating plant-based since it makes a deliciously useful meat substitute. Read More.

Avocado

I, like many of us, absolutely love eating avocados. It is known as a superfood and has recently soared in popularity. Avocados are grown in tropical or Mediterranean climates, particularly in Central America, and are a common food in the diets of cultures from these areas. With its impressive nutritional value, it is no surprise that it has become so well-loved.

The variety that we commonly eat is the Hass avocado, but there are many other kinds, with avocados coming in many shapes and sizes. In Jamaica, where we call avocado “pear”, the variety we have is larger in size and has lighter green-colored skin. Read More.

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