-
8 oz Thai Eggplant may be stir-fried, grilled, cooked as tempura or used in creamy Asian soups and curries. It is seedy but its flesh softens rather quickly and absorbs flavors well. There is no need to peel the skin before cooking. Origin: Dominican Republic, Honduras, Guatemala Availability: Year-Round -
Green Papaya has a smooth green skin instead of the regular yellow-orange exterior. Its flesh is mildly similar to melon’s flesh. It is versatile since it can be enjoyed raw, boiled, baked, or sautéed. Origin: Guatemala, Panama Availability: Year-Round -
Malanga Coco is similar to a yam in appearance and a potato in flavor. This root is commonly used in tropical countries. Malanga is also similar to Taro in texture and appearance but has a woodsy taste with a hint of black walnut. Origin: Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua Availability: Year-Round -
The Papaya solo is a melon like fruit with a thin skin ranging from green to orange enclosing a yellow-orange flesh. Papayas are a good source of vitamin A and C. The Papaya Solo enzyme is called Papain and it is used to break down tough meat fibers. Origin: Brazil Availability: Year-Round -
Chinese Bitter Melon is a green, cucumber-shaped vegetable with a unique bitter taste. Typically grows in countries with a tropical climate. Very popular in Asian cooking . Similarly, famous for its effects on obesity and diabetes. Origin: Dominican Republic, Honduras, Guatemala, U.S. Availability: Year-Round -
Long squash or "Bottle Gourd" is often considered to be of African decent but it is also common in Europe and Asia. The long squash is very similar to zucchini and it is grown in warm climates. The outer skin can go from yellow to green while the inner flesh is firm textured, white in color and contains seeds Origin: Dominican Republic, Honduras, USA Availability: Year-Round -
12- 14 in It's greenish-yellow bark encases its flesh. The pulp, itself, is yellow in color and extremely fibrous. Sugar cane can be chewed to extract the juice. Origin: USA Availability: Year-Round -
Chinese Eggplant is set apart by its long, thin shape, and unique purple color. Additionally, its flesh is typically white, meaty, and nearly seedless. It has the sweetest flavor of all eggplant varieties; low in calories and a good source of fiber. Origin: Dominican Republic, Honduras, Guatemala, USA Availability: Year-Round -
The Indian Bitter Melon is a tropical vine that bears a distinctive fruit which is bumpy, green, and elongated. The fruit of the bitter melon contains large, flat seeds, a thin flesh layer and a thick rubbery skin. Asian cultures believe that bitter melon can prevent malaria, treat diabetes and fuel metabolism. Origin: Dominican Republic, Honduras, Guatemala, USA Availability: Year-Round -
Thai or White Coconut is the younger version of the brown one. Producing more water and with a gelatinous and not very flavorful meat. Its meat can be turned into coconut milk if put through a juicer. Origin: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic Availability: Year- Round -
Green Coconut is the large, green seed of a coconut palm. This type produces more water. They're typically harvested for their high water content. It has a sweet, very clean, and refreshing taste. So after you drink it, you can scrape out the white tender meat Origin: Costa Rica, U.S. Availability: Year-Round -
Breadfruit is a popular variant of mulberry enjoyed across the world. It is rich in starch and before being eaten they are roasted, baked, fried or boiled. When cooked the taste is described as potato-like, or similar to fresh-baked bread. Origin: Dominican Republic Availability: Year-Round -
Culantro is a herb with long, glossy green, serrated leaves. The plant grows like lettuce. Its thin leaves grow in a rosette pattern around a small central stem. Additionally, it has a flavor similar to that of cilantro, but more intense. Origin: Costa Rica Availability: Year-Round -
Dragon Fruit Golden, also known as Pitahaya. It has a faint, sweet taste, much like an earthy watermelon. The health benefits of this fruit are plentiful, with high concentrations of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Origin: Colombia, Ecuador Availability: Year Round
