Guests of the most tourist state of India, Goa, sometimes do not even suspect how much and what kind of fruits they try here. In cocktails, freshly squeezed juices, meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, complimentary baskets from fashionable “fives” or at breakfasts in “threes” of an average hand, fruits are present everywhere. Quite familiar or super-exotic – in Goa they come in different types and outlandish tastes. It's worth getting to know them all so you can decide which ones to fill your suitcase with before flying home. incredibleindia-tourism.org In Goa, it is not a problem to find apples, bananas, grapes, figs or watermelons. That's just their taste will be different from the familiar to us. Apples, for example, will seem unsweetened and not particularly juicy, but grapes (elongated in shape, black or green), on the contrary, will be beyond praise – sweet and almost seedless. Figs will also be remembered for their rich taste and marvelous aroma. Bananas are good: there are large ones, there are small ones – they are sweeter. Watermelon will not disappoint, only here it is 2-3 times smaller than its Slavic counterparts. By the way, the black variety of this South Asian fruit will be more sugary than the green one. The choice of citrus fruits in the state is very modest: imported oranges taste so-so, and instead of tangerines, tourists are more likely to be offered sweet lime – they make excellent refreshing drinks based on it. 
Traditional fruits
Pineapples, coconuts and mangoes
Pineapples, coconuts and mangoes will not be considered exotic either – if desired, any of these fruits, even if not all year round, can be found in supermarkets at home. But in Goa you should definitely try them. Coconuts – because they are inexpensive and healthy. Pineapples – because here they are simply divine. These fruits also come in two types – for eating and for making juices. The first ones are the most delicious, so before buying, you should draw the seller’s attention to the fact that they are going to eat the fruit. You should choose an “individual” that is evenly orange along its entire length and exudes the most alluring aroma. The Goan mango deserves its own paragraph, as it is considered the fruit symbol of the state. The color of its peel can be different – yellow-green, orange, slightly reddish – this will not affect the taste, it will always be delicious. Those who happen to visit Goa in mid-March will especially agree with this: from this month until the end of June there is a “mango season”, and varieties such as Alfonso and Mankurat appear on the shelves. They are more expensive than others, but justify the price with rich taste and juiciness.
carol mitchell
Exotics
Exotic fruits can be conditionally divided into subgroups: those about which “I think that I heard” and “Is it generally edible?”. The latter should be eaten carefully – but still worth it.
Papaya
Of those that are heard, in Goa, a tourist will definitely cut papaya – a large melon-like fruit with green skin and orange flesh (some taste like boiled carrots, others claim that papaya is sweet), as well as passion fruit, “passion fruit” – purple – red on the outside and yellowish-grainy inside with a peculiar, very rich taste. It is often added to the company with other fruits in juices, ice cream and even beer. An excellent, but not quite ordinary replacement for traditional apples and pears is guava. In shape and size, it resembles these fruits, but it has many more seeds and a rather strong, musky-like smell. The taste is sweet and sour, the flesh is juicy, white or pink.
Carambola
Carambola, or “starfruit”, got its second name for its shape: the sliced u200bu200bfruit looks like a five-pointed star. The original shape has become the main reason why desserts and cocktails are constantly decorated with this fruit. As for taste, there are so many people, so many opinions. Apple, gooseberry, jasmine, orange, cucumber, grapes and plum – which just does not remind tourists of “starfruit”. Some claim that it is impossible to eat it because of the vile aftertaste. /f550x700/50/nn/50nnvysch6sks4w04gw48k8os.jpg” media=”(max-width: 549px)”> New Delhices
Chica (chico, sapodilla) looks like a potato and kiwi at the same time – in skin and shape. It tastes like figs or dates, while unripe fruits are astringent, like persimmons, they should not be eaten in large quantities. Own, Indian date, by the way, in Goa really exists – its name is “tamarind”. High-calorie, but worthy of attention – this is how tourists speak of it. Sugar apple (sitafal, scaly Annona) crowns the list of truly Indian “exotics”. With this fruit the size of a large fist, covered with green or purple scales, you need to be careful: they say its seeds are poisonous. The pulp is similar to buttercream and is often used in the manufacture of desserts and milk shakes. Durian, jackfruit, lychee, rambutan, dragon fruit, typical of South and Southeast Asia, are very common in Goa. The first one is the most specific, eating its cloves, which look like a huge yellowish garlic, should be under the strict supervision of the locals, for example, in restaurants or cafes, and preferably frozen. Because durian has a divine taste and a terrible smell. Lychee and rambutan are often confused – both are sweet and sour, red on the outside, white inside, only rambutan is more “hairy”, like a short-haired sea urchin. But the dragon fruit cannot be confused with anything: its peel resembles a frozen pink flame, and the pulp is white with many black seeds, rather sweet. Large, green and spiky jackfruit tastes vaguely similar to pineapple. It is better not to take it whole – it is difficult to clean. Guava oliverlaumann In purely fruit and food markets, in supermarkets and smaller stores, directly from the baskets of the indigenous population, it is safe to buy fruit everywhere. In specialized markets, the choice will, of course, be the largest, and the fruits sold by some Indian may be the most delicious. Signs of the “right” fruit are an even color, a clean aroma, and no rot. The rules for eating fruits in India are standard for South Asia: wash with bottled water, and ideally, scald with boiling water, and, if possible, cut it yourself. Fruit slices are best taken in restaurants or large supermarkets. 
Chika
Durian, lychee, rambutan, dragon fruit
Where to buy and how much
Prices in the market and in the supermarket will differ by 15-30 INR (more expensive in stores) and depend on the season. Bananas and coconuts are on the shelves all year round, from November to February – the season of grapes, oranges and strawberries, from March to June – mango, papaya and sweet lime. From June to December, jackfruit is in abundance, from September to February, sugar apple. We are waiting for chika and lychee in May-July, pineapples – in July-September.
Passion fruit will cost an average of 20 INR/piece, watermelons and papaya – 30-50 INR per 1 kg, coconut – 25-35 INR per 1 piece, pineapples – 40 INR per 1 kg, bananas – 50 INR 1 bunch, chicas – INR 60 per 1 kg, oranges and grapes – INR 100 per 1 kg, regular and sugar apples, figs – INR 120 per 1 kg, dragon fruit – INR 150 per 1 kg. Mango, depending on the variety, size and season, will cost from 100 to 220 INR per 1 kg.
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