Ask our Maui hotel guests which fruits Hawaii is known for and there is a good chance that they’ll mention pineapples, mangoes, bananas, papayas and coconuts. Although they are certainly found on offer here year round, they are not the only fruits Ka’anapali Beach goers may enjoy during their stay. For proof, here’s a snapshot of several others to look for at our island’s outdoor markets:
1. Mamey Sapote
One of the fruits that you’ll find a lot during the fall months is the mamey sapote. It grows on trees that are part of the Sapotaceae Family. The fruit can grow up to 10-inches long and sports a coarse, brown exterior. The inside of the fruit, however, is a pretty pink that looks lovely when it’s fully ripe. The flesh is sweet, creamy and supple with hints of pumpkin flavoring. So you may want to incorporate it into a pie.
2. Buddha’s Hand
Buddha’s Hands Fruit also grows on trees in Hawaii. Categorized as part of the Rutaceae Family, they are considered to be an aromatic citrus fruit with a lemony taste. They are typically yellow and actually look like hands with fingers. Many Hawaiians like to use the fruit’s peels to make candies, flavored salts, aromatic oils, bitters, syrups and scented sugars. There are also those that will toss them into a vinaigrette salad dressing or directly into a garden salad.
3. Soursop
If you’d like to try an unusual looking fruit that actually tastes a bit like fruit salad and coconuts, grab some soursop. They grow on custard trees, which are part of the Annonaceae Family. The fruit’s shape resembles that of a lima bean, oval or heart. It has bright green, textured skin that has thorns all over it. Once it’s cut open, you’ll find bright white flesh and jet black seeds. The flesh is commonly used to make smoothies, juice drinks, custards, ice creams, syrups and carbonated fruit sodas.
4. Bael Fruit
We’d also suggest giving bael fruits a try. They grow on trees too and are also members of the Rutaceae Family. The green-yellow fruit frequently has an oblong or oval shape and the skin is very hard, albeit thin. So breaking into it isn’t that difficult if you have a sharp knife on hand. The aromatic flesh normally tastes like sweet oranges. Thus, many people use them to make various spreads for breads (e.g. jam, jelly, compound butter and marmalade).
5. Jack Fruit
Last on our list is the versatile jack fruit. Found hanging from trees, it’s an oblong, green fruit that is part of the Moraceae Family. They come in different varieties, so the texture and color of the flesh are not always the same. But for the most part, the flavors are similar. They tend to taste like a sweet mixture of mangoes, apples, bananas and pineapples. That said, a lot of islanders use jack fruit to make desserts, sauces, fillings, salads and rice dishes.
To discover more about these fruits and sample some while staying in our Maui hotels, please contact us. All of our Ka’anapali Beach front rooms come complete with dining areas and fully equipped kitchens where you can prepare your market finds as desired. Plus, our staff may be willing to share a personal recipe or two.