If you have ever been to Thailand, you have probably seen, heard, or eaten a variety of wacky things. Hopefully fruit was one of them. If you haven't tried any Thai fruits, you are simply missing out. Thailand has some of the best tropical fruits in the world…seriously, this is not debatable. They are cheap, delicioious, and fun to eat. 

The only place you can find these fruits is at a local market (here's my guide to navigating a Thai market). Markets can be a bit intimidating at first glance. Meat and fish lay out on tables, which leads to certain smells… You might see people throwing large objects, frying up some tasty crickets, or talking quickly in Thai. Don’t be scared - you will survive. 

Step one: Pull out your camera, markets are full of interesting photo opps.
Step two: So you see a vendor with a bunch of good looking food. Say “awat Dee Ka (hello)
Step three: Point and say tao-rai (how much). Most vendors will not display their prices, unless tourists frequent the area. While knowing numbers in Thai is convenient, fingers and phone calculators work just as well.

What fruit should you pick? Ah, I’ve got you covered. Before you head out into the marketplace, read on. 

The Best 9 Exotic Fruits to try at the Thai Market

Rambutan 

This one is easy to spot for its hairy pink shell. When you peel off the shell, there is a white sweet fruit inside. The taste is similar to a grape.

Lychee 

Lychee is my favorite of the Thai fruits. It is pink, and when peeled looks similar to the rambutan, but without a large seed. It is super sweet and sometimes sour. Lychees are found in lots of drinks across Asia. Delicious!

Dragonfruit 

Not only is this one delicious, but it's also a super fruit! It helps decrease bad cholesterol levels, and has lots of fiber and tons of good antioxidants. It even helps reduce signs of aging! The outside is spiky and pink. The inside is white with black seeds. It tastes very similar to a kiwi, but with a more subtle flavour. 

Passionfruit 

On the outside, the passionfruit looks rather ugly. Inside, however, there is a delicious and sour, orange fruit. It has a texture similar to a pomegranate and is amazing in juices and smoothies. 

Longan

The longan has a light brown sticky skin and a big black seed in the middle. The fruit on the inside looks similar to the lychee. The longan is also known as the dragon eye fruit. The flavour is like a rambutan or lychee, but with a more distinctive, sour taste. 

Rose apple

The rose apple has a mild sweet flavor. It looks similar to a red apple but has the texture of a watermelon. Very good, once you get over the initial “this is not an apple” thought. 

Durian

This one you will not like on your first try. The spiky fruit has a very distinct smell that some people describe as rotting garbage. They are also the most expensive Thai fruit. In my experience, the durian tasted similar to a fermented banana… but the locals swear by it, so it’s worth a try. 

Mangosteen

Not to be confused with a mango. Mangostreen has a thick purple skin that you break open to discover a fleshy white fruit inside. The fruit is sweet and delicious. It tastes a lot like a combination of peach, strawberry, pineapple, and vanilla. Sounds good, right?

Mango

Maybe these aren't all that wacky, but they are definitely delicious. The locals eat them in a variety of ways, including ripe mango with sticky rice and coconut milk (my favorite), or half ripened with sugar, salt, and chili. 

What is your favorite fruit in Thailand?

Izabel Antle is a member of the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program. She's traveling the world with her family - follow her adventures at https://wheremycarryontakesme.wordpress.com/