Depending on the season, some tropical fruits, such as mango, kiwifruit and papaya are easily found at the supermarket. But, what about odd-looking, lesser-known fruits such as dragon fruit, kiwano melon, rambutan and pomelo? Sometimes locating those fruits require a trip to an Asian market. And, the more exotic the fruit, the more you’ll likely pay. Although expensive (seven dollars for one dragon fruit and six dollars for the kiwano melon), I was intrigued enough by the novelty of the fruit to lay down the cash and head home for a chance to samaple the flavors and textures of foods I hadn’t eaten before. Depending on your budget and sense of adventure, new taste experiences can be hard to come by, but tropical fruits are relatively easy to explore and, in the scheme of things, affordable. So, here’s the lowdown and a guide to some of the tropical fruits you might encounter. When shopping for tropical fruit, keep in mind that if your chosen fruit requires further ripening, it should be done at room temperature. Only fully ripened fruit should be refrigerated – and for as brief a time as possible. In terms of color, drama and sheer effect, the beauty of these fruits are not just skin. They are also remarkably good for you.

Sue Ade is a syndicated food writer with broad experience and interest in the culinary arts. She has worked and resided in the Lowcountry of South Carolina since 1985 and may be reached at kitchenade@yahoo.com.