New-to-Me Fruit
September 3, 2020 11:34 AM Subscribe
For Rosh Hashana we have the tradition of eating a new fruit. Technically that just means something we haven't had all year, but we like to go farther afield. What are the most unusual fresh fruits that will be available within the next few weeks?
Some parameters - we're in NYC (Manhattan) and have access to a car. We have an H-mart nearby, and I'm open to getting something shipped.
Difficulty - We have already had (some of them even this year): rambutans, longans, star fruit, dragonfruit, golden berries, sabras, jackfruit, gooseberries and citrons, and we're not willing to do durian. I would love to try mangosteens, but we can't seem to get ripe ones this late in the year.
Thoughts?
Some parameters - we're in NYC (Manhattan) and have access to a car. We have an H-mart nearby, and I'm open to getting something shipped.
Difficulty - We have already had (some of them even this year): rambutans, longans, star fruit, dragonfruit, golden berries, sabras, jackfruit, gooseberries and citrons, and we're not willing to do durian. I would love to try mangosteens, but we can't seem to get ripe ones this late in the year.
Thoughts?
Fresh, not canned, lychees. Reconsider Durian, especially if you can get it pre-cut.
posted by Atrahasis at 11:43 AM on September 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Atrahasis at 11:43 AM on September 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
Might mulberries be possible?
posted by biffa at 11:44 AM on September 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by biffa at 11:44 AM on September 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
You might find loquats, or their more ubiquitous non-relative, despite the similar name, kumquats.
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:50 AM on September 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:50 AM on September 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
Finger Limes. They're like citrus caviar.
Also Passionfruit (from the same place above) if you haven't had it already. Cut it in half sprinkle it with little sugar & scoop it out with a spoon.
How about those grapes that taste like Candy Floss. I've seen them around recently so assume they're in season right now.
posted by wwax at 11:52 AM on September 3, 2020 [4 favorites]
Also Passionfruit (from the same place above) if you haven't had it already. Cut it in half sprinkle it with little sugar & scoop it out with a spoon.
How about those grapes that taste like Candy Floss. I've seen them around recently so assume they're in season right now.
posted by wwax at 11:52 AM on September 3, 2020 [4 favorites]
I found horned melons at my wegmans.
posted by inevitability at 11:53 AM on September 3, 2020
posted by inevitability at 11:53 AM on September 3, 2020
American persimmons may be available. You might need to do a little work to hasten ripening, depending on whether there’s been a frost yet where they were grown.
There are some very early varieties of Asian persimmon that may just be available in mid-September, but the more common Fuyu and Hachiya ripen later in the fall.
September is also jujube season.
posted by jedicus at 11:55 AM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
There are some very early varieties of Asian persimmon that may just be available in mid-September, but the more common Fuyu and Hachiya ripen later in the fall.
September is also jujube season.
posted by jedicus at 11:55 AM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
I think it's past the season for mulberries.
In NY State, this month is on the cusp of stone-fruit-fading-into-apples-and-pears; I know that doesn't sound exotic, but it may be worth hitting up a farmers' market and finding a variety you haven't heard of before.
Concord Grapes are another local option. They're a little fiddly to eat out of hand, but super intensely grape-y. If cooking with them is an option, they make a great rustic cake - do a Google search for "winemaker's grape cake" and you'll find a ton of recipes, most of which just involve making a basic cake batter and then stirring in a bunch of whole grapes. (Fair warning that concords have seeds, but it's a pain in the hoo-hoo to seed them so most cake recipes just shrug about that and warn you that there may be a little extra crunch when you eat it.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:00 PM on September 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
In NY State, this month is on the cusp of stone-fruit-fading-into-apples-and-pears; I know that doesn't sound exotic, but it may be worth hitting up a farmers' market and finding a variety you haven't heard of before.
Concord Grapes are another local option. They're a little fiddly to eat out of hand, but super intensely grape-y. If cooking with them is an option, they make a great rustic cake - do a Google search for "winemaker's grape cake" and you'll find a ton of recipes, most of which just involve making a basic cake batter and then stirring in a bunch of whole grapes. (Fair warning that concords have seeds, but it's a pain in the hoo-hoo to seed them so most cake recipes just shrug about that and warn you that there may be a little extra crunch when you eat it.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:00 PM on September 3, 2020 [3 favorites]
Keep an eye out for interesting grapes. We sometimes get those black grapes that look like fingers; I'm seeing baby grapes, Thomcord grapes (cross of Thomson and Concord); muscat grapes.
Striped figs are fun, I saw some at Trader Joe's the other day.
If you can find them, flavor grenade pluots are the best.
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:08 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Striped figs are fun, I saw some at Trader Joe's the other day.
If you can find them, flavor grenade pluots are the best.
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:08 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
It's not strange really, but it's new - a cosmic crisp apple
posted by euphoria066 at 12:14 PM on September 3, 2020
posted by euphoria066 at 12:14 PM on September 3, 2020
I saw Melissa's/World Variety Produce was the distributor for Goldenberries I picked up at a Safeway Grocery. Melissa's prices look high but their listing could inspire a feasible quest.
posted by tinker at 12:20 PM on September 3, 2020
posted by tinker at 12:20 PM on September 3, 2020
Husk cherries (ground cherries or cape gooseberries) are in season.
My local Whole Foods has yellow dragon fruit in stock. Far superior to the red varieties.
posted by slateyness at 12:27 PM on September 3, 2020
My local Whole Foods has yellow dragon fruit in stock. Far superior to the red varieties.
posted by slateyness at 12:27 PM on September 3, 2020
Soursop (aka guanabana), cucamelons, currant, kiwiberries (not kiwi), sugar apples (not apples), fresh coconut and coconut water. Not sure about the availability of each.
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 12:43 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 12:43 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Sweet-apple aka custard apple aka sweetsop is freakin delicious though I have never seen it outside of India. But my experience of shopping in specialty stores is limited, and a quick googling just told me Whole Foods stocks it.
And I want to second the suggestion to try persimmons. The American varieties are only about half as good as the Chinese/ Southeast-Asian ones, so make sure you go to an Asian market! It's out of season at the moment but I'll bet there are hothouses in Asia growing it and shipping it still.
posted by MiraK at 2:21 PM on September 3, 2020
And I want to second the suggestion to try persimmons. The American varieties are only about half as good as the Chinese/ Southeast-Asian ones, so make sure you go to an Asian market! It's out of season at the moment but I'll bet there are hothouses in Asia growing it and shipping it still.
posted by MiraK at 2:21 PM on September 3, 2020
Have you ever had ground cherries? They're good. Not sure if you can find them in New York – we get them toward the end of summer in Montreal.
posted by zadcat at 2:22 PM on September 3, 2020
posted by zadcat at 2:22 PM on September 3, 2020
My local farm delivery service here in upstate NY is offering ground cherries this week.
Pawpaws come into season around September-October. I've heard they don't ship well, but I bet you could find them somewhere.
posted by wintersweet at 2:26 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Pawpaws come into season around September-October. I've heard they don't ship well, but I bet you could find them somewhere.
posted by wintersweet at 2:26 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Asian Veggies has jujubes and mangosteen for delivery.
posted by hooray at 2:56 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by hooray at 2:56 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Striped Tiger Figs? They're pretty and delicious and although we're almost at the end of fresh fig season, they may still be available some places.
posted by merriment at 3:00 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by merriment at 3:00 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
I'll second kiwiberries. I buy them whenever I see them in the store, which isn't that often, even though they're good not great, because of the novelty of popping a mini kiwi into your mouth.
Not quite strange and unusual but how about fresh figs? If they're new to you I'd highly recommend them.
Or haskap berries/honeyberries. They're related to blueberries. I haven't had any myself.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 3:01 PM on September 3, 2020
Not quite strange and unusual but how about fresh figs? If they're new to you I'd highly recommend them.
Or haskap berries/honeyberries. They're related to blueberries. I haven't had any myself.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 3:01 PM on September 3, 2020
Cherimoyas, similar to pawpaws and sweetsop.
posted by abeja bicicleta at 3:02 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by abeja bicicleta at 3:02 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Husk Cherries! Norwich Meadows has them at the Union Square Greenmarket.
posted by mollymayhem at 3:19 PM on September 3, 2020
posted by mollymayhem at 3:19 PM on September 3, 2020
>Ahem< "kiwi berries" are kiwis. The fuzzy kiwis that are more familiar are Actinidia deliciosa and the hardy kiwis (often called "kiwi berries" in the grocery store) are Actinidia arguta. My own hardy kiwis are probably ready to harvest, although I think the practice is to harvest them and then give them some weeks to ripen in storage.
If you haven't had golden kiwis (a fuzzy variety), they are like the green Hayward kiwis that are most available, except all of the sour has been replaced by sugar. I don't know where they're being grown, but I seem to see them in the store any time of year.
I think the season for haskap/honeyberries was back around July 4.
There's nothing better than figs and the many varieties thereof, but they pretty much have to been eaten off the tree. I'd think a farmer's market would be a much better place to buy them than a grocery store.
We were able to find a Piel de Sapo melon at the store a couple weeks ago. As I recall, there's about a 3-week window every year when I find them. In recent years they seem to be rebranding them as "Santa Claus".
posted by polecat at 4:43 PM on September 3, 2020
If you haven't had golden kiwis (a fuzzy variety), they are like the green Hayward kiwis that are most available, except all of the sour has been replaced by sugar. I don't know where they're being grown, but I seem to see them in the store any time of year.
I think the season for haskap/honeyberries was back around July 4.
There's nothing better than figs and the many varieties thereof, but they pretty much have to been eaten off the tree. I'd think a farmer's market would be a much better place to buy them than a grocery store.
We were able to find a Piel de Sapo melon at the store a couple weeks ago. As I recall, there's about a 3-week window every year when I find them. In recent years they seem to be rebranding them as "Santa Claus".
posted by polecat at 4:43 PM on September 3, 2020
Cactus fruit is ripening now.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 4:43 PM on September 3, 2020
posted by WalkerWestridge at 4:43 PM on September 3, 2020
Probably too early for the Californian feijoas (maybe sold as "Pineapple Guava") to be available as I think they're picked in October, but keep an eye out for outliers. Cut them in half, eat soft middle with a teaspoon.
posted by slightlybewildered at 9:58 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by slightlybewildered at 9:58 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Kumquat? Physalis? Figs? Pomegranates? Pomelo? Yuzu? Quince (you’ll need to cook that one).
posted by tinkletown at 11:29 PM on September 3, 2020
posted by tinkletown at 11:29 PM on September 3, 2020
Would you really eat a yuzu though and not just use it for flavouring? I did that once after reading about yuzu for the first time and it was pretty much just eating a lemon.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 10:41 AM on September 4, 2020
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 10:41 AM on September 4, 2020
Does foraging interest you? I don't know your bioregion well, but elderberries, beach plums, black huckleberries, and rose hips come to mind.
(To be honest, I'd only recommend this approach if it holds significance to you or sparks curiosity; most foraged foods are going to be underwhelming compared to cultivated fruit, but I like learning about what's growing around me!)
posted by aws17576 at 10:12 PM on September 4, 2020
(To be honest, I'd only recommend this approach if it holds significance to you or sparks curiosity; most foraged foods are going to be underwhelming compared to cultivated fruit, but I like learning about what's growing around me!)
posted by aws17576 at 10:12 PM on September 4, 2020
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posted by bbqturtle at 11:41 AM on September 3, 2020