Welcome to the World of Tropical Fruits!Have you ever tasted a fruit that grows in the jungle or on a sunny island? In this lesson, we will discover some amazing tropical fruits from Southeast Asia. Each fruit is different in color, shape, and taste, some are sweet, some are sour, and some may surprise you! Get ready to learn fun facts, explore new flavors, and try a creative activity at the end. Let's go on a fruity adventure!Pitaya, Dragon Fruit (in Vietnamese: Thanh long)Pink fruit with white or red inside. Grows on cactus. Very sweet!Mango (in Vietnamese: Xoài)Mango is a juicy, sweet tropical fruit that grows mostly in warm countries like Vietnam and Thailand. It has yellow or orange flesh. Mangosteen (in Vietnamese: Măng cụt).Mangosteen is a small, round tropical fruit with a thick purple skin and soft, white inside segments. Rambutan (in Vietnamese: Chôm Chôm)Rambutan is a tropical fruit with a hairy red or yellow shell and soft, juicy flesh inside. It tastes sweet and slightly creamy, and it looks a bit like a hairy lychee!Durian (in Vietnamese: Sầu riêng).Durian is a large tropical fruit known for its strong smell and spiky shell. Inside, it has soft, creamy flesh that people either love or dislike, and it's often called the 'King of Fruits' in Southeast Asia.Longan (in vietnamese; Nhãn).Longan is a small round tropical fruit with thin brown skin and translucent, juicy flesh. It tastes sweet and mild, and is often called the "dragon's eye" because of its appearance when cut open.Guava (in Vietnamese: Ổi)Guava is a round or oval tropical fruit with green or yellow skin and pink or white flesh. It has a sweet and slightly tangy flavor and is rich in vitamin C.Papaya (in Vietnamese: Đu đủ)Papaya is a soft tropical fruit with orange flesh and black seeds in the center. It has a sweet, mellow taste and is great for digestion. Jackfruit (in Vietnamese: Mít)Jackfruit is a huge tropical fruit with a bumpy green skin and sweet yellow pods inside. It can be eaten ripe as a fruit or cooked unripe as a meat substitute in savory dishes. Cashew nut (in Vietnamese: Quả điều)Cashew fruit is a tropical fruit with a juicy, pear-shaped body in bright yellow or red. The nut grows outside the fruit, but the soft, sweet-tart flesh is also edible and full of vitamin C.Lychee (in Vietnamese: Vải)Lychee is a small tropical fruit with a rough red skin and juicy, translucent white flesh inside. It tastes sweet and floral, and is often eaten fresh or used in desserts and drinks. Fun facts about tropical fruits: 1. Dragon fruit is Vietnam’s national fruit, even though it originally came from Central and South America.2. Mangoes are one of the oldest cultivated fruits in the world, over 4,000 years old! In India, the mango is considered a symbol of love and friendship. It is the national fruit of Philipines.3. The name "longan" means "dragon’s eye" in Chinese because of the white flesh and black seed inside.4. Durian is called the “king of fruits” but is banned on airplanes and hotels in some countries because it smells so strong! It is the national fruit of Malaysia.5. Guava has more vitamin C than oranges, one fruit can have over 200% of your daily need!6. The black seeds of papaya are edible and have a peppery taste, some people use them as a spice!Read more about fruits in Southeast Asia here.
