Sri Lanka, being a tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean, has plenty of fruits to offer your curious tastebuds. No matter what time of the year it is, this little island has many fruits that will catch your attention in the local markets.
On the plus side, these fruits are cheap, but the quality is top-tier, making it a win-win situation for everyone!
Some fruits here grow all year around, while some grow in specific seasons. There are rare fruits hidden in the country, too, and I'm going to reveal all the delicacies you should try while you are here in this tropical bliss.
Fruits you can find all year round in Sri Lanka.
Go crazy on the bananas!
Bananas are literally everywhere in Sri Lanka! Don’t believe me? Just step into a local grocery store or a supermarket, and you will easily spot different types of bananas in no time. You can try various varieties of bananas, such as,
Ambul banana - A small yellow banana with a hint of tanginess.
Kolikuttu banana - Long, sweet, yellow bananas.
Seeni banana - A tiny banana with a rush of sucrose.
Anamalu banana - Long green bananas with a lot of starch.
Red banana - A long red banana that is sweet and starchy.
Thambili Island
Thambli, AKA king coconut, is a specialty here in Sri Lanka. King coconut is the ideal thirst killer for a country with eternal summer days under the harsh sun. King coconut, as the name suggests, is a type of coconut with an orange outer shell.
The water of the king coconuts is more pleasing when compared to normal coconut water. This divine water is considered a delicacy in Sri Lanka. You can find king coconuts all year round.
Fancy a papaya?
Papayas are also as common as bananas here. If you haven’t tried papaya already, they are sweet, creamy, and juicy, which is ideal for the hot Sri Lankan weather. You can find papayas easily from fruit markets in Sri Lanka. This juicy fruit is great for breakfast or deliciously blended juice on a hot day.
Pineapple heaven
What screams “Tropical” more than a pineapple!? With thick thorny orange-brown skin, pineapples grow in countries like India and Sri Lanka. The fleshy edible parts of pineapples are yellow and juicy.
These fruits are sweet and tarty, and sometimes a tad bit acidic too! People enjoy pineapples just as they are or in a dessert/ salad. In Sri Lanka, you can find pineapples all year round; however, you will see more of them in May, June, and July.
Mangos in town
Mangos are undoubtedly a heavenly treat you should not miss out on if you are in Sri Lanka. If you haven’t tried mangos already, they are sweet and sometimes acidic, with tender notes of peaches and apricots. This little dot of an island has to offer a wide variety of mangos for you to try on.
Karthakolomban - Karthakolomban is probably the most popular mango in Sri Lanka. This mango variety is fleshy, juicy, and divinely sweet.
Kohu Amba - Kohu Amba is fibrous, with a perfect blend of sweet and sour.
Gira Amba - This type of mango looks like a parrot's beak, hence the name Gira. (Parrot) The taste of Gira Amba is similar to that of Karthakolomban, with a pungent floral aroma.
Rata Amba - Rata Amba is comparatively small and looks red on the outside. This fruit tastes sweet and sour.
Petti Amba - Petti Amba is slightly more creamy and relatively smaller in size.
Even though these mango varieties have their own seasons, you can at least find one type of mango throughout the year in the Sri Lankan market.
Seasonal fruits in Sri Lanka
Jackfruit for your soul!
Jackfruit is the epitome of tropical fruits. With a thick thorny shell, you can only find this seasonal fruit from March to June in Ceylon. You can identify these fruits from a mile away since they carry a sugary-fruity fragrance.
The yellow edible flesh of the jackfruit is ultra sweet, with slight notes of all the tropical fruits combined. The riper the jackfruit gets, the mellower it becomes. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya because jackfruits are highly addictive!
Lychee Land
Lychee, also known as Rambutan (A variety of Lychee) in Ceylon, is a peculiar-looking red fruit with many spikes on the outer shell. Don’t let that fool you because when you peel off the shell, you are definitely in for a heavenly treat.
The glazey, off-white flesh of the fruit is sweet with a slight hint of citrus. Lychees, AKA Rambutan, are a seasonal fruit here, and you will definitely see a sea of Rambutan from May to August.
Wood apples for wanderers
Don’t let the name fool you; it’s not another type of apple. Wood apples are the size of a baseball and have a tough outer shell. Cracking one open could be tricky for a newbie, but one or two smashes against a hard surface will do the job for you.
Ripe wood apples are sticky, sweet, and sour, while unripened wood apples are just plain tarty. Wood apple is a seasonal fruit in Sri Lanka, and you can usually find these in the markets from August to October. These fruits are a delicacy that you can only find in tropical countries like Sri Lanka and India.
Evergreen Mangosteen
Mangosteen (My personal favorite) is a tropical evergreen fruit that only grows on islands surrounding the Indian Ocean. With a dark purple exterior, the edible flesh of mangosteen is white.
These fruits are extra delicate and sweet and usually resemble the texture of a grape. Mangosteen has a floral taste combined with a bitter aftertaste. From May to September, you can find this unique seasonal fruit in Sri Lankan markets.
Tangy Tamarind
Tamarind has a sweet-sour combo in its brown edible pulp. Ripe tamarinds are brown inside, while unripe fruits are green in color. Unripe tamarinds are completely sour and have a tarty flavor. You can find these in the local markets from April to August.
Rare Fruits in Sri Lanka
Now, let us guide you through some of the rare fruits you can find in Sri Lanka. These fruits are seasonal delicacies, and you can find these only in some regions of the country. This collection of rare fruits is lesser known, but they deserve a bit of popularity.
Governor’s Plum
Governor’s Pulm, AKA Ugurassa, is a small plum/berry-shaped fruit you can find in local markets from June to September. These fruits are not as popular as other seasonal fruits in the country; however, with a bit of digging, you can find them.
This sweet purple fruit is terrific as a little snack on the go. These plums will leave your teeth looking all yellow due to their basic nature, so be sure to brush your teeth afterward.
Pebble Tamarind
Pebble Tamarind, also known as Gal Siyambala in Sri Lanka, is a seasonal fruit that you can find from August to November. These fruits look like tiny pebbles with dark velvety outer shells.
Pebble Tamarinds have a brownish pulp similar to tamarind and taste like a milder version of regular Tamarind. You can find Gal Siyambala in local markets when the season arrives.
Ceylon Olive
These little fruits taste like what the name suggests. With notes of tart and tanginess, these little Ceylon olives are locally known as Veralu.
Locals use this fruit as a snack or as an ingredient for various chutneys. The season for Veralu is from August to November, and these fruits are more prevalent in the northwestern and North-central provinces.
Langsat (Gadukuda)
Langsat, locally known as Gadukuda, is a seasonal fruit you can find in the month of April. The fruit reveals translucent edible flesh when you peel the thin brown skin.
This delicate flesh is both juicy and sweet, with slight citrus hits. You can find these in the market when the festive season month of April arrives in Sri Lanka.
Ceylon Oak (Kon)
With a thorny tough shell, Ceylon Oaks have a thin layer of sweet and tangy flesh inside. These fruits are commonly known as Kon in Sri Lanka, and you can find these from May to August.
Kon usually grows in the northwestern and North-central provinces of Sri Lanka, so try your luck in these areas when looking for this fruit.
Bottomline
Undoubtedly, this gem of an island hides many delicacies within the country. Sri Lanka has a variety of fruits to offer, with some being the stereotypical tropical items and others being rare pebbles. Whichever fruit you try in Sri Lanka, I assure you it will be worth your money.
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