Fruit that starts with I

These aren’t your typical figs. Indian fig fruit is actually the fruit of a cactus that grows mostly in India.

This gives Indian fig fruit its classic thorny outer skin that will prick you if you’re not careful. It's so prickly many refer to it as a prickly pear or cactus pear.

The inside of the fruit has a similar texture to dragon fruit or kiwi fruit. Many enjoy Indian fig fruit raw, because it is beautifully sweet and juicy. Some locals also use it to make alcoholic beverages.

Its peak season is in the early months of summer, so they’re a wonderful snack for the hot heat.

Indian jujube fruit is not the same as the dark red jujube, commonly found in China. They are actually more like small apples, and can be green or red. Biting into an Indian jujube will give you a blast of sugary flavor.

These sweet fruits that start with I have a soft texture that is often used to make candy. Kids love Indian jujube candy, so when they’re in peak season during the spring, it’s candy making time!

Though they can be eaten raw for those that don't like candy. It's said that eating these fruits starting with I help alleviate stress.

Just like its name, the ice cream bean fruit tastes just like vanilla ice cream. Grown in South America, these tropical fruits look just like green beans from the outside. But, you will find a row of black seeds inside that are covered in a white flesh.

The flesh of the ice cream bean is sweet and has a fluffy texture. The white pulp is mostly eaten raw, but the seeds can be cooked and used in other dishes.

Luckily, the yummy ice cream bean fruit grows all year, so there’s no need to wait for a peak season. This is probably one of the best fruits that start with I on the list, because it's sweet and has many health benefits.

The Indian sherbet berry looks like a cross between an overfed blueberry and a giant cranberry, but their flavor is much different. These berries have a sweet taste with a hint of sour, but they’re not as acidic as other fruits in the berry family.

Many in India enjoy eating the Indian sherbet berry raw with a bit of sugar or in juice form. The berries grow during the summer, making it an awesome refreshing snack for the hot weather.

Indian sherbet berries have a crunchy texture like an apple, and have a seed in the middle so don’t expect the typical squishy berry texture with these fruits that start with I.

Yes, Indian almonds are considered fruit! That is because the almond inside is not the only part of the fruit that is edible. The pulp has a bit of a sour flavor and a fibrous texture, and the almond inside is very small.

People don't usually eat the Indian almond fruit, but when they do it's enjoyed raw or cooked. The almond fruit grows during the summer season, and are often turned into refreshing jams.

Grown in the summer months, Indian gooseberry is a popular fruit that is also called amla. Most Indian gooseberries are the size of grapes, but they can grow larger.

The smooth green outer skin is thin, and their pulp has a crisp texture. You can eat Indian gooseberries fresh, but they are incredibly sour in taste. Many prefer to turn Indian gooseberries into jams and chutneys to give them a sweeter and more palatable flavor.

Dessert-wise, you can use gooseberries in a crumble and fool.

They have a lot of juice in them naturally, so they are great fruits that start with I to use in cooking. The Indian gooseberry has become a popular health supplement in Western countries, and is still used in many natural medicines.

Also known as Indian plum, Indian prunes are part of the plum family. Despite the name Indian prune, most of these fruits that start with I grow in parts of Canada and California in the winter months.

These prunes have a similar appearance and texture to typical plums, but have some differences.

Indian prunes have an oblong shape and aren’t as round as the plums you see at the grocery store. Plums also have a slightly tart taste, but Indian prunes have a sweet flesh that is closer to a berry. It's mostly eaten raw or dry as a snack.

When looking at an Indian persimmon, you may think it’s an orange tomato! It has a round shape that is similar to a classic tomato. They don’t taste anything like tomatoes though.

Originating in India, Indian persimmon is a delicious fruit with an incredibly sweet flesh and flowery taste. The juicy fruit has a semi-dense flesh, and a smooth orange outer skin that is edible.

These fruits that start with I are grown mostly in the fall, and are enjoyed as a healthy snack, or mixed into drinks. Though they are called Indian Persimmons, the fruit grows in other areas including the United States.

Also known as kaffir lime, Indonesian limes are a citrus fruit grown in tropical regions in southeast Asia.

They have the typical green skin, but these limes have a much bumpier outer skin that's similar to the ugli fruit. That’s pretty much the only difference though. The inside of an Indonesian lime is pretty much the same as the limes we’re all used to.

It has an acidic taste that is used more in cooking than eating (unless you like eating limes raw). These tropical fruits also grow during the summer season.

Unlike Indian prunes, the Indian hog plum doesn’t look or taste like your typical plum. It has a smooth green skin, a big seed in the middle, and an avocado-like flesh inside.

Though the Indian hog plum can be eaten fresh, it’s a difficult fruit to eat due to its large seed. The fruit is much more likely to be cooked into a curry or chutney, which is why it has the nickname “condiment fruit.”

When cooked, this summer fruit takes on a sweet and tangy taste that pairs well with savoury dishes.

Out of all the fruits that start with I, the ilama is probably one of the weirdest. The tropical fruit is often called pink ilama in South America and Central America where the fruit grows.

Like sapote, ilama has scaly skin. But ilama’s dragon-like scales are a deep pink color that really make them stand out. The flesh of the ilama fruit is also bright pink!

But, its beautiful color isn’t what makes pink ilama unique. When they are first ripe, ilama has a sweet taste and a custardy texture. However, as it continues to ripen, its sweet flavor becomes more and more sour.

The harvesting season for illama fruit varies based on location, but most grow from July to December.

Ice apples are another one of the most interesting fruits that start with i. From the outside they look like a cross between coconuts and eggplants. But when you cut them open, you’ll find crystal clear flesh that looks like ice cubes! 

Grown predominantly in India, ice apples are harvested from April to July. People eat the fruit fresh, but also use the ice apple to create sugar. The texture and taste of ice apples are similar to coconut, but with a bit of bitterness.

It's definitely one of the fruits a food enthusiast has to try!

If you haven’t heard of the Indian strawberry, you may know it by its nickname, mock strawberry. The Indian strawberry got its name from the fact that it has little to no flavor.

These berries look and feel a lot like wild strawberries, but Indian strawberries have a much drier texture.

Indian strawberries grow mostly in the New England region during September, but they’re probably not fruits that start with i that you want to try.

Ichigo fruits are a type of strawberry that grows in Japan. The spring fruit is much sweeter and aromatic than western strawberry varieties.

Buying ichigo fruits isn’t exactly cheap, as they take a lot of work to grow. However, the experience of tasting these strawberries is well worth it.

The ichigo fruit can be eaten as is, but it is more commonly used in desserts like ichigo mochi.

Imbe fruit is one of the most delicious African tropical fruits out there. Commonly known as African mangosteen, imbe fruit has a bright orange and a juicy, soft flesh.

The whole fruit is edible, but they’re so juicy that imbe fruit can simply be squeezed into a juice. These fruits that start with i are about the size of a peach, but with a rounder shape.

Imbe grows mostly during the summer and has a nice sweet and tangy taste. It tastes similar to a mango mixed with an orange.

Most varieties of mango grow in India, so it’s not shocking that there is one called Indian mango. These fruits that start with i are known for their greenish-yellow skin, and bright orange flesh.

The flesh of the Indian mango is fibrous in texture and has a tangy taste. Growing from March to August, you can easily find Indian mango in chutneys and salsas throughout India.