Jackfruit (Langka)
Season April to June
Price 5 to 10 pesos per kg
Taste sweet, chewy
Size oval, 2 to 5 kg
Color yellow when ripe
Grows on trees
Mostly sold portioned in small plastic bags. The sticky fruit has to completely ripen on the tree and will not sweeten after chopping.
Kalamansi
Season all year
Price around 15 pesos per 100
Taste sour, more like orange than lemon
Size like grapes
Color green
Grows on small trees
Lanzones
Season August to November
Price about 10 pesos per kg
Taste sweet, underlying pinch of sour
Size as grapes
Color beige
Grows on trees
Sticky skin; overripe fruit turns dark brown and sour like vinegar.
Mango (Mangga)
Season March to May
Price about 10 pesos each
Taste green: like sour apples, yellow (ripe): similar to peaches
Size oval, 200 to 400 g
Color green (unripe), yellow (ripe)
Grows on giant trees
Filipinos have the practice of eating green mangoes with bagoong (shrimp paste) or salt. Overripe fruit is easily recognized by black spots.
Mangostines
Season September, October
Price 20 to 30 pesos per kg
Taste sweet and sour combination
Size as apricot
Color dark violet
Grows on trees
A thick violet skin makes up about two thirds of the weight and is not edible. It is broken open to get to the white flesh in the center. Mangostines are easily af-fected by fruit mold. It is best to buy them dark and small.
Papaya
Season all year
Price 10 to 15 pesos each
Taste fresh, sweet, texture like a squash
Size oval, 1/2 to 3 kg
Color yellow, orange or green
Grows on shrubs
Aid against constipation. When green, the juice is also used as a meat tenderizer.
Pomello (suha)
Season December, January
Price 12 to 25 pesos apiece
Taste similar to grapefruit, less juicy
Size as grapefruits
Color yellow or green
Grows on trees
Best quality comes from Davao; these can cost double the price of those from other places.
Rambutans
Season September, October
Price 15 to 20 pesos per kg
Taste sweet, underlying pinch of sour
Size as plums
Color red
Grows on trees
Rose apple (Macopa)
Season May
Price 10 cent apiece (in The Country side)
Taste slightly sour, flowery
Color bright red
Grows on trees
Can be eaten whole, has virtually no skin.
Santol
Season April to August
Price 50 centavos to 2 pesos each
Taste sweet and milky
Size round, like apples
Color yellow
Grows on trees
Star apple (Caymito)
Season October to December
Price around 10 pesos per kg
Taste sweet and milky
Size round, like apples
Color green and violet
Grows on trees
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