Most Delicious Fruits in the Philippines

There are many things to love about the Philippines. This archipelago in Southeast Asia is home to some
of the best beaches and most beautiful islands in the world. It’s also home to an amazing array of
tropical fruits, some of which you’ve probably never heard of let alone tried.

In my opinion, the Philippines and Thailand are home to the best fruits in Southeast Asia. If you have a
taste for tropical fruit and want to try as many exotic varieties as you can, then keep reading to learn
about 30 delicious fruits in the Philippines that you absolutely must try.

1. What fruits and vegetables are native to the Philippines?

I can dedicate an entire section of this blog to the native produce in the Philippines but some of the most
commonly eaten fruits include mangoes, coconuts, bananas, plantains, papaya, pineapples, and
watermelon. Calamondin is often used as a seasoning while tamarind is a key souring agent in popular
Filipino dishes like sinigang.

If you have Filipino friends, then you’ll know we aren’t the most health-conscious people in the world
but some of the most commonly used vegetables in Filipino cuisine include chayote, taro, moringa,
water spinach, sweet potato, bitter gourd, eggplant, long beans, and squash.

2. What is the most popular fruit in the Philippines?

This is subjective but I think most Filipinos would say mango. It’s the national fruit of the Philippines and
something we Filipinos are very proud of. Other countries may think otherwise but we don’t care –
Philippine mangoes are simply the best in the world!

Other Filipino fruits that have cultural significance include coconuts, calamondin, and pineapple. Like
mangoes, coconuts are a cultural symbol of the Philippines while calamondin is one of the most
commonly used fruits in Filipino cuisine. It’s often used to add a punch of acidity to dishes.

Pineapples are important to Filipino culture because the leaves of the pineapple plant have traditionally
been woven into a fiber called piña, which is then used to create our national dress – the barong tagalog.

3. What is the sweetest fruit in the Philippines?

Again, this is subjective but I’d have to say mangoes, especially Guimaras mangoes. In my opinion,
Guimaras mangoes are the sweetest, most delicious mangoes in the world.

MUST-TRY FRUITS IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. Mango (National Fruit)

If you’re a tropical fruit lover, then you’ll find all these fruits to be delicious. But there’s one fruit in the
Philippines that rules them all – the mango. Known for its nectary sweet flavor, this golden oval-shaped
fruit is something we Filipinos are abundantly proud of. Personally, it’s my favorite fruit.

There are several varieties of mangoes in the Philippines like pico and Indian but the most popular by far
is the carabao mango. Also known as the Manila or champagne mango, this irresistibly delicious tropical
fruit was included in the 1995 Guinness Book of World Records for being the sweetest mango in the
world.

There are 14 recognized strains of carabao mangoes in the Philippines but the most famous are the
tablan and fresco mangoes of Guimaras and the Sweet Elena mangoes of Zambales. These mangoes are
so prized that they even have their own festival that’s celebrated every year.

Scientific name: Mangifera indica L.

Filipino name: Mangga

Mango season in the Philippines: March to June