Learn about all the fruits that start with a, including avocado, ambarella, apricot, and ackee.
1. Apple
A popular fruit in the U.S., the apple is a round fruit that grows on trees. It grows on trees and ripen between late summer and fall. Depending on the variety, apples range in tartness, sweetness, size, and color. Some are best eaten raw, while others are better for baking.
Apples are great sources of fiber. They’re also packed with vitamin C, a nutrient needed for healthy immunity and wound healing.
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2. Acai
Acai, sometimes written as açaÃ, is a purple-red berry that grows on palm trees in South America. It’s extremely perishable, so it’s usually sold dried or as frozen puree in stores. The flavor of acai is earthy and somewhat bitter. It has notes of red wine, dark chocolate, and blackberries.
Often called a superfood, acai is packed with antioxidants. These are compounds that protect your cells and DNA from damage.
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3. African Mango
The African mango goes by several names, including wild mango and bush mango. It’s technically different from common mangos that are typically sold in the U.S. However, the African mango looks like a common mango, as it has a large seed and green-yellow skin.
In Africa, the fruit is used to make sweet recipes like juice, jam, and jelly. The pulp is used to make dye as well.
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4. Apricot
Apricots, or Armenian plums, are yellow-orange stone fruits with a large pit. They grow on trees and are related to cherries, plums, and peaches. Naturally sweet and juicy, apricots are often made into jams, jellies, and preserves. You can also find them dried.
The fruit is high in vitamin A, an essential nutrient for immunity and good eye health. It contains fiber, vitamin C, and potassium too.
5. Abiu
Native to the Amazon, the abiu is a tropical fruit with a jelly-like flesh. It tastes like caramel custard. As the fruit ripens, it turns from green to yellow. Eating abiu will increase your intake of vitamin C, vitamin A, and calcium.
6. Amanatsu Orange
The Amanatsu orange is from Japan. It’s thought to be a hybrid between the pomelo and sour orange. Because of this, Amanatsu oranges have a very sour flavor. The juice and zest is often used in Japanese cooking, but it can be eaten raw too.
Like other types of oranges, Amanatsu oranges are high in vitamin C, an essential nutrient that supports immunity.
7. Ambrosia Melon
The Ambrosia melon might look like a cantaloupe, but it’s a different fruit. It’s said to taste like a mixture of all types of melons.
Juicy and sweet, Ambrosia melons have a light orange color. They ripen during the summer and fall seasons.
8. Alpine Strawberry
Alpine strawberries are also known as wild strawberries, woodland strawberries, and and European strawberries. The flavor is very sweet with notes of vanilla. They’re also smaller than common strawberries and have a more narrow oval shape.
Strawberries, including the Alpine variety, are nutritious fruits. High in fiber, vitamin C, and folate, they’re a great addition to your diet.
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9. Asian Pear
Asian pears look like apples with a yellow-brown peel. Their flesh is also high in water, so they’re usually eaten raw instead of cooked and baked.
The fruit is native to China and goes by other names, including Persian pear, Japanese pear, Chinese pear, and apple pear.
10. Arava Melon
Arava melons look like cantaloupes with light green flesh. It has a musky smell and sweet tropical flavor.
Native to Israel, Arava melons are best eaten fresh. They’re a good source of vitamin C, an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound.
11. Ambarella
Ambarella is also called June plum or golden apple. It grows on a topical tree native to Melanesia and Polynesia.
The flesh is golden, crunchy, and sweet-tart. Nutritionally, it provides nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin C.
Due to the sweet and tart notes, ambarella works well in both sweet and savory recipes. It can be made into jam too.
12. Akebi
A purple Japanese fruit, akebi grows on a vine. It’s shaped like a sausage and has a sweet white pulp, which is said to be like dragon fruit.
In Japan, akebi is usually enjoyed as a delicacy. The fruit is very high in vitamin C, which helps your immune cells fight bad germs.
13. Avocado
You might be surprised to learn avocado is a fruit! Also known as alligator pears, avocados have a creamy green flesh and mild flavor.
Avocados are likely native to Mexico or Central America. They’re a staple in many cuisines around the world.
The fruit is an excellent source of fiber, vitamin E, folate, and magnesium. It’s also rich in omega-3 fats, which promote good heart health.
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14. Annona
Annona is a tropical fruit that comes from South America. Depending on the area, it’s also called a sugar apple, custard apple, and bullock’s heart. As the name custard apple suggests, the fruit has a custard-like flavor. The texture is also creamy and white.
Nutrients found in annona include vitamin C, folate, and potassium, a mineral needed for healthy blood pressure.
15. Ambrosia Apple
The Ambrosia apple is from British Columbia, Canada. It has a shiny red-orange peel and crisp, sweet flavor.
Apples like the Ambrosia are good sources of fiber. They also provide potassium, vitamin C, and many antioxidants.
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16. Asam Kumbang
Juicy, sweet, and sour, Asam Kumbang is a type of wild mango. It has a purple-black peel and bright yellow-orange flesh.
Native to Asia, the fruit is rare and only found in the wild or in backyards. It’s not grown by manufacturers and sold in stores.
As with other mangos, Asam Kumbang holds many nutrients, including vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and magnesium.
17. African Breadfruit
The African breadfruit is very big, about the size of a volleyball. It’s native to west and central Africa.
Breadfruit is known by many names, depending on the region. Examples include wild jackfruit, African boxwood, and ukwa.
If you can get your hands on breadfruit, it will add fiber, magnesium, and even protein to your diet.
18. Acerola Cherries
Acerola cherries aren’t true cherries. They’re berries that look like cherries found in the U.S.
The fruit goes by other names like Guarani cherry, West Indian cherry, and Barbados cherry. It’s native to several countries, including Paraguay, Brazil, southern Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
With a tart-sweet flavor, acerola cherries are usually enjoyed as a juice, dried, or frozen. They’re very high in vitamin C.
19. Annatto
Annatto is a spiny fruit that’s grown for its seeds. The seeds are used as a bright red-orange food coloring and spice.
It’s also known as achiote, atsuete, and bija. It grows on a tree that’s native to tropical regions of the Americas, like South America.
20. Amaou Strawberry
The Amaou strawberry is a rare type of strawberry that’s big, sweet, and bright red. It’s only grown in the Fukuoka prefecture in Japan.
Because it’s so rare, the Amaou strawberry is very expensive. One pack costs almost $70.
As a type of strawberry, the Amaou is rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and fiber. It also has potassium and folate.
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21. Amla
Native to South Asia, the amla is a tropical fruit. Other names include emblica and Indian gooseberry.
The peel of amla is round, light green, and smooth. It tastes bitter and sour and it can be eaten fresh or cooked.
Important nutrients found in amla include vitamin A, vitamin E, and antioxidants. Amla also includes fiber, a key nutrient for digestion and heart health.
22. Ackee
Ackee is a tropical fruit that grows on trees. It comes from West Africa, where it’s enjoyed in many dishes.
The fruit is also called ackee apple, achee, and akee. It has a creamy texture and somewhat bitter flavor.
High in healthy unsaturated fats, ackee can increase fullness. Other noteworthy nutrients include vitamin C, zinc, fiber, protein, and calcium.
23. African Cherry Orange
The African cherry orange is a fruit from West Africa, where it’s known as omuboro. It grows on trees like other citrus fruits.
This fruit is about the size of a lime, so it’s smaller than oranges in the U.S. The flavor is sweet and it’s high in vitamin C and fiber, like other types of orange.
24. Alupag
Alupag is a fruit related to lychee. It grows on an endangered tree that’s native to the Philippines.
The fruit has a hard, bumpy peel with a brownish color. The inside has a juicy and white semi-transparent flesh and one large seed.
26. Amazon Tree Grape
Dark purple and oval, Amazon tree grapes are also known as uvilla. As the name suggests, it grows on trees native to the Amazon.
The grapes have a wintergreen smell and unlike grapes in the U.S., the peel isn’t edible. However, it can be peeled off before eating.
As with other purple grapes, Amazon tree grapes are high in antioxidant anthocyanins. These are red-purple plant pigments that fight disease.
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27. Andean Blackberry
The Andean blackberry is different from the common blackberry in the U.S. It has a very sour and tangy flavor.
Also known as mora, the Andean blackberry grows in Central and South America. It’s mainly found in the Andes Mountains.
28. Apple Berry
The apple berry, or apple dumpling, is native to Australia. It has an oblong shape and looks like small purple kiwi.
Its flesh is white and high in immune-boosting vitamin C and bone-building calcium. Common uses include jams, jellies, baked goods, and juices.
29. Apple Guava
Apple guavas are also called yellow guavas, lemon guavas, and common guavas. They grow on trees originating from Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
The fruit can be eaten fresh or cooked. It has a sweet, tropical flavor and is full of antioxidants and vitamin C.
30. Atemoya
Known for its bumpy skin and heart shape, the atemoya is native to tropical parts of America. It’s a hybrid of the cherimoya and sugar apple.
The flavor is tart and sweet with vanilla notes. However, the seeds are toxic, so it’s important to avoid them.
31. Ausubo
The ausubo tree is a tropical plant that’s native to Mexico, Brazil, and the Caribbean. It’s mostly grown for its wood, but its fruit is edible too.
Also known as balata or monkey apple, ausubo has a smooth and yellow rind. It has a sweet flavor that’s similar to the canistel fruit.