Many plants produce fruit. Some we are familiar with, whilst others we don’t learn a lot about. Whether you’re looking for a new variety of fruits to switch up your diet or you’re simply looking to learn more about what nature has to offer, we’ll share a glossary of some amazing fruits that start with J.
With so many varieties of fruits in the world, isn’t it a shame that we don’t take a second to learn about what’s out there and what different fruits may have to offer?
1. Jambul Fruit
Also known as Jamun, black plum, and java plum, jambul fruit is a delicious summer fruit that is widely cultivated across tropical regions for its distinctive sweet plum taste. Jambul fruit is native to India and can be recognized by its rich deep purple color and grape-like shape.
The jambul fruit comes from the Syzygium cumini tree. The flowering tree is popularly grown for its fruit and flowers which are commonly used for culinary and medicinal purposes. The tree is known to bear fruit during the summer months of May and June.
The Syzygium cumini tree is characterized as a flowering plant that is a part of the myrtle family. Members of the myrtle family include the guava, allspice, and eucalyptus.
2. Jatoba Fruit
The jatoba fruit is most recognized for its distinctive unpleasant odor. Commonly called the ‘stinking toe fruit,’ this fruit has certainly made a name for itself.
The jatoba fruit, also known as locust, is a fruit that comes from the jatoba plant. Scientifically known as Hymenaea courbaril, the jatoba tree is a plant that can be found in the Caribbean, South America, and Central America.
Commonly for culinary purposes, the jatoba fruit stands to be a consumption fruit for indigenous tribes in South America. Despite its unpleasant smell, the fruit have a sweet taste and a unique texture that means it can be a powder for baking.
3. Juniper Berry
Juniper berries come from the juniper tree. The juniper plant originates from Europe but grows around the world.
There’s a common misconception that it is a berry, juniper berries are modification of conifer cones that have a unique flesh that gives them the appearance of a berry.
However, despite their hidden identity, juniper berries stand to be a widely a crop fruit around the world most commonly as a spice for culinary purposes and making beverages as a result of its unique and distinctive taste and scent.
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4. Jujube Fruit
Jujube fruit, also known as red date or jujuba, is a red berry that comes from the Ziziphus jujuba tree which is a part of the buckthorn family. The thorny shrub produces sweet edible fruit of deep red berries that wrinkle when overripe, looking a little like a date.
The jujube is native to southern Asia. The fruit of the Ziziphus jujuba tree contains small seeds similar to an olive pit. They widely produce jujube fruit across southern Asia, America, and Europe for its distinctive sweet and apple-like flavor and chewy date-like texture.
It is sweet, so they dry the fruit and consume it as a healthy candy. It is also for culinary and medicinal purposes.
5. Junglesop Fruit
Its scientific name is Anonidium mannii, the junglesop is a large and thick tree that grows in the tropical areas of Africa. The tree is for producing highly sought-after edible fruit.
The junglesop fruit is widely in produce across Africa as a delicacy. Though it’s said that the fruit has an acquired taste, it is nonetheless in high demand across the continent as it has a rich and unique sweet and sour flavor.
The junglesop tree only starts producing its fruit seasonally after 10 years. The size of the fruit can be anywhere from 5 kg to an astounding 15 kg making it one of the largest fruits in the world.
6. Jostaberry Fruit
The jostaberry fruit is a cross between a variety of berries including the blackcurrant and the European gooseberry. Classified as part of the Ribes family, the jostaberry fruit is related to other berries such as currants and gooseberries.
The edible fruit consists of a unique flavor that is a blend of blackberry and gooseberry. It’s this unique flavor that makes it a popular fruit as it can be eaten raw and not.
It also stands to be a highly nutritious fruit and is commonly for culinary purposes, hence it is widely a crop across the world.
The jostaberry looks like a cross between a blackcurrant and a blueberry. It is native to Germany but one can find it in several regions across Europe, North America, and Australia.
7. Jocote Fruit
The Jocote fruit is a unique fruit that comes from the flowering plant Spondias purpura which grows in tropical climates. The Spondias purpura is a member of the cashew family and is native to the tropical regions of America.
Common name is Jocote, the jocote plant is for producing the jocote fruit or the hog plum. The cultivation of jocote fruit is across Central and Southern America. It stands to be a popular fruit due to its sweet, sour, and citrus plum-like flavor.
The fruit is for culinary and medicinal purposes and is nutrient-rich. Though a popular fruit, the jocote tree is currently under threat due to deforestation.
8. Jackfruit
Jackfruit has long been in use for culinary purposes due to its unique sweet and sour tropical flavor. However, it is now a key meat substitute for making dishes such as vegan pulled pork.
The jackfruit is a unique and particularly hardy fruit. Common in tropical climates, jackfruit grows in several regions including Asia, South America, and Africa.
The fruit consists of a thick coarse rind that contains stringy pulp and is classified as the largest fruit to come from a tree as it can weigh up to 55 kg. Jackfruit comes from the jack tree which is classified as a member of the Moraceae family which includes fruits such as the fig and the mulberry.
9. Jelly Palm Fruit
Jelly palm fruit comes from the Butica palm tree which is native to Brazil. The jelly palm fruit grows in clusters similar to a grape and consists of edible orange-yellow skin. The unique jelly palm fruit is mostly crop for its unique properties.
The fruit contains high levels of pectin which is in use as a natural solidifying agent for making jelly and jam. However, because to its sweet and tropical flavor, it is also eaten fresh.
Jelly palm fruit consists a unique flavor that can one can say is a combination of pineapple, apricot, and banana. Though a popular fruit for eating, the Butica palm it is a preference for ornamental plant across Southern America.
10. Jaboticaba Fruit
Jaboticaba fruit or the Brazilian grape is a fruit that comes from the Plinia cauliflora which is native to Brazil. The jaboticaba fruit is a member of the myrtle family which includes other fruits such as the guava and acca.
The fruit has a unique thick white pulp which is often either eaten raw or for culinary use for making jelly, jam, and even wine.
The jaboticaba fruit consists of a thick deep purple skin that looks similar to a grape. Due to its sweet taste and unique gelatinous flesh, the jaboticaba fruit is widely a crop.
11. Japanese Persimmon Fruit
The Japanese persimmon fruit is remarkably similar to the tomato fruit. Because of this similarity its commonly reference to as a vegetable-like fruit, but biologically, it is a berry.
The Japanese persimmon fruit offers a sweet and tart flavor and is common for culinary purposes. The fruit is native to China but is mostly a crop in Japan and Korea.
Japanese persimmon fruit has a glossy skin. And is in yellow, orange, and red shades with a similar shape to a tomato.
RELATED: 9 Different Types Of Japanese Trees
12. Juneberry
The juneberry is a popular berry native to Canada that can commonly be found growing in the wild. The juneberry’s another name is Saskatoon berry. Its sweetness is similar to a blueberry but it is in fact a relative of the apple.
Its most common use is for culinary purposes. As it’s a great ingredient for adding a berry sweetness and zest to desserts.
The juneberry has also long been in use for medicinal purposes as it contains a host of beneficial properties. Hence, traditionally it was for antioxidant properties by native North Americans.
Final Thoughts
Mother Nature stands to offer a wealth of variety. From sweet and sour fruits to jelly fruits and ‘meat’ fruits, the options are endless.
Finally, our glossary of fruits starting with J just gives you a glimpse of the wonderful and unique fruits out in the world. Moreover, some are great for cooking whilst others are purely ornamental. Each stands to offer something wonderful.
Hope you enjoyed reading this article, make sure to also check out our other articles:
13 Different Fruits That Start With V (Including Photos)
