We live in a beautiful world that is brimming with animals and plant life, which can make it hard to decipher the different species and varieties. Because of this, there are many fruits that start with L that often get overlooked by the general public.
For example, while many people will seek out well-known fruits such as apples and oranges, there are many other kinds available that offer new and exciting flavors. Whether that be mango, papaya or dragon fruit.
Aside from lemons and limes, it can be hard to name fruits that begin with the letter L, which is why we have decided to help. So, if you want to know more about the fruits that start with this letter, then you have come to the right place.
In the following article, we have compiled a list of fruits that start with the letter L, so that you can learn more about their characteristics. Our list will cover everything from lychees to lingonberries, so you know you’re in safe hands.
So if you want to learn more about every fruit that begins with the letter L, this article has everything you need to get started…
1. Lemons (Citrus Limon)
To begin our selection, we have chosen a popular citrus fruit that can be found in households across the world, where it is often used to make desserts and other recipes.
Distinguished by its bright yellow color, the lemon is known for its sour taste and can be used as a natural cleaning agent in the bathroom or kitchen.
2. Lychee (Litchi Chinensis)
For the next fruit on our list, we have the sweet and aromatic lychee, which remains a popular choice in its homeland of south-eastern China.
Boasting vibrant red skin, the lychee itself takes on a pearly white tone and can be eaten fresh or served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
3. Limes (Citrus Aurantiifolia)
The lime is a small citrus fruit known for its ultra-tart flavor and luscious green skin, which is commonly used to make desserts and popular cocktails.
While the fruit is loaded with nutrients, it is also capable of damaging the skin and can produce sores, blisters and discoloration.
4. Lucuma (Pouteria Lucuma)
Native to the shores of Peru and Chile, the lucuma is a sweet yellow fruit with a dry and mealy texture, which commonly features in ice cream and milkshakes.
While there were attempts to grow the fruit outside of its homeland, all have been unsuccessful, therefore making the fruit rare and obscure.
5. Lingonberries (Vaccinium Vitis – Idaea)
This sour berry can commonly be found in Nordic countries, where it is used to make preserves and desserts.
Sometimes known as dry cranberries, lingonberries are actually very juicy and are never eaten raw because of their bitter taste.
6. Lady Apples (Syzygium Suborbiculare)
Considered one of the oldest and most attractive apple varieties in America, the lady apple is known for its subtle flavor and is commonly grown for decorative purposes.
These apples can be purchased in various hues of yellow and green, although some will also feature crimson and blush highlights.
7. Loganberries (Rubus Loganobaccus)
Though it may be hard to believe, the loganberry is a hybrid fruit born from the combination of the blackberry and the raspberry.
The hybrid was created by James Harvey Logan and can be identified by its blackberry-like appearance and raspberry-red hue.
8. Lancetilla Mango (Mangifera Lancetilla)
While the lancetilla mango is commonly grown in Honduras, the fruit has since been introduced into South Florida, where it is famous for its sweet taste.
Compared to other mango varieties, the fruit is notably much larger and is known for its red skin and bright yellow flesh.
9. Langra Mango (Banarasi Langra)
The next fruit we have chosen is yet another mango variety, with the langra being widely grown in northern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Distinguished by its unique shape, the langra will remain green until its maturity and is notably sweeter than its mango counterparts.
10. Le Conte Pear (Pyrus Lecontei)
Originally named after John Eatton Le Conte, who first introduced the fruit to Georgia in 1856, this pear is known for its warm green color and small size.
Similar to the Asian pear, this fruit can be identified by its sweet taste and can be eaten raw or cooked in a dessert.
11. Liberty Apple (Malus Domestica)
The liberty apple was first cultivated in 1955, where it was released for consumption by the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station.
Like the McIntosh apple, the liberty is famous for its sweet taste, although the apple does come with a hint of bitterness.
12. Limequat (Citrus Floridana)
As the name implies, the limequat is another hybrid fruit born from the combination of a lime and kumquat.
While the tropical fruit boasts a similar tartness to a lime, it is not as intense and can be eaten raw or cooked into a dish.
13. Lippens Mango (Mangifera Lippens)
This particular mango variety was first introduced into Florida in 1931, where it began to be sold commercially in 1945.
Capable of growing up to a pound in weight, lippens are now famous for their bright colors and refreshing taste.
14. Lord Lambourne Apple (Malus Pumila)
The Lord Lambourne apple was first cultivated in the UK, where it remains a popular choice for its strong and sweet flavor.
In fact, the apple is considered so delicious that it has even been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit.
15. Laranja (Citrus Sinensis)
While this fruit may sound like another tropical offering, it is actually the Portuguese term given to the common orange.
So, basically, there is no difference between a laranja and the normal oranges you find in the grocery store.
16. Louise Bonne of Jersey Pear (Pyrus Communis)
Characterized by its sweet taste and soft butter-like flesh, the Louise Bonne of Jersey pear remains a popular choice among cultivators and fruit enthusiasts.
However, the pear is most known for its striking appearance, as it will commonly feature bi-color skin in shades of green and yellow.
17. Lardizabala (Lardizabala Biternata)
Sometimes referred to as zabala, this Chilean evergreen plant is known for its beautiful flowers and delicious fruit.
Not only is the fruit (or coguil) famous for its sweet taste, but it is also high in fiber and can be eaten either raw or cooked.
18. Loquat (Eriobotrya Japonica)
Otherwise known as the Japanese plum, the loquat is an evergreen shrub native to China and other parts of Eastern Asia.
While it takes the form of a small orange-like fruit, the loquat’s leaves are commonly used to make tea, with the fruit being known for its ultra-sweet taste.
19. Lemon Aspen (Acronychia Acidula)
Lemon aspen or lemonwood is a species of rainforest tree that is native to Queensland, Australia – where it produces small acidic fruits.
The taste is said to be reminiscent of grapefruit or lime, with the fruit commonly being used to flavor sauces, desserts and cocktails.
20. Langley Bullace Damson Plums (Prunus Domestica Nigra)
The langley bullace damson is a variety of small plum that is known for its firm texture and tart flavor.
Because of this, the plums are rarely eaten raw and are instead cooked with sugar to make preserves and various desserts.
21. Lilly Pilly Berries (Syzygium Smithii)
These edible berries are known for their small size and bright pink color, with the fruit only reaching the size of a common marble.
The berries are native to northern Australia, where they are commonly used to make delicious confections such as cakes and chutneys.
22. Lapsi (Choerospondias Axillaris)
This delicious green fruit is commonly found in Nepal, where it is used to make desserts, candies and preserves.
The fruit itself is round in shape and boasts a firm skin of green and brown hues, with the fruit’s seeds being coveted for their medicinal properties.
23. Lablab (Lablab Purpureus)
Another native to Africa, this fruit belongs to the Fabaceae family and can be identified by its unique shape and stunning purple flesh.
While the fruit remains a popular cooking ingredient throughout the tropics, the product is actually a variety of bean and can be used to make both sweet and savory dishes.
24. Limeberry (Triphasia Trifolia)
The limeberry is an edible fruit grown on the triphasia tree, which is native to the Philippines and Indonesian islands.
While the taste of the fruit is said to be reminiscent of limes, the fruit itself looks very similar to a tomato, as it boasts red skin and a soft seeded interior.
25. Leucaena (Leucaena Leucocephala)
This fast-growing mimosoid tree is native to southern Mexico and northern Central America, where it produces young pods that are edible to humans.
Featuring in a range of cultural dishes, the pods can only be eaten when they are young and have been used for their medicinal properties as well as a natural contraceptive.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are countless fruits that begin with the letter L, with each one boasting its own unique appearance and uses.
While we may not have covered every single one of these fruits, there are still many to be discovered in your local grocery store and global markets.
