Discover the 10 Fruits That Start with A

If you’re playing a game of Scattergories or just trying to teach your toddler, it’s important to know the fruits that start with the letter A. You can probably come up with a few, like apples and apricots, but if you’re like me then you are probably stumped after those two. Not to worry, here we have a complete list of fruits that start with A. Common fruits that begin with the letter A include apricot, Akebi fruit, ambarella, apple, ambrosia melon, Asian pear, avocado, apple berry, acerola, and African star apple. Keep reading to learn more about these delicious fruits!

You may have never heard of some of these fruits because not all of them are grown or available in every part of the world. There are also quite a few varieties on the list that are hybrids or mixed types of fruits. For example, the Asian pear is described as a combination of an apple and a pear. Scientists didn’t actually create this type of fruit, it changed over time as it was brought to different parts of the world. Growing in different soil types and climates can make fruit appear and taste different.

The following list encompasses all of the fruits that start with A. You may not have heard of some of these delicious varieties yet, but keep reading to learn more!

Apricot

Apricots appear and taste similar to peaches. They are also closely related to almonds, plums, and cherries. Like most fruits, apricots can be eaten fresh or cooked.

When they are used in dishes, apricots are most commonly cooked into a jam or used to flavor liqueurs. They have a very sweet and mild flavor.

Apricots were first domesticated in China but spread quickly and are now cultivated on every continent except Antarctica. The apricot tree is unique because it can grow well in almost any type of condition. It prefers light and well-drained soil, is fairly drought-resistant, and can grow for over 100 years in good conditions.

Akebi Fruit

Akebi fruit is also called Akebia quinata, chocolate vine, or five-leaf akebia. It’s a native shrub to Japan, China, and Korea. The plant is used for both edible and ornamental purposes.

It is a type of climbing shrub, and the plant can reach up to 30 feet in height or more. Akebi fruit appear purple in color and are shaped like long sausages or pawpaws. They have a white, fleshy inside with an opening in the middle that contains a pocket of seeds. 

The akebi fruit looks and tastes similar to Dragon fruit, with a soft and sweet pulp. It’s best eaten fresh after it fully opens on the vine. The rind can also be eaten, but it’s more commonly used as a vegetable and served with meat. The seeds are extremely bitter and can cause throat irritation if chewed, so either swallow them whole or spit them out. 

The akebi plant is used for ornamental purposes in United States, Europe, and Asia. It’s commonly used as a form of ground cover and the flowers give off a “chocolatey” smell.

Ambarella

Ambarella fruit is also called the June plum or golden apple. It grows on a fast-growing tree that can reach up to 66 feet tall. The fruit is native to Melanesia and Polynesia, but will grow in other areas as well, just a bit smaller. 

The fruit are green when they fall to the ground, and turn a golden color when they ripen. They are large fruits, with some weighing over a pound.

The fruits contain a large amount of vitamins A, B, and C. They can be eaten raw, and the flavor changes a bit depending on the ripeness of the fruit. It’s considered at its best when fully colored but slightly crunchy. The taste is similar to a pineapple-mango mixture, sweet and juicy with a bit of tartness. The fruit is used to flavor sauces, soups, and stews. It’s also made into jam and juice.

Apple

While they’re probably the first fruit that starts with an ‘A’ that came to your mind, apples are far from ordinary. They’re thousands of years old and have religious significance in a few cultures. 

Apples first originated in Central Asia and the trees were grown throughout Europe and Asia for thousands of years. They were brought to America by European settlers. Apple trees are unique because they don’t grow well from seed. Instead, they need to be grafted, which involves taking part of a host plant and grafting it onto a rootstock.

Apple trees are well-known for their fungal, bacterial, and pest problems. They aren’t always the easiest fruits to grow because of this. However, once you have grown an apple, there are many ways you can use it. Apples are eaten fresh, cooked into jams, pies, and pastries, and made into juice. There are so many ways to enjoy an apple!

Ambrosia Melon

Ambrosia melons are unique fruits because they have a taste described as “a combination of all melons plus flowers”. They appear very similar to a cantaloupe, with a gray and bumpy outside and juicy yellow-orange inside.

The Ambrosia melon is native to Persia and Western Asia but is grown across Europe, Asia, and North America today.

Asian Pear

Asian pears are a fruit that looks and tastes like a combination of a pear and an apple. They have a high water content and a grainy texture. Like most pears, they are usually eaten raw and peeled. The fruit is rarely used in cooking because of its graininess. 

Asian pears are expensive fruits, so they are usually given as gifts or eaten together in social settings.

Avocado

That’s right, the delicious, creamy base for your favorite guac is actually a fruit! While you may have avocados confused as a vegetable, they are actually a type of berry. 

Avocados have a smooth and buttery flavor when ripe. They are used in many dishes including tacos, guacamole, and more recently, avocado toast.

Apple Berry

The apple berry is a small plant from Australia. It produces fruit in the summertime in the shape of oblong berries. The berries look similar to kiwis because they are covered in fine hairs.

The fruits taste similar to stewed apples or kiwis. They can be eaten fresh when ripe, but unripe berries don’t taste good and can cause bad heartburn.

Acerola

The acerola fruit is similar to a cherry and is commonly called the Barbados cherry. It’s native to South and Central America. 

The fruit is sometimes considered a “super-food” because of its high vitamin C and manganese content.

African Star Apple

African star apples are native to West and Central Africa. The fruit is used in folk medicine to treat multiple issues including morning sickness, constipation, and indigestion.

The bark of the African star apple tree is also used in medicine, often to treat yellow fever and malaria.

Summary of the 10 Fruits That Start with A