Discover the 8 Fruits That Start with H

There aren’t a lot of fruits that start with the letter H, but the ones that do might surprise you. Common fruits that start with the letter H include Hazelnuts, Hala Fruit, Honeycrisp Apples, Hardy Kiwis, Horned Melon, Huckleberry, Honeydew, and Hackberries.

In fact, did you realize that hazelnuts are actually a type of fruit, not a nut? There are a few delicious fruits that you may not have heard of, but we’re going to give you an all-encompassing list of the fruits that start with H.

Read on to read more about fruits that start with the letter H!

Hazelnuts

The delicious star of Nutella, hazelnuts, are not actually nuts at all. Botanically, they are classified as fruits, along with acorns and chestnuts. Hazelnuts are the fruit of the hazel tree and are named after what they look like on the tree. When hazelnuts grow, they are green and they’re surrounded by a green husk on the branch. The word “hazel” comes from an Anglo-Sazon word that means “bonnet.” Their bonnet-like appearance is what led to their eventual name “hazelnuts.”

Despite not actually being nuts, hazelnuts are the official state nut of Oregon. The state favors the hazelnut because Oregon produces 99% of all hazelnuts in the U.S.

Hala Fruit

If a fruit could be considered beautiful, hala fruit would be the one. The outside looks like a green pineapple while the inside is a sunrise shade of orange to yellow with a cream-colored center.

Hala fruit is native to Southeast Asia, eastern Australia, Pacific Islands, and Hawaii. Islanders consume hala fruit in a few different ways. They chew on the fruit raw, grind it into a sweet paste, or squeeze it into juice. Hala fruit is an exotic fruit that few people get to try because it doesn’t grow in many places.

Honeycrisp Apples

Honeycrisp apples are probably the most well-known fruit that starts with the letter H. They are in almost every grocery store and make for a yummy snack. Did you know that the first Honeycrisp apple seedling was planted in 1962? It was developed by the University of Minnesota’s fruit breeding program. 

The reason why Honeycrisp apples are so crisp is because their cells are larger than most other apples. 

Hardy Kiwis

Hardy kiwis don’t look very similar to the types of kiwis you find in grocery stores. They are a separate variety with smooth skin that is green or brown when ripe. They get their name from the fact that they are extremely cold-hardy, which makes it so that the fruit can be grown in the northern U.S.

These kinds of kiwis can taste completely different from traditional kiwis. Taste reports vary from flavors of regular kiwis, strawberries, bananas, and pineapples depending on the variety. The most amazing thing about hardy kiwis is that the crop can survive in as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Horned Melon

If you’ve never seen a horned melon, you’re in for a treat. These wild-looking fruits are nothing like watermelons or any other melon, for that matter. The outside is bright orange when ripe, and covered in multiple spikes or horns. The inside is lime green and consists of fruit that is gelatinous and full of edible seeds.

The horned melon, also called the Kiwano melon, is from central and southern Africa. Just one melon contains ⅕ of the recommended daily value of magnesium and less than 100 calories. 

Huckleberry

Huckleberries are native to the northwestern United States and Canada. They are true berries, smaller than blueberries with a distinct, sweet flavor. Huckleberries have been eaten for thousands of years by Native Americans, as well as used for medicinal purposes. 

Honeydew

Honeydew is one of the most popular H fruits, along with Honeycrisp apples, because they are widely available in most grocery stores. It’s named after the delicious honey flavor in its sweet flesh. Honeydews are actually the sweetest type of melon. 

Like many other melons, honeydew melons are mostly water. They have about 90% water content. Along with their high water content, they are also full of vitamin C and potassium.

Hackberries

Hackberries are small berries that are about the size of a pea. They are a dark purple color when ripe, and are also called sugarberries. Because they are so small, the berries aren’t usually eaten whole, though they can be. Instead, the whole berry is dried and ground up into a paste. The paste is then used to sweeten baked goods or made into nut milk.

Summary of Fruits That Start with H

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Nature's Charm/Shutterstock.com