Fruits

Mga Prutas sa Pilipinas
Fruits in the Philippines

Dalandan

Photo by Angie Pastor.

Scientific name of dalandan: Citrus aurantium.

To compare, the similar-looking dalanghita has the scientific name Citrus nobilis.

Mangoes

Mangoes are the most esteemed of Philippine fruits — the carabao variety more than the piko.

In selecting mangoes, one should look for those with firm, fully rounded cheeks, without bruises or black spots.

Kamias

Also spelled as kamiyas, kamyas or camias.

Very sour, kamias is the fruit of the tree with the scientific name Averrhoa bilimbi. It’s been called “tree cucumber.”

Slices of Pakwan (Watermelon). Photo by Angie Pastor. Pakwan is the Tagalog word for watermelon. The most common variety of watermelon in the Philippines is round and has a rind whose outer surface is a very dark green.

Chico

Tsiko is the brown fruit known as sapodilla in English.

Buli

Photo of Buli Fruits by Mildred Cruz.

Also known as silag or budyawi.

Balimbing

Photo of Balimbing by Mildred Cruz.

The fruit has the scientific name Averrhoa carambola. It’s called a star fruit in English because of the shape you see when you cut it crosswise.

Bayabas

Guavas can be enjoyed freshly picked off the tree, with or without

Calamansi

Calamansi is the citrus fruit of the Philippines! It’s very round and fairly small… In fact, one can’t think of a smaller-sized citrus fruit… Hmm… Calamansi juice cleanse, anyone?

SABA

Photo by Toyang Noresa of peeled saba bananas

Sabá is a cooking variety of banana having the scientific name Musa saba. It has been called cardava, cardaba or kardaba in English and other languages. The Indonesians call it pisang kepok. The sabá is much fatter and starchier than the typical table banana.

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