Vegetarian Research

25 Surprising Fruits That Start With S (#2 is scary!)

Need to know some fruits that start with S, including the weird and surprising ones? You’re in the right place!

From berries to pomes, there are so many kinds with so many colours and wonderful flavours.

Down below is a whole collection of some of the most common and lesser-known fruits that begin with S from around the globe. Take a look and see!

Fruits are some of the healthiest and tastiest foods out there. They’re high in all kinds of nutrients and range in flavor from sweet to sour and even bitter.

Like many people, I’m a self-confessed fruit fan. Is your favourite on this list?

25 Fascinating fruits that start with S

Safou

Important to human and animal alike, the safou is native to many regions on the African continent. It’s a a unique and nutrient-dense S fruit. The safou tree is also known as the bush butter tree because its fruit has a smooth and avocado-like consistency with a unique flavor.

Safou can be eaten raw, boiled in salty water or even after being roasted over an open flame. Its scientific name is Dacryodes edulis.

Salak

This scary fruit – the salak fruit, is also known as the snake fruit! That’s because of the brown ‘skin’ on its outside. It’s a brown fruit which is native to parts of Southeast Asia.

Its varieties vary in taste, from the extremely bitter ones to the others with a somewhat sweet but sour flavor and even texture from soft and succulent to dry and crunchy like an apple.

The scientific name of the salak fruis is Salacca zalacca.

Salal

One of the most common yet overlooked berries of the Pacific Northwest, the salal is a small, slightly hairy fruit that’s dark in color and usually ripens towards the end of the summer.

It has a taste pretty similar to the blackcurrant and blueberry with earthy undertones.

Gaultheria Shallon is the scientific name of this fruit starting with S.

Salmonberry

A tender, slightly sweet berry (but with a sour taste), salmonberry is a fruit native to North America and Alaska, and it’s used to flavour all kinds of beer and wines. It’s also used to make many kinds of sweet treats and desserts.

Scientifically, it’s the Rubus spectabilis.

Sand cherry

A sand cherry is a kind of berry found in North America. They taste lovely when they’re fully ripe but can be somewhat bitter sometimes. Sand cherries are usually dark red or even black in color and are scientifically called the Prunus pumila. They make me think of one of my favourite books, Dune.

Santol

The santol fruit is another fruit native to some tropical regions of Southeast Asia. There are two varieties of this fruit, with the red one being more common than the yellow.

The santol is also known as the cotton fruit for its pillow-like white pulp that resembles cotton. It’s a bit sour but generally has a yummy sweet taste with floral notes. It is known as Sandoricum koetjape scientifically.

Sapodilla

With a scientific name, Manilkara zapota, the sapodilla fruit is native to southern America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The egg-shaped fruit is rough to the touch and has flesh whose color ranges from yellow to light brown.

It can be soft or gritty in texture (kind of like a pear) and it has a sweet and somewhat earthy flavor that’s often compared to that of caramel.

It’s also known as a ‘naseberry,’ so it’s also on my list of N fruits!

Satsuma

A member of the citrus family, satsuma is a kind of tangerine with yellowish-orange skin that’s super easy to peel. It’s a juicy fruit with a slightly tart yet sweet taste.

Satsuma mandarin is a great snack to have on hand when you need a quick burst of energy and can boost your immune system. Its scientific name is Citrus unshiu.

Seagrapes

Also known as green caviar for their appearance which is quite similar to a fish roe, sea grapes are small, somewhat transparent fruits with a distinct taste. They are found in areas of shallow sea and they taste like muscadine grapes.

Seagrapes make a pop sound when they’re eaten and are popular in Japanese restaurants.

Scientifically, this fruit that starts with S is also known as Caulerpa lentillifera. In my opinion it’s one of the coolest fruits on this list.

Serviceberry

A serviceberry is a cranberry-colored fruit that tastes somewhat like a grape and blueberry with hints of almond and peach.

It’s also known as Saskatoon and you can have the fruit raw but it is perfect in jams and pastries like pies.

The scientific name of it is Amelanchier alnifolia.

Sharon fruit

Hey, Sharon!

The Sharon fruit is a kind of persimmon that is sweet and juicy. It’s a fresh-tasting and sweet fruit that’s often used in a variety of cuisines.

You could have it as a snack or in desserts as its sweetness pairs with a whole host of other ingredients.

This fruit is also rich in vitamin A, which is good for your eyesight. it’s known botanically as Diospyros kaki.

Shonan gold

Shonan gold fruit begins with S too! It’s a unique yellow fruit that’s actually a hybrid of two citruses.

This type of citrus fruit closely resembles a lemon and has a sweet but sour taste (like quite a few of the fruits on this list!), characteristic of the family it originates from.

It’s also super fragrant (they smell lovely) and is scientifically known as the Citrus flaviculpus.

Soncoya fruit

Native to many parts of both North America and South America (including Central America), the Soncoya fruit is also known as the sincuya. Its flesh is soft and fibrous and its taste is similar to that of a mango.

On the outside, it’s got these spike-like projections and the ripe fruits can be super hard to cut. Scientifically it’s known as the Annona Purpurea.

Sour cherries

Scientifically known as the Prunus cerasus, sour cherries are a kind of cherry fruit that’s loved for its tart flavor.

They’re a rich source of antioxidants and vitamins and are used to make all sorts of pastries and drinks. You’ve probably seen them on cakes or tarts. I used eat glazed versions from the baking cupboard when I was little!

Sour cherries are also known as tart cherries or dwarf cherries. The skin of a sour cherry is soft and glossy while its shape is somewhat round and plump.

Sour orange

Great for sour pies and for making marinades, the sour orange is a tart and bitter-tasting variant of the orange in the citrus family. It’s also known as the seville or bitter orange and it is native to the eastern region of South Asia.

This fruit that starts with the letter S is botanically classified as Citrus aurantium.

Soursop

Also known as the Brazilian pawpaw, soursop is a green fruit and a member of the tree apple custard family. It has a juicy and fibrous flesh with a citrusy taste of that of pineapples and mangoes.

Soursop is super popular in the countries it’s native to as it can be eaten raw or used to make all kinds of sweet treats, beverages and even ice creams. I’ve heard great things and can’t wait to try one!

The scientific name of the soursop fruit is Annona muricata.

Splendor apples

Splendor apples are a unique variety of apples that’s a hybrid of a cultivar and another apple species native to New Zealand. It’s sweet and usually bright red in color.

They’re also usually medium or large in size and are well-known as dessert apples.

Their genus and species names are Malus domestica.

Star apple

With a creamy, sweet, and bright taste, the star apple is a unique fruit native to many regions of the West Indies and Central America.

Although it’s sized and shaped like an apple, it resembles a star when cut and is henced named a star apple. Scientifically, the star apple fruit is known as the Chrysophyllum cainito.

Starfruit

With ridges down its sides, a starfruit is a unique fruit with a sweet and tangy flavor. It’s bright yellow in color and derives its name from the shape it has when it’s sliced laterally. I’ve gotta admit, it’s a cool-looking fruit!

Starfruits are super refreshing and are loaded with all kinds of vitamins. Scientifically, the star fruit is known as Averrhoa carambola.

Strawberries

Strawberries are probably one of the most widely known and grown fruits worldwide. These little sweet and juicy berries are an amazing addition to a whole host of meals and contain loads of nutrients as well as antioxidants.

The scientific name of this popular fruit is Fragaria x ananassa. It sounds like a team meeting.

Sugar apple

A sugar apple is a tropical fruit that’s also known as the sweetsop. It’s got such a rich and sweet flavor with a creamy texture and it’s often used in smoothies and desserts because of its unique taste.

A sugar apple fruit is also rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. It’s native to the tropics and has the botanical name Annona squamosa.

Sugar baby watermelon

This small variety of watermelon is known and loved for its petite size as well as its taste and nutritional value. On the outside, it’s dark green and on the inside, bright red with grainy flesh.

It’s scientifically known as Citrullus lanatus.

Sugar palm fruit

Sugar palm fruits are large, dark-colored fruits with a jelly-like texture and mildly sweet taste. It’s native to South Asia and is enjoyed widely in the region as it’s used to make all sorts of treats.

Sweet lemons

Sweet lemon is a general name for classifying a group of fruits that, unlike most of their other citrus family members, have low acidity hence less of a tang to their taste.

They can be green (what?!) or yellow in color and have the exact same appearance as other citrus fruits. Sweet lemons are botanically classified as Citrus limetta.

Sweet pepper

Sweet peppers are a category of less pungent-tasting peppers that are actually more sweet and fruity.

You’d be forgiven if you thought they were vegetables.

Peppers are actually fruit, classified under the berry family even though they are culinary veggies. Scientifically, the sweet pepper is known as Capsicum annuum.

When it comes to sweet peppers, they include cherry peppers as well as green, orange, purple and red bell peppers.

Well, that was an interesting list, indeed!

I’m almost certain you’re looking forward to trying out at least one of these fruits, I know I am!

This list of fruits that start with S has something for everyone. Whether you prefer sweet or tangy, there is a fruit on this list that will satisfy your taste buds. Or if you used this list for teaching or games, I’d love to hear how they went!

So next time you’re looking to try something new, consider giving the letter S a try!

If you want to dive into other letters, there’s a plethora of options. For starters, check out these foods starting with R!

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25 Surprising Fruits That Start With S (2025 edition)

From the sweet to the sour, big to small, have a look at 25 unique fruits from all over the globe that begin with the letter S.

Type round-up

Author Dave

Ingredients

Safou
Salak
Salal
Salmonberry
Sand cherry
Santol
Sapodilla
Satsuma
Seagrapes
Serviceberry
Sharon fruit
Shonan gold
Soncoya fruit
Sour cherries
Sour orange
Soursop
Splendor apples
Star apple
Starfruit
Strawberries
Sugar apple
Sugar baby watermelon
Sugar palm fruit
Sweet lemons
Sweet pepper

Get Recipe Ingredients

Show us your version!Tag @HurryTheFoodUp on Instagram and hashtag #hurrythefoodup.

The post 25 Surprising Fruits That Start With S (#2 is scary!) appeared first on Hurry The Food Up.

Vegetarian Research

Complete List of Fruits that Start with the Letter U (#1 is so ugly!)

Ok, fruits beginning with U is a tricky one. But don’t let that stop you. Read on for the full list!

It’s a strange list, this one, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much I did putting it together! It also contains my favourite fruit of all time.

Let’s see what fruit begins with the letter U and how you can use it if it’s up for grabs in your area.

Unveil the most popular fruits that start with U!

What’s a fruit that starts with U? The type of fruit I’m going for is considered culinary fruit, either by tradition or by scientific definition.

Ugli

The ugli fruit (such a mean name!), also known as Jamaican tangelo and uniq fruit, is a hybrid of grapefruit, tangerine, and Seville orange. Its distinctive look and taste were developed in Jamaica.

The citrus fruit has rough, wrinkled skin ranging in color from yellowish-green to orange. The fruit is bigger than a grapefruit and relatively simple to peel.

The ugli fruit taste suits many cocktails, smoothies, sweets, and sauces. If you don’t like grapefruit, you might want to give this one a try because it’s much less acidic.

You can also tell people you’ve made an ‘ugli cocktail!’.

The botanical name of the ugli fruit tree is Citrus reticulata × paradisi.

Ugni

Only one letter different, ugni, commonly known as Chilean guava or Ugni molinae, is a fruit-bearing shrub from Chile and Argentina.

This U fruit is round or oval and approximately the size of a blueberry (or a tiny grape). Fresh berries are deep red in colour and have white flesh.

Taste-wise, ugni berries fall in between the sweetness of strawberries and the tartness of cranberries and kiwis. They’re used to make jams, jellies, sauces, sweets, and drinks.

Ugni also makes a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins (high levels of vitamin C), and minerals.

Umari

Umari fruit, technically known as Poraqueiba sericea, is a tropical fruit from the Amazon jungle in South America. Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador are its main locations.

Umari fruit is usually 2 to 4 cm in diameter. It has smooth and glossy skin that has a green or yellow color when unripe and turns a brilliant orange or red when completely ripe.

This unique fruit has a very creamy texture and buttery flavor. In fact, locals use it like butter to put over their bread. How cool is that?

Umbu

Spondias tuberosa, known as imbu, umbu, or Brazil plum is a Brazilian tropical fruit. It’s popular in the northeast of Brazil for its refreshing taste.

The round or oval Umbu fruit has thin and smooth green-to-yellow skin. Its sweet and tangy flesh combines pineapple, mango, and citrus burst of flavor.

Fresh umbu fruit is eaten by peeling the skin and eating the flesh or squeezing out the juice. Various drinks, ice cream, and pastries employ the juice.

Umbu jams and jellies can be smeared on toast or eaten as a topping or dip.

Umbra

Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands are home to the fruit-bearing tree Umbra (Spondias dulcis). You can also come across the names ambarella, June plum, and golden apple.

Umbra fruits are round, like little mangoes or apricots. Their ripe skin is smooth, yellow or golden, and somewhat fuzzy.

This U fruit tastes like a fusion of mango, pineapple, and citrus. It’s eaten raw or added to salads, sweets, and chutneys. Some cultures pickle young, immature fruit as a condiment.

Ume

Ume fruit also goes by the names Chinese plum, Japanese plum, and Japanese apricot. It’s a tree species native to East Asia and popular in Japanese dishes.

Its thin, fuzzy skin is green to yellow when unripe and crimson to orange when ripe. It has luscious, acidic flesh.

Ume fruit is culturally significant in Japanese cuisine and is used to produce umeboshi, a traditional condiment.

Umeboshi are pickled ume fruits preserved in salt and occasionally scented with shiso leaves. These sour, salty pickled fruits are consumed as a side dish or in rice balls (onigiri).

Umeshu, a Japanese liqueur, is also made from ume. It’s a sweet and fragrant drink created by soaking the fruits in alcohol, usually shochu or sake, and sugar.

Ume has potential health benefits in addition to its culinary usage. It may improve digestion, promote liver function, and supply antioxidants and vitamins.

This species is a member of the Prunus genus which includes plums, peaches, and cherries. It goes by the scientific name Prunus mume.

Usakhelauri grape

Usakhelauri, a rare Georgian grape variety (Vitis vinifera), makes excellent red wines. It’s mostly grown in Lechkhumi and Racha in western Georgia. Every year for my birthday I have red wine and cheese, and this one is my next plan. Roll on summer!

Usakhelauri grapes are dark purple or black and tiny. Their flavor profile and high sugar content create sweet and fragrant wines.

Usakhelauri grapes are notoriously low-yielding, making them a difficult variety to grow. Grapes are normally harvested with the utmost care and hand-picked.

Wines made from this grape are highly sought after by connoisseurs because of their rarity and high quality.

Uva Rara grape

Uva Rara is a red Italian wine grape varietal grown in Lombardy. Italian “Uva Rara” means “rare grape” due to its rarity compared to other grape varieties.

Uva Rara is typically blended with other red grapes to provide richness and depth to wines. It can include red berry, flowery, and spice notes.

Uva Rara grapes can also be developed into varietal wines. These medium-bodied wines with mild tannins include red fruit, herb, and earthy characteristics.

Uva Rara is also known as Bonarda Novarese.

Uva Tosca grape

Uva Tosca is a red wine grape produced in Emilia-Romagna, east-central Italy. It contributes to local wine production in Forlì-Cesena.

This type of grape was one of the few red wine grapes that could regularly mature in the foothills of the Apennines.

Uvalino grape

Uvalino is a red wine grape produced in Piedmont, northwest Italy. It contributes to Piedmont wine production despite its lesser fame.

Due to its high antioxidant resveratrol content, Uvalino has garnered notice in recent years for its health advantages.

As we’re starting to learn, many grapes start with U!

Uvilla

Uvilla (Physalis peruviana) is a fruit-bearing shrub endemic to Chile and Peru. It’s also commonly referred to as “Peruvian groundcherry,” “Cape gooseberry,” or simply “golden berry.”

Uvilla looks like a yellowish-green miniature tomato inside a husk, similar to a paper lantern, which turns from green to a golden or orange hue when the fruit is fully ripe.

The fruit has a nice sweetness-acidity balance. It’s frequently juiced, jammed, jellied, baked, or eaten fresh.

Uvilla or golden berry contains vitamin C, antioxidants, and dietary fiber.

This is my favourite fruit of all time. I love the sweet bite with just hint of a sour behind it. In Germany, where I live, they are called Physalis and are relatively popular. In English-speaking countries they have various names, including cape gooseberry.

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11 Surprising Fruits That Start With U: 2025 Edition!

Discover a world of extraordinary fruits that start with U. Explore their flavors, origins, and culinary possibilities in this captivating fruit guide.

Type round-up

Author Dave