Traders at Melbourne Market have revealed the “hottest” trends in produce for the year ahead.
According to the wholesale fruit and vegetable market, exotic flavours and “exciting” new fruit varieties are set to “take Australia by storm”:
- Jujube. Also known as the Chinese red date, this small, sweet, and crunchy fruit has been used in traditional Chinese medicine “for centuries”. “Packed” with antioxidants, it’s often enjoyed fresh or dried and added to soups for a “touch” of sweetness.
- Blood mandarins. Also known as the ‘early Sicily’, this cross between a clementine mandarin and a tarocco blood orange is an “easy-to-peel “variety that offers a “burst of juicy sweetness with a hint of berry flavour”.
- Black sapote. Dubbed the ‘chocolate pudding fruit’, this fruit boasts a dark brown, chocolatey flesh with a creamy, custard-like texture. It’s a “healthy and delicious” alternative for chocolate mousse or custard.
- Canistel. With an egg yolk-like texture, this fruit, also known as the ‘egg fruit’, is a “perfect” addition to milkshakes, ice creams, and smoothies.
- Star apple. This fruit that comes in deep purple and green varieties has a star-shaped pattern formed by its seeds, and offers a sweet, jelly-like texture with “hints” of tropical fruits and grapes.