Looking for a colorful display of green fruits? This list of green colored fruit has you covered! Like green vegetables, fruits that are green have an abundance of nutrients and add lovely color to your diet!
Green fruits are undoubtedly some of the healthiest foods you can eat, as green color fruit has an abundance of nutrients. There's everything from green grapes, to green apples and even green vegetables that are actually a fruit. Here's a rule of thumb to think about fruits: "Fruits are cleansing, vegetables are healing". Here's a list of the best green fruits - try them in a Green Smoothie, Green Goddess Dressing, and in your favorite Juicing Recipes.
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Types of fruit that is green
Green fruits are typically classified into five different categories. That's right, the color green can be found in a variety of fruits! Within the realm of green colored fruits, you can find berries like kiwi and green grapes, citrus fruits such as lime and green oranges, and drupes like avocado and olive.
Additionally, pomes (such as green apples) and pepo (think green melons) are also categorized as green fruits. Each of these categories has a unique taste and nutritional value, making green fruits an excellent addition to any diet.
Where do green fruits get their color?
The green color of fruits is primarily due to the presence of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a pigment crucial for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light into energy. During photosynthesis, chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, allowing plants to produce sugars and oxygen.
In the context of fruit, the green color indicates that the fruit is in the process of ripening and has been exposed to sunlight, encouraging chlorophyll production. As fruits mature, chlorophyll levels may decrease, and other pigments such as carotenoids and anthocyanins can become more prominent, leading to changes in color, from green to hues of yellow, orange, red, or purple, depending on the specific fruit and its biochemical composition.
Try adding some green fruit to your next Green Smoothie, Fruit Pie, or Fruit Platter!
List of fruits that are green
1. Green apples (Malus domestica)
While not typically thought of as a green fruit, Granny Smith apples have a signature tart taste and are rich in antioxidants. They contain flavonoids which reduce the risk of heart disease, and they are also a good source of dietary fiber for digestive health.
Try green apples in this healthier Apple Pie Filling Recipe, Green Juice, and this Gluten-Free Apple Crisp recipe!
2. Avocado
If you are wondering why avocados are making the list of green fruits and are avocados are a fruit - well yes they are! Avocados are known for their creamy texture and rich taste. Not only do they contain essential vitamins such as B6, C, and E but they're also high in monounsaturated fats which help reduce bad cholesterol levels. Avocados are great to eat for improved heart health and weight loss.
Try avocados in Green Goddess Dressing, Fish Taco Sauce, or this easy creamy Homemade Guacamole Recipe!
3. Green kiwi fruits (Actinidia deliciosa)
This small fruit has a sweet but tart flavor and is jam-packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, and potassium. It also contains a good amount of dietary fiber which helps keep your digestive system healthy. Kiwis are great for boosting immunity and improving eye health.
Enjoy kiwi in a Winter Salad and Kale Banana Smoothie!
4. Honeydew melon (Cucumis melo)
Honeydew melon is a sweet fruit that is packed with nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These green melons are excellent sources of antioxidants which can help protect against cancer-causing free radicals in the body. They are also beneficial for promoting healthy skin and hair growth.
Honeydew is a favorite fruit of mine for summer to add in a rainbow fruit salad! Mix together cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, mint, and a dash of honey and fresh lime juice.
5. Lime
Limes have a citrusy flavor that makes them perfect for adding zing to recipes or drinks such as margaritas or mojitos! They are an excellent source of Vitamin C which helps boost immunity by fighting off infections from bacteria and viruses. Limes are also beneficial for aiding digestion due to their high fiber content as well as promoting weight loss by burning fat cells more efficiently in the body.
Lime juice is extremely alkaline and great for balancing PH levels in the body. Sprinkle some in Detox Water, over fresh Cod Fish Tacos, Green Tea Shots, and in Cucumber Water.
6. Star fruit (Carambola)
Starfruit have a unique star shape that makes them stand out from other fruits on the market today! These tropical fruits contain plenty of Vitamin C which helps improve your skin’s elasticity as well as strengthen bones with its calcium content. Starfruits are also known to be good for reducing inflammation in the body due to their high antioxidant content – making them great for those suffering from arthritis or asthma symptoms!
Top yogurt bowls and fruit salad with pretty star shape fruit!
7. Asian pear
This crisp fruit is similar to an apple in texture but has a mild, sweet flavor. Asian pears are packed with vitamin C and copper for healthy blood vessels and nerves. They also contain pectin, which promotes fullness and can aid in weight loss.
Roast them in the oven, or dice them into Protein Oatmeal, or on top Greek Yogurt Bowls.
8. Green gooseberries
Wild green gooseberries are fun little berries that look like grapes! A tangy and slightly sweet fruit, gooseberries are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. They have been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels and improve eye health, thanks to their high levels of carotenoids.
Toss them your favorite Chlorella Detox Smoothie and Detox Green Juice!
9. Green grapes (Vitis)
These tasty fruits are a great source of vitamin K and antioxidants like resveratrol, which can protect against cancer, heart disease, and cognitive decline. They also contain a type of dietary fiber called pectin, which can lower cholesterol levels.
Learn how to make frozen grapes for a healthy snack or add them to a charcuterie board.
10. Green papaya fruits
While ripe papayas are typically orange, unripe green papayas can be used in a variety of culinary dishes. They contain an enzyme called papain, which aids in protein digestion and can help reduce inflammation in the body.
Incorporate this green fruit into a Tropical Smoothie!
11. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
Cucumbers are one of those green fruits that you may think is a vegetable, but it is actually a fruit! This refreshing and hydrating fruit is best known for its use in salads, but it’s also a great snack on its own. Cucumbers are high in vitamin K for bone health, and they contain antioxidants like lignans that help reduce the risk of chronic disease.
Enjoy a refreshing glass of Cucumber Orange Water, a side of Cucumber Tomato Salad, and Cucumber Bites.
12. Green bananas
While you're used to eating bananas when they're ripe and yellow, unripe green bananas are also an option. They’re high in resistant starch, which can improve gut health and reduce blood sugar spikes.
13. Green plums
These small fruits have a tart taste and are high in vitamin C and antioxidants like quercetin. They may also help improve digestion due to their fiber content and assist in maintaining healthy bones.
14. Green tomatoes
Before they ripen and turn red, tomatoes are green! These fruits are high in vitamins A and C, and they contain the antioxidant lycopene which can protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Got to love a good bowl of Salsa Verde! It is a great way to enjoy green tomatoes.
15. Limequat fruit
This hybrid fruit is a cross between a lime and kumquat. It’s high in vitamin C and flavonoids and has a sweet-tart flavor. The fruit and leaves of the limequat tree have also been used in traditional medicine for their antimicrobial properties.
16. Green mango
Unripe green mangoes are commonly used in South Asian cuisine and are high in vitamin C and fiber. They also contain polyphenols which can act as antioxidants and improve digestive health.
Add green mango diced in a Chicken Spinach Salad, in Citrus Salsa, or make green colored Mango Juice with a splash of honey.
FAQs
There are many popular green fruits! One of the most recognizable green fruits is the versatile avocado, which has risen in popularity in recent years due to its smooth texture and healthy fats. Kiwi is another favorite, bursting with sweet and tangy flavor and packed with vitamin C. Let's not forget about the humble green apple or juicy pear, which can be enjoyed in so many different ways. So, whether you prefer to eat your greens or blend them into a smoothie, there's a green fruit out there that is sure to captivate your taste buds.
Green fruits are divided into five categories. There are berries, citrus fruits, drupes, pomes, and pepo. While the exact number is hard to know, there are well over 40.
I believe you're referring to the Chayote, or mirliton squash, which is a type of fruit that belongs to the gourd family and grows all year round in warm weather. It has green skin and looks like a pear, earning it the nickname "vegetable pear."
Believe it or not, the longest name for a green fruit is watermelon!
There are many, but I bet you are referring to the Durian! The Durian is a tropical fruit from Southeast Asia. It is spiky and green on the outside and yellow-green on the inside. Despite its strong and unique aroma, it is known for its sweet taste and many health benefits.
This can and has been argued for both sides, but green beans are plants in the Leguminosae group. That means they have pods with seeds inside them like peas, lentils, and peanuts. But green beans are a type of fruit! Even though some people call it a vegetable, green beans have characteristics of both fruits and vegetables.
Conclusion
From green apples to green mango fruits there are plenty of choices when it comes to incorporating healthy green fruits into your diet this season – all while benefiting from essential vitamins and minerals necessary for optimum health and well-being! Whether you’re looking to improve your immunity, get a boost of energy, or aid digestion these green fruits will certainly help get you there in no time at all!
More fruits by color
Green fruit recipes
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