Welcome to our fruity series! Are you ready to read about fruits that start with J?
Do any J fruits ring a bell?
The only fruit most of us already know that start with J are the jackfruit.
But in this beautiful world of exotic fruits, there are so many fruits yet to discover.
Many regions have their own specialty when it comes to exotic fruits, and the fun part is there are so many fruits they have discovered and eaten for centuries that start with the letter J.
Not all of them are available in the U.S. but they are out there, and it’s fun to learn more about them!
We at CookingChew.com have come up with a quick list and a few facts about some of the fruits that start with the letter J.
They might not be available for you to try right now, but somewhere across this big blue ball we call Earth, fellow humans may get lucky to have a bite of these nature’s gifts!
Fruits That Start With J
1. Jackfruit
The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is also known as the jack tree, jakfruit, or sometimes simply jack.
It is a species of tree in the mulberry family hailing from the southern U.S. and Southeast Asia.
The fruit is stumpy, elongated, and about 1 to 3 cm wide and varies in color from green to brown to reddish-purple depending on the cultivar.
2. Java Apple
Java Apple is a small, round apple with green skin and yellow flesh that comes from Indonesia.
It has a sweet flavor, which makes it a good choice for applesauce or baking.
The origin of the Java Apple is unclear.
It may have come from China or Japan.
3. Jabuticaba or Jaboticaba
The jabuticaba, also known as the jaboticaba, is a fruit that grows on a tree native to Brazil.
It was first discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 1500s and has since been cultivated throughout the world.
The fruit itself is about 2 inches long and has a thick skin covered in bumps.
The flesh is soft and purple when ripe, with a taste similar to grapes or plums.
4. Junglesop
Junglesop is a species of flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family.
The species is endemic to the Island of Madagascar.
The plant bears fruits that are capsules, which reveal a custard-like flesh, with a ripe flavor similar to a peach.
The plant has a history that dates back to around 10,000 years.
5. Jacaratia Spinosa
Jacaratia Spinosa is a small tropical tree that can grow up to 12 feet tall.
The fruit of this tree is a capsule that splits open to reveal black seeds surrounded by a fleshy pulp.
Jacaratia Spinosa grows in tropical forests throughout South America, including parts of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
6. Jacaratia Mexicana
Jacaratia Mexicana is a small tree that grows in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.
It is also known as Mexican Carob or Mexican Locust Bean.
Jacaratia Mexicana has a variety of uses, from sweeteners to dyes to medicines.
The seed pods can be used to make an alcoholic drink called pulque.
The pulp surrounding the seeds can be turned into a sweet syrup called cajeta de azucar, often used as a topping for ice cream or other desserts.
7. Japanese Quince
The Japanese quince, or Chaenomeles japonica, is a small deciduous shrub from East Asia.
The plant is known for its fragrant flowers, and small red fruits often used to make preserves and jams.
8. Java plum or Jamun
The Java plum, also known as the Jamun tree, is a native of South and Southeast Asia.
The fruit grows in clusters of two or three together along the branches and is round or oval, with a yellow or red skin that turns black when ripe.
9. Jocote
Jocote is a type of fruit that grows on trees in the Americas.
It’s also known as jujube and has been cultivated for thousands of years.
Jocotes are native to Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras.
The jocote tree is known for its beautiful flowers and round fruit, which can be yellow or red when ripe.
The jocote has had many uses, including medicinal purposes such as treating colds or flu symptoms, reducing fevers through sweating methods like steam baths, or drinking warm liquids such as tea from boiled jocote leaves mixed with ginger root powder.
10. Japanese Plum or Apricot
The Japanese plum, or apricot, is one of the most popular fruits in Japan.
It’s also grown throughout Korea and China but is not as well known in the rest of the world.
The Japanese plum has a long history as a food source in East Asia.
It was first cultivated at least 500 years ago in China, where it was used to make wine and dried as a sweet snack.
It was introduced to Japan by monks who traveled between China and Japan around 400 AD.
11. Jamaican tangelo
The Jamaican tangelo is a hybrid citrus fruit that was first developed in Jamaica.
It’s a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit, which means it has the best of both worlds: sweet, juicy tangerine flavor with the tartness of grapefruit.
12. Jabara
The Jabara fruit, also known as the yuzu, is a citrus fruit similar to the grapefruit.
They are native to China.
Jabara fruit is a small round or oval-shaped yellow or orange fruit with a thick rind and a juicy pulp with an aroma similar to lime or lemon.
The flavor is sweet and sour at the same time, with hints of mandarin orange and tangerine.
The juice of the Jabara fruit can be used in recipes for drinks such as smoothies or cocktails like margaritas if it’s not too bitter.
You can also use it in sauces for chicken dishes or on fish like salmon or tuna when grilling them on the BBQ grill outside during summertime!
13. Japanese Pears
Japanese pears are a juicy, sweet, and delicious fruit originating in China.
They were introduced to Japan in the late 1800s and have become a staple of Japanese cuisine.
The Japanese pear, also called a Japanese Apple Pear, or Asian Pear, is an extremely popular fruit in Asia, but its popularity has spread worldwide in the past few years.
14. Jujube
Not to be confused with the gummy candy drop, Jujube is a fruit that grows on a tree native to China, where it has been cultivated for centuries.
The name comes from the Chinese term “Zizhuyu,” which means “golden date.”
It is an ancient fruit that was originally cultivated for medicinal purposes.
It has been used as a folk medicine in China for thousands of years and is still used today in traditional Chinese medicine to treat ailments such as diarrhea and dysentery.
15. Juneberry
Juneberry, also known as shadbush, is a native fruit of North America.
The name “shadbush” comes from the fact that shad fish are known to swim upstream in the Potomac River during their spawning migration in the spring, which coincides with the Juneberry’s ripening season.
They are also cultivated commercially for sale as an ornamental plant or for use in home gardens, where their showy flowers make them desirable additions to flower beds and borders throughout much of summertime.
16. Jostaberry
Jostaberry is a hybrid cross between a black currant and a gooseberry.
The name “Jostaberrie” was given to this new variety by the European Union for its similarity to the German word “Jost,” which means “cherry.”
The Jostaberry has a similar taste and texture to blueberries and blackberries, making them ideal for use in pies, jams, jellies, syrups, and sauces.
They can also be eaten fresh from the bush or cooked into soups and desserts such as cobblers or pies.
17. Juniper Berry
The Juniper Berry is a small, blue berry that grows on the evergreen shrub of the same name.
The berries have been used for centuries in medicine, cooking, and even in the creation of gin.
The juniper berry is native to Europe and Asia but has been used in North America for centuries.
The juniper berry contains an essential oil that makes it bitter and spicy.
It can be used to flavor foods like game meats, stews, and soups or as a garnish on meat dishes.
18. Jatoba
Jatoba, also known as Brazilian Cherry and Ironwood, is a hardwood that can be found in South America.
The fruit is a round pod about 2 inches long and 1 inch wide with several seeds.
They can be eaten raw or cooked for consumption; however, they have an extremely bitter taste when eaten raw.
19. Jelly Palm Fruit
Jelly Palm is a plant that grows natively in the rainforests of the Philippines.
It’s also a highly decorative plant with beautiful flowers and fruits that range from green to red depending on their ripeness.
The leaves are round and thick, giving rise to its common name, “Jelly Palm.”
This makes them look like jellyfish when they’re swaying in the breeze, which is why some call this plant “Jellyfish Palm.”
20. Japanese Persimmon
The Japanese Persimmon is a tree native to Japan and has been cultivated there for at least 2,000 years.
It is also grown in Korea and China.
This fruit comprises four separate carpels (like sections of an orange), each containing numerous seeds.
The fruits are 2 and 6 inches long and have light brown skin that turns bright orange when ripe.
The flesh inside is usually yellowish-orange or orange-red, depending on the variety.
It can be very sweet when ripe; however, if it’s not quite ripe yet, it can taste bland or even bitter.
21. Jonathan Apple
Jonathan Apple fruit is a fairly new addition to the apple family.
While it is not as well known as other apples, such as Granny Smith or Red Delicious, it has been growing in popularity over the last few years.
The Jonathan Apple is a cross between two other types of apples: McIntosh and Rambo.
It is crisp and juicy with a sweet flavor similar to McIntosh apples but without their tartness or bitterness.
The bottom line
Isn’t the Earth incredible?
Lots of wonderful fruits that start with J from around the world, and you can learn them all!
Did you think of any that we listed here?
Or did you know of a few that we forgot?
Let us know which one you have tried and are willing to try among these 21 letter J fruits.
Other Fruits That Start With
21 Jolly Good Fruits That Start With J
Welcome to our fruity series! Are you ready to read about fruits that start with J?
Ingredients
- Jackfruit
- Java Apple
- Jabuticaba or Jaboticaba
- Junglesop
- Jacaratia Spinosa
- Jacaratia Mexicana
- Japanese Quince
- Java plum or Jamun
- Jocote
- Japanese Plum or Apricot
- Jamaican Tangelo
- Jabara
- Japanese Pears
- Jujube
- Juneberry
- Jostaberry
- Juniper Berry
- Jatoba
- Jelly Palm Fruit
- Japanese Persimmon
- Jonathan Apple
Instructions
- Choose two or three Fruits That Start With J that you want to try.
- Tell us why you want to eat them.