Cuban Fruits: +23 Fruits You Need To Try!

Want to know what are some of the popular Cuban fruits? In this post we outline all the native fruits from Cuba to inspire you on your next trip.

Cuban fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. These fruits are used to make drinks, ice creams, snacks or desserts. Some of them like plantain are served as side dishes with meat or fish dishes to eat together with rice.

Cuban fruits are delicious, juicy and packed with flavor

Cuban cuisine is also famous for using tropical fruit flavors to make alcoholic beverages like guarapo and rum.

Cuban Fruits You Need to Try

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Also if you are planning a trip or looking to incorporate some Central American and Caribbean exotic fruits in your diet make sure to check this list with the best Guatemala fruits.

Guava or Guayaba

Guava is a popular Cuban fruit produced in Cuba, but also in the rest of Latin America. It is a round to oval fruit with thin skin.

The most known varieties are yellow and pink. The flesh of this fruit can be white or red and stays firm even when ripe.

Guava is used in Cuban cuisine as a fruit for consumption fresh, to make jellies and juices.

Dulce de guayaba is a popular dish you need to try when visiting la Havana.

Dulce de guayaba is a popular Cuban treat

Mamoncillo

Mamoncillo or Mamasucre is a very popular Cuban fruit. It has a green skin and the flesh is white with crunchy seeds. This fruit can be purchased in any market and it stays firm during ripening.

Mamey

Mamey is another native Cuban fruit grown in Cuba. The flesh of this fruit is orange and has a unique taste, very sweet.

This fruit is used to make juices, pulp and ice cream.

Banana

Banana is a very popular fruit worldwide. Cuban banana or Plantain variety is long and firm, not as sweet as the Cavendish type. It is used in many recipes including fried plantains.

Plantains

This is a fruit that’s served as a savory dish. Plantains are green when unripe and yellow when ripe. Plantains are used in dishes like tostones or fufu. Plantain is also used to prepare desserts like flan de plátano, tres leches cake and many others.

Soursop or guanabana

Soursop or Guanabana is a tropical fruit with dark green flesh. It has a strong taste and creamy texture. You can eat it fresh, make juice or ice cream.

Breadfruit

Native to South America but was also cultivated in Caribbean. Breadfruit is used as another carbohydrate source in Cuban cooking.

Star Apple

Star apple is a native Cuban fruit popular in the rest of Latin America. The flesh of this fruit is white and soft with black seeds, very sweet and juicy.

Mango

Cuban mango comes from the Caribbean, Mexico or Central America. Cuban mango is green to orange in color with a very soft texture. It has medium size and its flavor is creamy.

Coconut

Cubans eat coconut mostly for breakfast, but this fruit can be used in many dishes including desserts .

Tamarind

Tamarind is a very special fruit from Africa also used in many recipes in Cuba. You can buy tamarind pulp in any market or juice.

Papaya or Pawpaw called frutabomba y Cuba

Cubans love papaya so much so they call it their “National Fruit”. Papayas grow easily and can be found in any market, but Cuban variety is small to medium size compared with other countries. It has yellow skin and sweet flesh.

Watermelon

Cuban watermelon is smaller than the American or European but it tastes really good and refreshing. It has a crunchy and sweet flavor.

Sugar Cane

Sugar cane is used to make homemade juice, “refrescos”, ron (rum) and also exported. You can find sugar cane in many small street markets and it is cheap. Cuban sugar cane is very sweet because Cuba has a good climate for growing this crop.

Pineapple

Fresh Cuban pineapple is great! This fruit is sweet and juicy with medium size. It is used to make salads, juices or desserts.

Passion Fruit or Granadilla

Cuban passion fruit has yellow-orange pulp and black seeds. You can find this tropical fruit in any market year round and it stays firm. it’s used for making juice and desserts.

Cherimoya

Cherimoya is a very special fruit native to South America but also grown in Cuba. The flesh of this fruit is white, soft with black seeds and a unique flavor.

Níspero or Nispera del Japones

Nísperos are brown fruit with white flesh and soft seeds. These fruits are used in juices and desserts. Níspero trees stay small and grow well in pots.

Nispero tastes like apple and pineapple, very mild yet refreshing.

Jocote

Jocotes are yellow-orange fruit with red flesh. Jocote trees are very easy to grow and they produce a lot of fruits. This fruit is used in making jocotes glace or jams, among other desserts.

Grapefruit

Cubans eat grapefruit in the morning or with a salad. Grapefruits are big and juicy, sweet yet sour-tasting.

You can findgrapefruit is almost all tourist restaurants and spots.

Carambola

Carambola is a tropical fruit with yellow skin and green flesh full of black seeds. This fruit is very juicy with a unique taste. Carambolas are used in salads or juices.

Camu Camu

Cubans use the juice of this fruit to make a vitamin C drink, mixed with water and sugar. Camucamu is native to South America but grown in Cuba too. This fruit is small yellow-orange when ripe with very sour taste.

Caimito Fruit

Caimitos are sweet soft fruits with white flesh and black seeds. They grow in bunches like grapes and it grows really well on the trunks of older trees. Caimito is a popular Cuban fruit used to make ice cream, desserts or served fresh.