Looking for fruits that start with C? If you are looking for cooking inspiration or to win a game this is the most complete and updated list you’ll find.
There are plenty of fruits that start with the letter C, but what are they? And what do they taste like?
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular fruits that start with C. We’ll also give you a little bit of information about each one, so you can decide which ones you want to try!
And remember to also check this post with all the fruits that start with H!
Jump to:
- Cantaloupe
- Clementine
- Cranberries
- Cherimoya
- Cherries
- Canary melon
- Cashew apples
- Crab apple
- Chinese quince
- Chestnuts
- Cavendish banana
- Chinese white pear
- Courgette
- Calamansi
- Cubanelle
- Cucumbers
- Coconut
- Carob
- Ceylon gooseberry
- Caqui or persimmon
- Conference pear
- Cluster fig
- Cortland apple
- Cocoplum
- Carambola or starfruit
- Cornelian cherry
- Citrus fruits
- Currants
- Cacao fruit
- Caper berries
- Canistel or egg fruit
- Cherry tomato
- Calabash or bottle gourd
- Calamondis
- Cape gooseberry
- Cedar bay cherries
- Campedak fruit
- Chayote fruit
- Caimito fruit
- Chocolate pudding fruit
- Chokeberry
Cantaloupe
Of course, everyone knows cantaloupe! It’s a type of melon that has orange flesh with greenish-yellow skin. Cantaloupes are incredibly sweet, and sometimes even rich tasting. They are also packed with water and super hydrating.
Clementine
A clementine is the smallest variety of mandarin oranges. Clementines are easy to peel since they’re seedless, and they taste really good! In fact, many people describe clementines as being a cross between an orange and a tangerine.
Cranberries
These bright red berries grow on shrubs in wet areas of New England, the Great Lakes regions of North America, and Eastern Canada. They have a tart flavor, and are commonly eaten fresh, canned, or used to make cranberry sauce.
Cherimoya
You might think this fruit looks strange (it kind of does), but you’ll love it’s creamy texture! Cherimoyas taste like a combination of pineapple, honey, and vanilla. They’re also very high in vitamin C.
Cherries
Who doesn’t love cherries? They’re a sweet and sour fruit that is usually red in color, but can also be black or yellow. Cherries are usually eaten fresh, cooked, canned, or made into jams and jellies.
They are probably one of the most well known fruits that start with C and with reason, they are incredibly delicious and indulgent.
Canary melon
Canary melons are also sometimes referred to as wax melons. They’re a type of muskmelon, and they have a bright yellow color and a white-ish flesh. Canary melons taste sweet and refreshing!
Cashew apples
These small, apple-like fruits are actually the swollen base of the cashew nut. Their flesh is juicy and very sweet, but they’re incredibly high in calories!
From the bottom of the cashew apple a small green cashew grows. This is the one we are used to eating roasted and salted.
Cashew apples are used to make juices and sweets in some parts of the world.
Crab apple
Crab apples are small, unassuming fruits that grow in temperate regions throughout the world. They have a crisp texture and sour flavor.
Chinese quince
Chinese quinces are absolutely delicious! They’re hard, yellow fruits that taste like a combination of apple and pear. There are a lot of different ways to serve quince! One of the most popular ones is candied but it can also be made in a sweet treat served with a thick syrup.
Chestnuts
Chestnuts are sweet and nutty. They’re very high in carbohydrates, which is why they’re often roasted and eaten as a snack. If you visit Italy, you’ll find that chestnut puree is used to make a delicious ice cream!
Cavendish banana
Most people love bananas because they’re easy to transport and eat. Cavendish bananas, like the name suggests, are the most popular variety of banana sold in stores today! They’re very sweet and contain potassium and vitamin C.
Cavendish bananas have a yellow skin and a cream colored flesh. You can use them to make things like banana bread and smoothies!
Chinese white pear
This fruit is native to China. Chinese white pears are small with white skin and juicy, sweet flesh. They’re usually eaten like an apple or made into sweets like jams.
Chinese white pear is also known as Asian pear or Nashi Pear.
It tastes like pineapple and honey with some sweet floral undertones.
Courgette
You might be wondering what a courgette is! Well, it’s actually just another word for zucchini! Zucchini are incredibly popular in the United States. It grows on climbing vines and has pale green skin with very watery flesh inside.
Zucchini is actually a fruit even tho we always serve it as a vegetable.
Calamansi
Calamansi is a small, round fruit native to the Philippines. Its skin is yellow-orange and its flesh is acidic and sour.
Calamansi juice is often used as a cooking ingredient or garnish in Filipino, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Singaporean, and some Chinese cuisines!
Cubanelle
Cubanelles are sweet peppers that can be harvested at their green or yellow phases. The yellow phase is sweeter than the green, but they’re both delicious and low in calories.
They are also known as Cuban pepper or Italian frying pepper and are used in Latin American cuisine. They have a mild spiciness level.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are popular all over the world and can be found in cuisines from Japan to North America! They’re great for eating fresh or pickling. Sometimes, we use them as a garnish or an ingredient.
Cucumbers are a member of the melon family which is why they can be considered a fruit too.
Coconut
Coconuts are probably the most popular fruit that starts with C! You can find them in many different countries and their milk, flesh, milk, and oil all have uses.
You might recognize it as a popular ingredient for cocktails like pina coladas! But there are so many other things you can do with coconut too.
You can use coconuts on recipes like curries, desserts like cakes or cookies, and even make products like shampoo!
Carob
Carob is a fruit native to the Mediterranean and Middle East. It’s used as an ingredient in baked goods but also has medicinal properties!
It’s ground into powder and tastes similar to cocoa, which is why it can be substituted for chocolate in some recipes.
Ceylon gooseberry
They’re small with green skin and soft, juicy flesh. Their tart flavor is a mix between sour cherry and sweet grape.
The fruit can be eaten fresh or dried for use in teas, jams, jellies, juices, ande sauces. They are usually prepared with sugar or served with another fruit to mellow out their intense tart flavor.
Caqui or persimmon
Caqui or persimmon has a thin skin that’s either red-orange or yellow-orange. Its flesh is soft and sweet.
Persimmons are native to Asian countries like China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. They’re very popular at the beginning of fall because they last a long time if kept in a cold place!
It can be eaten right off the tree, dried for snacking ,or ripe to make desserts like puddings, pies, smoothies, cakes ,and more .
Conference pear
Conference pears have a yellow waxy skin and a light green to white flesh. They’re very sweet but also have a soft texture .
They were named after the city of Quebec where they used to be grown in large quantities until the 1960s!
Cluster fig
They’re small but taste like figs that are filled with nectar, making them incredibly juicy.
Cluster figs are usually eaten fresh and raw by splitting the fruit down the middle to expose its seeds .
Cortland apple
The Cortland is a cross between two other popular apples: the McIntosh and Red Delicious!
Cortlands have a light red color and yellow-green spots on their skin. With its crisp, white flesh and sweet flavor, they’re great for eating fresh or baking with !
Cocoplum
Cocoplums are native to the Caribbean and Southern Asia. They have pinkish-red skin with yellow flesh inside!
Its pulp has a jelly-like texture, but it’s also used in syrup , canned fruit cocktails, jams, jellies, pies, gelatin desserts, ice cream ,and drinks .
Carambola or starfruit
Carambolas are yellow with five sides. Carambolas have a sweet and sour flavor with a lot of tartness.
They’re very popular in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Southern China, and Taiwan where they’ve been grown for hundreds of years. They are a delicious but exotic fruit that starts with C
Sweeter varieties have a higher carbohydrate content, including dietary fiber and sugar.
Cornelian cherry
Cornelians are native to the Mediterranean region. They have a red skin and flesh, but it’s nearly impossible to eat them fresh because they’re very tart !
The juice is concentrated into syrup, jelly, or jam. It can also be canned along with whole cherries for people who want to try eating it fresh.
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes are all technically considered to be fruits because they contain seeds!
They’re very popular in recipes and can give dishes an entire new flavor .
Currants
Currants are black, red, or white berries that are either small and seedless or tiny with seeds.
They’re native to Europe where they were used as a traditional remedy for bladder infections! They can be eaten fresh or dried in teas, jams, jellies ,and pies .
Cacao fruit
Did you know that chocolate comes from cacao fruits?
Cacao is native to tropical areas of the Americas. It has a brownish-purple skin and flesh, where its seeds are found .
They can be ground up to make cocoa powder or cocoa butter which is used in baked goods, candy ,and hot cocoa!
Caper berries
Capers are the fruit of a plant that grows in the Mediterranean region. They’re green with a bumpy surface .
They’re usually pickled or preserved in salt to be eaten fresh or added to dishes for extra flavor!
Canistel or egg fruit
Canistel or egg fruit has a brown skin and orange flesh. It’s native to the subtropical regions of Southeast Asia .
It can be used in ice cream, jelly, sherbet ,or eaten fresh with salt and chili pepper !
Cherry tomato
They’re smaller than regular tomatoes and have a sweeter taste! Tomatoes, while usually served as a vegetable are actually a fruit!
They’re very popular in the United States where they’re usually eaten raw . Cherry tomatoes are also used in sauces, salsas, salads, and more.
Calabash or bottle gourd
Calabash or bottle gourds are popular in North Africa, West Asia, and South Asia. They grow with a greenish-yellow skin and white flesh!
The pulp is rich in anti-oxidants like vitamin C ,Folic acid, beta carotene ,and Iron.
Calamondis
They’re a cross between a kiwi fruit and a grapefruit, making them juicy fruits with a tangy taste!
This small orange fruit has been grown for hundreds of years in the South Pacific.
Its juice can be squeezed into drinks or mixed with other juices.
Cape gooseberry
Cape gooseberries have a yellowish green exterior with a paper like coat and are native to South America.
They’re usually served as a dessert or can be used in salads, salsas, or spreads.
Cedar bay cherries
Cedar bay cherries are small, round fruit with a red flesh and shiny black seeds. They’re native to Southeast Asia .
They can be eaten fresh or used in jams, jellies ,or baking!
Campedak fruit
It’s a fruit that’s very similar to jackfruit. It’s grown in Southeast Asia, India, and the Philippines.
Its skin is spiky, bumpy and green with a white flesh inside! The campedak fruit can be eaten fresh or used to make juice .
Chayote fruit
It’s a green pear-shaped fruit that has been grown in Central America and the Caribbean for hundreds of years .
Chayote is used in stews, soups, or can even be fried!
Caimito fruit
The Caimito fruit is related to the star apple and has a green exterior with white flesh. It’s native to Central America .
It can be eaten fresh or used in jams, jellies ,or baking!
Chocolate pudding fruit
This small tan-colored fruit has an oblong shape. The chocolate pudding fruit can be found in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America.
They’re usually eaten fresh after removing the brown skin and a brown flesh that looks just like black pudding.
They are also known as black sapote.
Chokeberry
Chokeberries are dark purple in color and have a tart flavor. They grow in areas of the United States, Europe ,and Asia .
They can be eaten fresh with their seeds or used in juices, jams, jellies, and baking!
If you’re looking for a way to get your kids excited about eating their fruits, this list will provide some inspiration. There are many varieties of fruit that start with the letter C!
And while there are some really good obscure options perfect for winning word games there are also other fairly popular ones, like cherries, cranberries and cantaloupes that you can get from your local grocery store.