fruit season in thailand

FRUIT SEASON IN Thailand Like the charming people, exotic fruit greets you on almost every corner in Thailand. The country's fertile plains and hot tropical climate, as well as its more temperate northern regions, means that pretty much anything grows here. As a result, few places on earth can claim to have such a plentiful supply of gorgeous and tasty fruit. Take advantage of this abundance by trying as many as possible. Yes, many may, at first sight, seem strange – the spiky stinker durian being the best example. But rest assured, once you've had a try you'll soon be chomping nonstop. Not only is fruit cheap, healthy and nutritious, it's also a great way to rehydrate – a superb snack. If you're feeling really adventurous, why not also take a leap of faith and try your portion the way the locals have it – with a small bag of salt, sugar and chilli?

FRUIT SEASON IN Thailand 1 Mango-Ma-Muang One of the most well-known fruits in Thailand, there are many varieties of delicious, refreshing mango and a few different ways of eating it. When ripe, it can be halved and eaten with a spoon, while many choose to enjoy it with sticky rice and coconut milk (Khao Niew Ma-Muang). Others like to eat it half-ripe and dip the crunchy slices in sugar. Also makes a wonderful juice.

2 Mangosteen Mang-Kut Little known outside Thailand, the mangosteen is a bizarre-looking fruit that contains in its round, deep purple shell a delicate, flavorful white flesh that's eaten in sections. The number of sections found inside match the number of petals found on the bottom of the shell. A delicious, distinctive flavour also makes it wonderful for juices.

3 Rambutan-NgoR Its name is derived from the Malay word rambut, meaning 'hair' – a result of the fruit's red-and-yellow spiky rind. Peeling this away reveals a firm, white, translucent flesh, which the Thais are especially adept at delicately carving away from its large seed.

4 Durian (Tu-Rian) Surely the most controversial fruit on earth, durian is to its fans a rich, unique-tasting fruit. To its critics, it's a putrid-smelling, lame duck of a fruit. Its extremely strong aroma – which some say resembles rotting fruit down a blocked drain – let alone its aggressive look, is enough to put many off tasting it at all. Others swear by it. It's the most expensive of all Thai fruits and actually banned (yes banned!) from some public places, hotels and on planes.

5 Pineapple-Sapparod The Kingdom is one of the largest producers of this flavourful, juicy fruit. Growing year-round, it's best planted in sandy seacoast soil and grows on a low lying plant. It's an incredibly versatile fruit that finds its way into desserts, drinks and savoury dishes.

6 Papaya-Ma-La-Kaw A delicious year-round fruit that's at its best between March and June, the papaya is oval in shape and cut lengthways to remove the small black seeds in the middle. When ripe, the soft dark orange-coloured meat is full of flavour. Thais like to shred unripe papaya and mix it with lemon juice, chillies, peanuts and dried shrimp to make som tam – one of Thailand's favourite salads.