Fruits are indeed a nutritious addition to your everyday diet. Besides giving your regular dose of natural minerals and vitamins, fruits can interest your food. In addition, they are fun to experiment with new recipes like a fruity punch, sorbet, milkshake, pudding, jam, and so on. You might already know the health benefits of common fruits like guava, orange, banana, or apple, and it is essential to learn more about some of the uncommon fruits packed with loads of benefits.
If you want to try new fruit recipes or include other fruits to boost your immunity levels, adding these fresh fruits can make your mealtime enjoyable. Since our team loves to take up challenging tasks, we thought, why not create a list of fruits that start with the letter “I”? Read on to learn more about these fruits from different countries across the globe, such as Africa, India, Australia, Japan, and more.
List of Top Fruits That Start With The Letter I
1. Ice Apple
You will love this Asian fruit with a distinct flavor that grows on tall palm trees. Flaunting a transparent jelly-like edible part that looks like ice cubes, this fruit releases excellent juice when you bite its moist flesh. This fruit is called Wine Palm, Palmyra Palm, or Doub Palm. The outer cover of the ice apple is thick and resembles a turnip or eggplant.
Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
---|---|
Calories | 147 |
Carbohydrates | 32.8g |
Protein | 1.5g |
Fat | 0.1g |
Fiber | 3.6g |
Vitamin C | 22.3mg |
Calcium | 60mg |
Iron | 0.6mg |
Potassium | 356mg |
Sodium | 17mg |
2. Icaco Fruit
Icaco(Chrysobalanus icaco) is popularly known as the Coconut Plum, which grows mainly in the American tropical forest along the coastal region and on the African Coast. This fruit is similar to plum fruit in terms of shape and size. Icacos grow in bunches and acquire bright red to light pink shade when ripe. The flavor of this fruit is mildly sweet with a bit of sourness and tartness. The seeds of this fruit are ground into a fine powder and used as a spice in cooking.
Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
---|---|
Calories | 66 |
Carbohydrates | 16.6g |
Protein | 0.7g |
Fat | 0.3g |
Fiber | 1.4g |
Vitamin C | 45.4mg |
Vitamin A | 55mcg |
Calcium | 17mg |
Potassium | 232mg |
Magnesium | 9mg |
3. Indian Plum
Also known as the Indian Hog Plum(Ziziphus mauritiana), the Portuguese first used this fruit during the 17th century. It is widely available in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Africa. Indian Plum is slightly bigger than cranberry and has a sweet flavor. This fruit is often used in pickles, chutneys, and curries.
Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
---|---|
Calories | 79 |
Carbohydrates | 20.2g |
Protein | 1.2g |
Fat | 0.2g |
Fiber | 4.2g |
Vitamin C | 69mg |
Vitamin B6 | 0.1mg |
Iron | 1mg |
Potassium | 250mg |
Magnesium | 10mg |
4. Indian Gooseberry
This gooseberry is known as Amla in India for its sour and sweet flavor. Possessing an array of medicinal properties, this fruit is widely used to prepare Ayurvedic medicines, hair oils, hair packs, and henna packs.
Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
---|---|
Calories | 44 |
Carbohydrates | 10.9g |
Protein | 0.9g |
Fat | 0.6g |
Fiber | 4.3g |
Vitamin C | 27.7mg |
Vitamin A | 290IU |
Calcium | 25mg |
Iron | 0.3mg |
Potassium | 198mg |
5. Indian Strawberry
Popularly known as wild strawberry or mock strawberry, this fruit and its leaves have medicinal properties and are edible. It has a bland flavor resembling watermelon rind and grows on a runner plant. The fruits are red and look like mini-sized strawberries. It is widely used in China for medicines and as an ornamental plant in the US.
Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
---|---|
Calories | 18 |
Carbohydrates | 4.2g |
Protein | 0.5g |
Fat | 0.2g |
Fiber | 2.5g |
Vitamin C | 14.3mg |
Calcium | 20mg |
Iron | 0.5mg |
Magnesium | 10mg |
Potassium | 166mg |
6. Ilama Fruit
This tropical fruit originates from Central America and flaunts a unique shape covered with dragon-like scales. When ripe, the Ilama fruit turns pinkish and acquires a tart flavor. But, when the fruit is unripe and the skin is green, the pulp is tender, soft like custard, and sugary.
Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
---|---|
Calories | 107 |
Carbohydrates | 27.5g |
Protein | 1.2g |
Fat | 0.3g |
Fiber | 2.1g |
Vitamin C | 29mg |
Calcium | 15mg |
Iron | 0.5mg |
Potassium | 385mg |
Magnesium | 17mg |
7. Imbu Fruit
Imbu fruit(Spondias tuberose) or Umbu has Northeast Brazil as its native region. This Brazilian plum is small-sized and is available in yellow or green color, similar to limes. When this fruit is ripe, it becomes red and tastes like sweet oranges. It is a potent source of vitamin C and can improve your immunity levels. This fruit is mainly used in ice creams, jams, and cheese preparations. The best feature of this fruit is that its skin is also edible and can be eaten raw.
Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
---|---|
Calories | 44 |
Carbohydrates | 11.2g |
Protein | 0.6g |
Fat | 0.3g |
Fiber | 4.4g |
Vitamin C | 12.2mg |
Vitamin A | 54IU |
Calcium | 14mg |
Iron | 0.2mg |
Potassium | 154mg |
8. Inca berry Fruit
Despite belonging to the berry family, Incaberry(Physalis peruviana) is unknown to many. It is also known as golden berry or cape gooseberry, as its leaves are shaped like a cape. When ripe, this fruit changes into a beautiful golden bronze shade with a delicious aroma. This berry has a sour and sweet taste, which makes it perfect for preparing jams, sauces, and puddings.
Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
---|---|
Calories | 53 |
Carbohydrates | 11.2g |
Protein | 1.9g |
Fat | 0.7g |
Fiber | 3g |
Vitamin C | 11mg |
Vitamin A | 724IU |
Calcium | 9mg |
Iron | 2mg |
Potassium | 303mg |
9. Illawarra Plum
Illawarra Plum(Podocarpus elatus), or plum pine, is a native fruit of Australia and Queensland. It looks like a blueberry and is purple. The seeds of this fruit are studded on the outer layer of its skin, which can be removed before popping into your mouth. This fruit can be eaten raw or used as a significant ingredient in savory recipes, jams, cakes, and ice creams.
Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
---|---|
Calories | 41 |
Carbohydrates | 10.6g |
Protein | 0.5g |
Fat | 0.2g |
Fiber | 2.5g |
Vitamin C | 13mg |
Calcium | 14mg |
Iron | 0.6mg |
Potassium | 132mg |
Magnesium | 6mg |
10. Imbe Fruit
Imbe fruit(Garcinia Livingstone) is commonly found in South Africa, earning it the nickname “African Mangosteen.” This tropical fruit has a delicious citrusy flavor, perfectly balanced by sweetness and sourness. It can be enjoyed by consuming it raw along with the skin or squeezing its juice out. This fruit is similar to a peach fruit and has tiny stiff leaves. It can be used to make juice, salads, or porridge.
Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
---|---|
Calories | 51 |
Carbohydrates | 12.9g |
Protein | 0.8g |
Fat | 0.3g |
Fiber | 1.9g |
Vitamin C | 0.8mg |
Vitamin A | 63IU |
Calcium | 9mg |
Iron | 0.4mg |
Potassium | 190mg |
11. Indonesian Lime
Indonesian Lime, or kaffir lime, is the native fruit of Southern China and the Southeast Asian region. Asians use the leaves of this fruit to prepare their ancient dishes like Cambodian Kreung and Thai Tom Yum. The rind of this citrus fruit is candied or used as the main ingredient in Thai curry paste. The extract from Indonesian lime tree leaves is used to prepare essential oils and perfumes.
Use our list of fruits that start with the letter “I” to improve your knowledge about fruits. Most of the fruits on this list are exotic and have a unique appearance. If you find some of these fruits in your locality, try them out and let us know.
FAQs for Fruits That Start With The Letter I
Which of the fruits starting with I are rich in Vitamin C?
Among the fruits beginning with I, Indian Gooseberry (Amla) and Inca Berry (Golden Berry or Cape Gooseberry) are high in vitamin C. Indian Gooseberry has 27.7mg, and Inca Berry contains 11mg of vitamin C per 100g of fruit. Indian Plum (Jujube or Ber) also has vitamin C, with 69mg per 100g of fruit.
Which fruits starting with I are rich in fiber?
Fruits rich in fiber include the Indian Plum (Jujube or Ber), with 4.2g per 100g of fruit. Ice Apple and Ilama Fruit also have 3.6g and 2.1g per 100g of fruit, respectively.
Which fruits starting with I have the lowest sugar content?
Ice Apple and Indian Gooseberry (Amla) has low in sugar, with less than 10g of sugar per 100g of fruit.
Which fruits starting with I are good for weight loss?
Below are the fruits that are good for weight loss –
- Indian Gooseberry (Amla): 44 calories per 100g and high in fiber
- Illawarra Plum: 41 calories per 100g and high in fiber
- Ice Apple: 147 calories per 100g and high in fiber