1. Bengaluru blue grapesThe story goes that these grapes were brought to Karnataka by the Nizam of Hyderabad in the 18th century. The taste is very distinct and easy to recognise due to the methyl anthranilate content in it.
2. Namdhari watermelonThe Namdhari watermelons are said to be juicy, though not too sweet, making them great for salads. They also contain arginine which helps with insulin control.
3. Allahabad surkha guavaSaid to be a ‘bite of heaven’, this guava from Allahabad is so loved and relished that even Akbar Allahabadi — a well-known poet from Prayagraj — complimented the fruit. What makes it different from its competitor guavas is the lush pink colour inside.
4. Kashmiri golden appleHistory tells us before the 16th century, Shamir rulers laid out orchards in the Kashmir Valley and how this was the precursor of the apple.
5. Mandarin orangeIn 1805, the fruit travelled from China to England where it came to be known as ‘mandarin’ due to the language spoken by ‘Mandarins’ or public officials. These oranges contain more beta-carotene than other varieties.
6. Kanker custard appleEnriched with lutein and zeaxanthin, the fruit is a storehouse of antioxidants that help the body fight free radicals.
7. Mizo passion fruitA special component ‘piceatannol’ in the fruit makes it a good choice for diabetics as this compound increases insulin sensitivity.
8. Ratnagiri alphonsoThe earliest name of the fruit was amra-phal, which transformed into aam-kaay in South India and then to maamkaay. This then evolved into maanga, and finally, it was the Portuguese who named the fruit ‘mango’.
9. Tezpur litchiOften referred to as the ‘alligator strawberry’, the litchi has been said to have one of the juiciest textures and flavours of all fruits.
10. Anteri kiwiThe fruit grew so wildly that the people of Arunachal Pradesh would feed it to their livestock as they weren’t aware of how exotic the fruit was. It was only later when kiwis began to be exported that people saw the demand for them in the market.