12 Exotic Tropical Fruits You've Never Heard Of: Snake Fruit Will Amaze Your Taste Buds

11. Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum)

Related to cocoa, cupuaçu is a big fruit native of the Amazon jungle sometimes known as "Brazil's next superfruit." With white, fragrant pulp and a sophisticated flavour profile combining aspects of chocolate, pineapple, and pear with subdued vanilla overtones, the fruit boasts a thick, hard brown shell. The pulp encircles big seeds that can be ground similarly to cocoa to create a chocolate-like product. The cosmetics business values the butter of the fruit especially for its moisturising qualities.

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Antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals abound in cupuaçu; especially B vitamins and fatty acids Up to 20 metres tall, the trees depend on particular environmental conditions found in the Amazon rainforest. Traditionally, local people have employed several portions of the tree—especially the bark and seeds—for medical needs.