Have you ever felt stuck in a fruit market, buying the same old apples and bananas? I get it.

Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered. In this post, I’ll introduce you to 27 interesting fruits that start with the letter C.

You’ll find a mix of common favorites and exotic surprises that’ll make your taste buds dance.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• A diverse list of C-fruits from around the world
• Quick facts about each fruit’s taste and uses

Ready to expand your fruity horizons? Let’s dive into the tasty world of C-fruits!

List of Fruits That Start with C to Enjoy

1. Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe, originating from Persia, is a round melon with a netted rind and sweet, orange flesh. Its juicy, fragrant taste is perfect for refreshing summer dishes.

Fun Facts

• Cantaloupe seeds are edible and can be roasted.
• The fruit is one of the most consumed melons worldwide.

2. Carambola (Starfruit)

Carambola, native to Southeast Asia, is a star-shaped fruit with a waxy yellow-green skin and a sweet-tart flavor, often described as a mix between apple and citrus.

Fun Facts

• The cross-section of a starfruit resembles a star.
• Starfruit is popular in many tropical countries as a decorative dish element.

3. Cranberry

Cranberries, native to North America, are small, red berries with a tart, slightly bitter flavor. They are commonly consumed in juice form or as dried fruit.

Fun Facts

• Cranberries are known for their ability to bounce due to air pockets inside the fruit.
• They are a traditional part of Thanksgiving meals in the United States.

4. Cherry

Cherries, which originate from Asia, are small, round, and often bright red or deep purple. They are known for their sweet and slightly tart flavor, perfect for snacking or desserts.

Fun Facts

• Cherries have been cultivated since ancient times and were a favorite of Roman soldiers.
• The pit of a cherry contains small amounts of cyanide, though not harmful in small quantities.

5. Clementine

Clementines, a type of mandarin orange, originated in North Africa. They are small, seedless, and have a bright orange peel that’s easy to remove, making them a favorite snack fruit.

Fun Facts

• Clementines are often called “Christmas oranges” because of their popularity during the holiday season.
• They are a hybrid between a sweet orange and a mandarin.

6. Cashew Apple

The cashew apple, native to Brazil, is the swollen stem of the cashew fruit, with a yellow-red color and a sweet-tart taste. It is often overshadowed by the cashew nut.

Fun Facts

• The cashew apple is technically not a fruit but an accessory fruit.
• In some countries, the juice of the cashew apple is a popular beverage.

7. Currant

Currants, which are native to Europe, are small berries that come in black, red, and white varieties. They have a tart, tangy flavor and are often used in jams and desserts.

Fun Facts

• Blackcurrants were banned in the U.S. for several decades due to their role in spreading a tree-killing fungus.
• Currants are a key ingredient in traditional British Christmas puddings.

8. Chayote

Chayote, originating from Central America, is a green, pear-shaped vegetable-fruit with a crisp texture and mild, cucumber-like flavor, often used in savory dishes.

Fun Facts

• Chayote is also known as “vegetable pear” due to its shape.
• The entire plant, including roots, stems, and leaves, is edible.

9. Cloudberry

Cloudberries, native to the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, are golden-yellow berries with a tart flavor, similar to red currants or raspberries, highly prized in Scandinavian countries.

Fun Facts

• Cloudberries are also known as “baked apple berries” in some regions.
• They are a key ingredient in traditional Nordic dishes and liqueurs.

10. Coconut

Coconuts, which are native to tropical regions worldwide, are large, round fruits with a hard shell, filled with sweet, hydrating water and rich, white flesh.

Fun Facts

• Every part of the coconut can be used, from the water to the husk.
• Coconuts are often called the “tree of life” in tropical cultures due to their numerous uses.

11. Calamansi

Calamansi, originating from the Philippines, is a small, round citrus fruit with a green to orange rind and a sour, tangy flavor often used as a seasoning.

Fun Facts

• Calamansi is often used as a natural remedy for colds in the Philippines.
• It is also known as “Philippine lime” due to its widespread use in the country.

12. Cape Gooseberry

Cape Gooseberry, native to South America, is a small, round, yellow-orange fruit enclosed in a papery husk, with a sweet-tart flavor reminiscent of pineapple and cherry.

Fun Facts

• Cape Gooseberries are also known as “Inca berries” or “golden berries.”
• The fruit’s papery husk makes it a popular choice for decorative purposes.

13. Cacao (Cocoa Fruit)

Cacao, native to the Amazon Basin, is the fruit from which chocolate is made. It has a thick, leathery shell and contains a sweet, tangy pulp surrounding bitter seeds.

Fun Facts

• The word “Theobroma” means “food of the gods.”
• Cacao was used as currency by the ancient Mayans.

14. Cherimoya

Cherimoya, native to the Andes, is a green, heart-shaped fruit with a creamy texture and sweet, custard-like flavor, often described as a mix of banana, pineapple, and strawberry.

Fun Facts

• Cherimoya is often referred to as “the custard apple.”
• Mark Twain called cherimoya “the most delicious fruit known to men.”

15. Cucumber

Cucumber, which likely originated in South Asia, is a long, green fruit with a crisp texture and mild, refreshing flavor, often used in salads and pickles.

Fun Facts

• Cucumbers are composed of about 95% water.
• They are one of the oldest cultivated crops, dating back over 3,000 years.

16. Ceylon Gooseberry

Ceylon Gooseberry, native to Sri Lanka, is a small, dark purple fruit with a tart, tangy flavor. Due to its rich color and taste, it is often used in jellies and wines.

Fun Facts

• The fruit is known for its deep purple juice, which can stain clothes.
• Ceylon Gooseberries are often used as natural food colorants.

17. Chinese Quince

Chinese Quince, native to East Asia, is a large, yellow, and aromatic fruit with a hard, gritty texture. Its taste is tart and astringent when raw, but it softens and sweetens when cooked.

Fun Facts

• Chinese Quince is often used as a bonsai tree due to its beautiful flowers.
• The fruit is traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat digestive issues.

18. Cactus Pear (Prickly Pear)

Cactus Pear, native to Mexico and the American Southwest, is an oval fruit with a thick, spiny skin and sweet, juicy flesh that ranges from red to yellow.

Fun Facts

• The fruit’s spines must be carefully removed before consumption.
• Cactus Pear is also used to make a popular Mexican drink called “agua de tuna.”

19. Camu Camu

Camu Camu, native to the Amazon rainforest, is a small, sour berry with a high vitamin C content, often used in supplements and juices.

Fun Facts

• Camu Camu has the highest recorded concentration of natural vitamin C of any food.
• The fruit is often too sour to eat raw but is popular in powdered supplement form.

20. Cornelian Cherry

Cornelian Cherry, native to Europe and Asia, is a small, oval fruit with a tart, cherry-like flavor. It is often used in preserves and liqueurs.

Fun Facts

• Cornelian Cherry has been cultivated for over 7,000 years.
• The fruit is often used in traditional Eastern European dishes.

21. Chico Fruit (Sapodilla)

Chico Fruit, native to Central America, is a small, round fruit with a brown, rough skin and sweet, malty flavor, similar to caramel or brown sugar.

Fun Facts

• The sap from the chico tree is used to make chewing gum.
• Chico Fruit was once a major crop in Mexico and Central America.

22. Citrus Limetta (Sweet Lime)

Sweet Lime, originating from South and Southeast Asia, is a round, greenish-yellow fruit with a sweet, mild flavor, often enjoyed as a refreshing drink.

Fun Facts

• Sweet Lime juice is a popular remedy for dehydration in India.
• The fruit is less acidic than other citrus fruits, making it a favorite for fresh consumption.

23. Crabapple

Crabapples, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, are small, tart apples that range in color from red to green, often used in jellies and ciders.

Fun Facts

• Crabapples are often used as ornamental trees due to their beautiful blossoms.
• The fruit is highly valued for making pectin, a natural thickening agent.

24. Chokeberry

Chokeberries, native to North America, are small, dark berries with a very tart, astringent flavor, often used in juices and jams for their high antioxidant content.

Fun Facts

• Chokeberries are often called “superberries” due to their high nutrient content.
• They were traditionally used by Native Americans to make pemmican.

25. Cupuacu

Cupuacu, native to the Amazon rainforest, is a large, brown fruit with a creamy pulp that has a unique flavor, a mix of chocolate and pineapple.

Fun Facts

• Cupuacu is closely related to cacao, the fruit used to make chocolate.
• The pulp is often used in beauty products due to its moisturizing properties.

26. Charichuelo

Charichuelo, native to the Amazon, is a small, round fruit with a white, juicy pulp and a sweet, tangy flavor, often compared to lychee.

Fun Facts

• Charichuelo is sometimes called “wild mangosteen” due to its close relation to the mangosteen fruit.
• The fruit is often eaten by locals in the Amazon region as a refreshing treat.

27. Custard Apple

Custard Apple, native to South America, is a green, scaly fruit with a creamy, sweet interior that has a flavor reminiscent of custard.

Fun Facts

• Custard Apple is also known as “sugar apple” or “bullock’s heart.”
• The seeds are toxic if ingested, so they must be removed before consumption.

Conclusion

Wow, who knew there were so many cool fruits starting with C? From the common cherries to the exotic camu camu, we’ve explored a world of flavors.

Why does this matter? Well, trying new fruits isn’t just fun – it’s good for you too. Each fruit brings its own set of nutrients to the table, helping you stay healthy in different ways.

So, what’s next? I challenge you to pick one new C-fruit from this list and try it this week. Hit up your local grocery store or farmers market. You might just find a new favorite!

And hey, I’d love to hear about your fruity adventures. Drop a comment below and tell me which C-fruit you tried and what you thought of it.