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Fruits play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy diet. However, there are countless intriguing facts about them that often go unnoticed. We take for granted that oranges are orange or that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But did you know that the bananas we eat today have been identical for the last 50 years? Or how much some perfect fruits can fetch on the market? You’d be surprised. Let’s dive into 10 extraordinary facts about these natural sweet treats.
10. The Durian: A Fruit with Legendary Aphrodisiac Powers
The durian, a notorious fruit from Southeast Asia, is infamous for its overpowering stench, which leads to its banishment from many public spaces in Asia. Simply carrying it around might get you kicked out. However, less well-known is the longstanding belief that this pungent fruit holds aphrodisiac qualities, making it a sought-after delicacy in some cultures.
Often referred to as 'the King of Fruits,' there is a widespread belief among the Javanese that consuming durian can lead to an immediate and potent effect on a person’s libido. The smooth, creamy flesh of this fruit is said to provide a deeply sensual experience, heightened by its complex and rich flavor profile. A Javanese proverb goes, 'When the durians fall, the sarongs come up.'
The legend originated when people noticed animals indulging in durian and the ensuing romantic behavior that often followed. It turns out there’s some truth behind this myth. Durian is packed with tryptophan, a compound that the body converts into serotonin, the happiness hormone. This, in turn, enhances pleasurable experiences. In a study conducted by researchers in India, male mice that were fed durian regularly for two weeks showed a noticeable boost in both libido and fertility.
9. The Surprising Perfection of Bananas
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The issue with the Cavendish banana is that every single one, regardless of where it’s cultivated, is genetically identical. This lack of genetic variation makes it extremely vulnerable. Without any genetic differences, a single fungal infection or disease could potentially wipe out the entire population of the world’s most popular banana. This has already happened before. The Gros Michel was once one of the most popular bananas globally, but a fungal disease devastated nearly all of its plants, causing economic damage to banana-producing nations like Honduras. Billions of dollars were invested into finding a replacement for the Gros Michel after its downfall.
Despite efforts to create a more resilient, genetically diverse variety of banana, the Cavendish still faces the same fate as its predecessor. One significant problem is that bananas no longer reproduce from seeds, which were bred out of the fruit long ago for taste and convenience. Instead, bananas are mainly pollinated by hand, and fruit-bearing plants will regrow stems and stalks for years, limiting the genetic variety within the crop. Another issue is that virtually all modern bananas are mutations from just about 10 original plants, which were first cultivated in Africa.
8. The True Value of Perfect Fruit
In Japan, fruit is often gifted between family members, friends, colleagues, and business partners as a gesture of luxury. The more perfect the fruit, the more memorable the gift. One notable store in Japan, Senbikiya, specializes in offering only the finest examples of fruit. The fruits in this store are not only free of blemishes and bruises but must also have flawless shapes, with many being so large and flavorful that they appear almost artificial to anyone unaccustomed to such exceptional fruit quality.
A box containing 12 premium strawberries can cost around $83, and three melons might cost as much as $419. But it’s not just the impeccable quality of these fruits that drives up the price—it’s also the extensive labor required to grow them. Fruits grown in Japan are more highly sought after than imported ones, and greenhouse workers dedicate themselves to their craft 24/7, 365 days a year, ensuring that each plant is nurtured from the strongest and finest seedlings. They meticulously manage nutrients and temperature to guarantee optimal conditions. In some cases, the entire effort is concentrated on a single plant, producing just one perfect piece of fruit. Some of these fruits are even outfitted with tiny hats to protect them from the sun, ensuring a flawless and evenly colored surface.
7. The Surprising Truth About Berries
Cranberries, blueberries, and gooseberries are what botanists call 'false berries.' While they do form from a plant’s ovary, they don’t originate from the superior ovary that would classify them as true berries. They also develop partially from the tube attached to the ovary, further disqualifying them from true berry status. Raspberries and blackberries are actually 'drupelets,' fleshy fruits with thin skins and several seeds encased in hard exteriors. These are also aggregate fruits, meaning that multiple fruits develop from a single flower. Strawberries are a type of accessory fruit, known as pseudocarps, which are made from both ovarian and non-ovarian plant tissues, and feature achenes on their surface.
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6. Oranges Aren’t Always Orange
Ironically, while the color orange is named after the fruit, oranges aren’t always orange. The color itself wasn’t even defined until 1542 when it was adapted from various words used to describe the fruit. The first versions of the word included the Arabic 'naranj' and the Persian 'narang,' which both originated from the Sanskrit word 'naranga.'
Oddly enough, the majority of oranges from their native tropical regions aren’t orange at all. In their natural, ripe state, the exterior of an orange is green due to the presence of chlorophyll. However, in cooler climates, the chlorophyll breaks down from the cold, and just like the leaves on a deciduous tree, the fruit turns orange as the inner color shows. The green oranges are actually the ripe ones, while those that turn orange are nearing the end of their optimal ripeness. This confusion is often compounded by common beliefs: in regions like the U.S. and Europe, green fruit is seen as under-ripe, which leads to some orange crops being artificially ripened through flash freezing or exposure to ethylene gas to remove the chlorophyll and turn them orange.
5. The Cherry That Outwitted The Devil
The Cornelian cherry comes from an ornamental tree, a close relative of the dogwood, and is one of the oldest known fruits with a rich history. Ancient Greek, Roman, and Persian writings often refer to this cherry. Its intensely sweet flavor lends itself to being turned into syrups, jams, jellies, and candies, rather than being eaten fresh like other cherry varieties. In Eastern Europe, it's commonly used to make wine and vodka, and it's also pickled alongside olives for a unique twist. The Cornelian cherry has been cherished across Russia, Asia, and the Byzantine Empire.
The Cornelian cherry also features in a Turkish legend about the devil. According to the tale, when Satan arrived in Turkey, he noticed the Cornelian cherry trees were the first to bloom in the spring. Assuming that these trees would also be the first to bear fruit, he waited underneath one while other trees around him flowered and bore fruit. However, when he realized the Cornelian cherry would be the last to ripen, much later in the summer, his patience turned to anger. Since then, the Cornelian cherry has been known as Seytan alditan agaci, which means 'the tree that deceived Satan.'
4. Watermelons Have Long Served As A Source of Water
While we often associate watermelons today with a refreshing treat on a hot summer day, their cultivation had very practical beginnings. The earliest records of watermelon farming appear in Egyptian hieroglyphics that are over 5,000 years old. Various cultures across Africa, India, and the Mediterranean also mention the watermelon in their ancient texts. The true origin of the watermelon was confirmed by David Livingstone when he discovered wild watermelon fields in Africa.
Watermelons thrive in dry regions, and they have been crucial for much more than just a healthy snack. Composed of approximately 92 percent water, they have served as an important water source for both people and animals in arid parts of Africa. It’s even been documented that explorers carried watermelons with them as a natural water supply. Another advantage of watermelons is their zero-waste nature. Beyond enjoying the juicy flesh, the seeds can be roasted, and the rind is used to make preserves, often pickled or brined. In Russia, the sweet juice is turned into beer, and it can also serve as a base for making syrups.
3. The Storied History Of Guarana
If you examine the ingredients of any energy drink, it's highly likely that you'll find guarana listed as one of the primary components. It's become a common presence in our daily lives, though we don't always consider its deep historical roots and the rich mythology surrounding it.
Legend has it that this eerie-looking fruit sprouted from the eye of a murdered boy. It’s easy to see why, as the fruit bears a striking resemblance to a large, bloodshot eyeball. Guarana has long been known as an aphrodisiac, often blended into drinks with ingredients like nuts and bird eggs, though this is a relatively recent application for the berry—almost as recent as its use in energy drinks. The native people of 17th-century Brazil were first recorded by European missionaries using the berry, noting that it not only provided them with energy but also helped them go without food for days. It became a sought-after commodity during the colonial period, reputed for its ability to stave off illness, but overconsumption was known to cause insomnia.
The caffeine in guarana is thought to have a distinct effect from the caffeine found in coffee. Guarana contains tannins, which are believed to produce a longer-lasting stimulation compared to other sources of caffeine. For centuries, the seeds of the guarana berry have been powdered or smoked through a lengthy, manual process. Properly prepared guarana is often consumed during formal events where people gather and pass around a cala bowl, a far cry from the modern habit of gulping down energy drinks.
2. Chimpanzees Value Forbidden Fruit
The biblical tale of Adam, Eve, and the forbidden fruit is familiar to many, but it seems that the concept of forbidden fruit also excites chimpanzees. Researchers at the University of Stirling in Scotland studied chimpanzee courtship in the wild and discovered that female chimpanzees are particularly enticed when a male presents them with fruit.
Not just any fruit would suffice, however, and the most highly valued were those that were taken from local human farms. The study observed the behavior of chimpanzees living near a village in the Republic of Guinea. Males would anxiously venture into town, steal papayas, and return to their female companions with the stolen goods. This act resulted in a higher probability of grooming and mating by the female.
Researchers hypothesize that it's not only the fruit that she appreciates, but also the rebellious act itself, even though the chimps were never truly in danger from their human-admiring neighbors. When males found food in the wild, they were far less likely to bring it back as a gift to an eager female, but fruit that had been stolen was seen as a highly treasured offering. Although papayas were the most frequently stolen and shared, they also had a preference for pineapples and oranges.
1. Mom Was Right About Apples
We’ve all heard the saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’. It’s so familiar that we often dismiss it as just another old wives' tale passed down over the years. However, there's a substantial amount of scientific evidence supporting its truth. Regular consumption of apples can provide several health benefits, some of which even Mom probably didn’t foresee.
A study from Florida State University has demonstrated that consuming just a small handful of dried apples over a six-month period can significantly lower bad cholesterol levels, with the same research linking apples to weight loss. While apples are commonly known for being rich in vitamin C, their long-term benefits go beyond that. Studies have found that individuals who eat apples regularly have a reduced risk of stroke, better respiratory function, and an easier time managing a healthy weight. Apples can also lower the risk of certain cancers by as much as half, enhance brain function and cellular health, prevent the onset of dementia and related diseases, and decrease the likelihood of developing diabetes.
Despite often being overshadowed by trendy super-fruits, regular, unassuming apples have had their health benefits recognized for centuries. Apple remains discovered in prehistoric settlements date back to 6,500 B.C., and some of the apple varieties that our ancient ancestors enjoyed are still available for us to taste today.
