Taiwan fruits are the best. They are one of the main reasons we love Taiwan and have decided to stay in Taiwan for the long term. Although the fruits in Taiwan are highly seasonal, you can always find delicious and sweet fruit here year-round. If you come from a non-tropical country, you have likely been missing out on the full sweet flavor that these fruits are meant to have.
As an American coming to Taiwan for the first time, I was wary of the fruits. From my experience in the US, pineapples, mangos, and passion fruit had always been sour and nasty. Only when I tried the tropical fruit in Taiwan did I realize that the pineapples, mangos, passion fruit, and everything else were sweeter than candy.
Buying Fruit in Taiwan 在台灣怎麼買水果
I buy Taiwan fruit on a daily basis. I like to get my fruit fresh and in smaller quantities, especially bananas, which go bad fast especially in the summer heat. Because I have visited my local fruit stand daily for years, I can give everyone some general advice below, but I am not expert on the subject.
If you visit Taiwan, you will notice there are specialty fruit shops or fruit stands all over the island that sell fruit all day. There are also morning markets that specialize in selling fresh fruit and vegetables every day except Sunday and Monday. Fruit is plentiful, easy to find, and delicious. Don't buy your fruit at 7-11. Taiwan Weights and Pricing (重量與價錢): Taiwan measures its fruit and vegetables using Taiwan Catty (斤 Jīn) which is roughly 600 grams. So, everything you see is usually priced as per 600 grams, or sometimes they will price each fruit individually. In my experience, it is cheaper to buy fruit in bulk (such as 10 Guavas for 100 NT). You may also find that some fruits are more expensive than in the US or Europe. This is because Taiwan has some trade controls on fruits to protect local farmers. Sometimes Taiwan farmers just dump fruit when there is a bumper harvest to lower prices. China also likes to randomly ban a Taiwan fruit now and again. I am not going to go into the details of all the price variables of Taiwan fruits, but it can get quite complicated. Measure words: There are special measure words for each fruit. I will list some of the measure words here for your reference: 根 (Gēn) is used to describe individual bananas 條 (tiáo) Is used to describe long things like corn, carrots, etc. 顆 (kē) used to describe most round fruits 串 (chuàn) used to describe a cluster of grapes, bananas, Leechees, etc. Seasonality of Fruit (水果季節性): Taiwan's fruits are highly seasonal, especially fruit grown locally. When a fruit is in season, it will be plentiful, better tasting, and cheaper. When a fruit is off-season, it will be scarce, not taste as good, and will be more expensive. There is enough amazing fruit every season that you can find cheap and delicious fruit every time of year. I will try to list the seasonality of each of our favorite fruits below. It is important to note that external factors such as heavy rains, droughts, and typhoons can have a big effect on fruit prices, and it can take many months for prices to stabilize. Ceremonial Use (祭拜品) Taiwan fruit is especially important to Taiwanese people because it is often used in sacrifices to gods and ancestors. For this reason, Taiwanese people love to buy super expensive imported fancy fruits to give as offerings. After the ceremony, they will eat the fruit themselves. List of our Favorite Taiwan Fruits: 我們最喜歡的台灣水果: Below is a list of our favorite Taiwan fruits (Chinese and Pinyin included). We will go over each fruit in detail further below.
Now that you know the list, we will show you photos of each fruit and explain each fruit in detail to try to convince you to come to Taiwan and eat them in person. 1. Mango 芒果 (Mángguǒ) 
Mango is the best. It is our favorite fruit. It has a smooth, soft, and juicy fleshy texture, and most of all it is super sweet. The sweetness is complemented perfectly by its own Mango flavored aroma. There is no better fruit in Taiwan. Mango is king, Mango is #1, and we love Mango.
Pictured above is the Irwen Mango (愛文芒果 Ài wén mángguǒ) which is the most popular variety grown in Taiwan, however, there are many other larger varieties, and some people like to eat Mangos when they are still green, before they are ripe (sour mangos 芒果青 Mángguǒ qīng). How do you eat a mango? The best way to eat a mango is to cut each side off near the pit, and then cut the halves into squares on the inside, then flip them inside out as pictured above. When is mango Season in Taiwan? May to October. What are normal Mango Prices? Mango prices can range from 30 NT - 90 NT per catty depending on the year. A really cheap Irwen is below 20 NT. Where are Mangos grown? All over Taiwan, but especially in Pingtung County. 
This larger variety of Mango called Snow Mangos (下雪芒果 Xià xuě mángguǒ) is usually just as sweet and delicious as Irwen, but with much more mango. There are many other varieties of mango in Taiwan, but these are the main two types you will see.
Mango Ice is also a very popular treat in Taiwan. It usually consists of shaved ice and sweetened condensed milk, mangos, and sometimes ice cream. A bowl like this one will typically cost you 150-200 NT.
Mango Milk and mango smoothies are also very popular in Taiwan. 2. Banana 香蕉 (Xiāngjiāo) 
Our second favorite fruit in Taiwan is bananas. We love bananas. I eat a banana every single day with breakfast on my cereal, on my pancakes, on my French Toast, or just eating them plain. They have a soft, sweet texture and fragrant aroma. They go well with almost everything, but especially chocolate and milk. I am trying to grow bananas on my rooftop, and you can check out my ongoing blog on the subject here.
Banana milk and chocolate banana shaved ice are also popular in Taiwan. Taiwan was also once known as the banana kingdom because of its large banana exports before other countries such as the Philippines and Ecuador started to ship cheaper bananas to the US and Europe. How can you tell if bananas are ripe? It is best to buy bananas that are mostly yellow with a little green. Also squeeze the bananas a little to make sure they are soft in the middle and not super hard which would mean they are not ripe. You can also try to buy bananas when they are green, but they will be super hard and not sweet at all. How do you keep Bananas fresh? This is a question that has baffled scholars for centuries. From personal experience, I have found that keeping the bananas on the cluster keeps them fresher longer. Also, keeping them in a container or plastic bag also helps to keep them from turning brown and mushy. Unlike every other fruit, I have found that putting bananas in the fridge ruins their texture, and they turn super hard and cold, and then when you thaw them they turn brown even if you leave them in the fridge for one night. For this reason, I keep my bananas in the open, but inside a plastic bag. They last longer in the winter when there are cooler temperatures. I think the perfect temperature for storing bananas is about 21 degrees Celsius, so someone needs to invent a banana fridge for the summer months that can keep them at that temperature. At the end of the day, bananas are always in some stage of decomposition, and you just have to embrace that. Even mushy moldy brown bananas are edible if you spread them on pancakes. How do you eat Bananas? It is best to peel it open and stuff it in your mouth like a hot dog. You can also cut it into thin slices with a spoon. When is Banana Season in Taiwan? Year-round. You can find good and cheap bananas all the time. What are normal Banana Prices? Usually 20-40 NT per catty. Super cheap bananas are below 20 NT a catty. But in hard times after Typhoons I have seen bananas go for 80 NT a catty. Usually, fruit shops will sell older or less pretty bananas for cheap, and it's possible to snatch these for as low as 1 NT per banana. Where are Bananas grown? All over Taiwan, but mostly in the southern half, such as in Pingtung, Nantou, and Taichung, and on the east coast in Hualien and Taitung. 3. Custard Apple 釋迦 (Shì jiā) 
Custard Apples (aka soursop or Annonaceae) are also amazing. They are super sweet and also have a soft texture and fragrant aroma. The only downside is that there are many large black seeds in the flesh that you have to spit out.
The best kind of custard apple is Pineapple Custard Apple (鳳梨釋迦 fènglí shìjiā) pictured above, because it has a firmer texture and the fruit doesn't just melt away when you cut it open like the normal variety pictured below. How do you eat Custard Apples? In the case of Pineapple custard apples, is best to cut them into slices and eat the flesh (maybe with the help of a spoon), then spit out the seeds. For the normal variety called Damu Custard Apples (大目釋迦 dà mù shìjiā), it is best to tear off the top and eat the inside with a spoon, because this inside is usually soft and mushy. When is Custard Apple Season in Taiwan? July to March. What are normal Custard Apple Prices? Usually 40-80 NT per catty. Super cheap Custard Apples are below 40 NT a catty, or about 50 NT per fruit. Where are Custard Apples grown? Mostly on the East Coast in Taitung and Hualien, and in Pingtung. 
Pictured above is the normal variety of Custard Apple, which has a much mushier texture and tends to melt in your mouth.
4. Pineapple 鳳梨 (Fènglí) 
From my experience in the US, pineapples had always been sour and nasty. Usually, if we ate them, they came from a can and were stale and sour. Putting them on pizza was a sin.
Only when I tried the tropical fruit in Taiwan did I realize that the pineapples were sweeter than candy. One time I bought a bag of freshly cut pineapple, and I was very surprised to find that it tasted exactly like Jolly Ranchers. I think that is because it is hotter here and the farmers let the pineapples get more ripe enough before harvesting them. The most ripe pineapples are larger and more yellow in color. I am trying to grow pineapples on my rooftop, and you can check out my ongoing blog on the subject here. Pineapples might be considered the national fruit of Taiwan. They are used to make one of Taiwan's most popular delicacies: pineapple cakes. Pineapple cakes were developed as a creative way to make use of excess pineapple crops. How do you eat Pineapples? It is best to cut the pineapple into thin slices around the core. The core is stiff and tasteless, so don't eat that part. Some fruit shops will cut off the skin for you. When is Pineapple Season in Taiwan? March to July. What are normal Pineapple Prices? Usually 30-60 NT per catty. Super cheap pineapples are below 30 NT a catty, or about 40 NT per fruit. Where are Pineapples grown? All over Taiwan, but mostly in the south, such as in Kaohsiung and Pingtung. 5. Dragon Fruit 火龍果 (Huǒlóng guǒ) 
Dragon fruit wins as the coolest-looking fruit on the planet, in my opinion. The outside looks like red dragon scales and the inside looks like cookies and cream ice cream in the case of white ones (pictured above), and the red ones have a cool-looking fluorescent magenta color (pictured below). The fruit has a nice juicy texture and is not overly sweet. The white ones usually taste sweeter than the red ones, but both are pretty similar in taste. If you eat too many red ones, your urine and your poo will turn red.
How do you eat Dragon Fruit? It is best to peel off the skin, and cut the fruit into chunks as pictured above. When is Dragon Fruit Season in Taiwan? May to December. What are normal Dragon Fruit Prices? Usually 40-70 NT per catty. Super cheap dragon fruit are below 40 NT a catty. Where are Dragon Fruits grown? All over Taiwan, but mostly in the southern half of Taiwan, such as in Changhua, Nantou, Chiayi, and Tainan. 
The red ones are not as sweet as the white ones, and they can definitely get a little messy. One drop of their juice is sure to stain your white shirt, but they are the coolest looking.
5. Guava 巴樂 (Bālè) 
Guava is also an important Taiwan fruit staple. Most of them are white on the inside (as pictured above) but some varieties are pink on the inside, and these kinds are more expensive.
Even though the Chinese name for them is bālè 100% of the people in Taiwan will call it by its Taiwanese or Hakka name, Bala. The flesh of guava is hard and sweet similar to an apple, and the inner part has softer flesh and rock-hard seeds. I have nearly broken some teeth on those seeds, so be careful. How do you eat Guava? First, wash the outside off with tap water to get rid of any pesticides. It is best to cut them into slices. If you don't like the seeds, just cut them out and throw them away. Guava also goes great with sweet plum powder (梅子粉 méizi fěn). When is Guava Season in Taiwan? Year-round, but you will see more in the summer at cheaper prices. What are normal Guava Prices? Guavas are normally priced per fruit. Normally cheap guava is 10 NT per fruit, with some places selling 10 for 100 NT. Expensive ones can be twice or three times this price. Where are Guavas grown? Mostly in the south, such as in Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung. 7. Strawberries 草莓 (Cǎoméi) 
Taiwan grows its own strawberries. These are usually found in cooler higher elevation areas such as Dahu in Miaoli. The strawberries in Taiwan taste exactly like strawberries back home in the US, so I am not going to go on to explain any further.
How do you eat strawberries? First, wash the outside off with tap water to get rid of any pesticides. You can just eat them whole after that. When is strawberries season in Taiwan? In colder months from December to March. What are normal Strawberry Prices? Usually 200-500 NT per catty. The prices also vary greatly depending on the quality. Where are Strawberries grown? Mostly in Miaoli, specifically Dahu township of Miaoli. But strawberries are also grown in other high mountain areas of Taiwan. 
A fun activity for people in Taiwan is going to the mountains, such as Dahu Township of Miaoli (pictured above), and picking strawberries by hand themselves.
Another amazing strawberry snack in Taiwan is strawberry wrapped in red beans and mochi. It was like heaven in my mouth, with a perfect texture combination of juiciness and gooeyness.
8. Papaya 木瓜 (Mùguā) 
Papaya is also a very popular fruit in Taiwan. It has a texture similar to a mango, but it is not as sweet and juicy. Papaya also makes for amazing Papaya Milk, which is popular all over Taiwan. Adding some milk and sugar to its fragrant aroma makes it taste that much better.
How do you eat Papaya? It is best to shave off the skin, cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, and cut the flesh into chunks. When is Papaya Season in Taiwan? Year-round, but you will see more in the summer. What are normal Papaya Prices? Usually 40-70 NT per catty. Super cheap papaya are below 40 NT per catty. Where are Papayas grown? All over Taiwan, but mostly in the south, such as in Kaohsiung and Pingtung. 9. Oranges 橘子 (Júzi) 
Taiwan grows a lot of oranges, and there are many varieties all over the island. I guess that some of them are technically mandarins and tangerines, but for the purposes of this blog, I am referring to them all as oranges. They taste the same as they do in the US, but some varieties are easier to peel open. I will stop here.
How do you eat oranges? It is best to peel them and then eat the slices individually. Spit out the seeds. When is orange season in Taiwan? From about October to March. What are normal orange Prices? Usually 20-40 NT per catty. Super cheap oranges are below 20 NT a catty, or about 10 NT per fruit. Where are oranges grown? All over Taiwan, but mostly in northern Taiwan from Taichung and Taipei. 10. Pomelo 柚子 (Yòuzi) 
Pomelo is a very seasonal citrus fruit, grown mainly around the time of the mid-autumn festival during which time they are traditionally given as gifts and consumed. One variety is known as Wendan (文旦 wéndàn). The flesh inside is sweet and zesty, similar to a grapefruit, but is kind of hard to peel open and eat. I like to think of them as giant oranges. Pomelos also have a long shelf life and can last for weeks unrefrigerated. The outside is covered in a huge thick skin, which can be worn as a hat. Be careful though, pomelo peels are the most bitter taste ever, like concentrated orange cleaner x 10. And the taste just lingers there.
How do you eat pomelo? The first task is to peel off the giant peel, for which you will need a knife. After that, you have to open the inner fruit, which will require strong hands or a knife. Once you reach the inner flesh, you can eat it by hand. You can also pull off the seeds inside by hand before eating them. You can also make the leftover peel into a hat or helmet for fun. When is pomelo season in Taiwan? Around the mid-autumn festival, in September and October. What are normal pomelo prices? Usually 10-30 NT per catty. Super cheap pomelos are below 10 NT per catty or about 10 NT per fruit. Where are pomelos grown? All over Taiwan, but mostly in the south, such as in Tainan, specifically Madou District. 11. Passion Fruit 百香果 (Bǎixiāng guǒ) 
Passion fruit in Taiwan wins as the sweetest fruit around. But they are not just sweet, they are also very sour. The best ones are older and ripe and have the perfect combination of sweet and sour, and the taste can be even more overwhelming than eating a piece of sour candy. The fruits in Taiwan are so amazing, you sweet-tooths can get by just eating the fruit here without ever having to touch candy again. Inside the fruit are seeds and flesh like a pumpkin, but there is also a lot of sweet juice in there.
How do you eat Passion Fruit? It is best to cut open the top and eat them with a small spoon. When is Passion Fruit Season in Taiwan? June to December. What are normal Passion Fruit Prices? Usually, they are priced as a bundle or per individual fruit. A cheap passion fruit is 10 NT per fruit or lower. Where are Passion Fruits grown? Mostly in Taitung and Nantou. 12. Watermelon 西瓜 (Xīguā) 
Before coming to Taiwan, I had never seen a yellow watermelon (known as little jade 小玉 xiǎoyù) and I had no idea they existed. They taste pretty much the same as watermelon back in the US, and they are pretty cheap. The flesh is really brittle and watery.
In order to find the most ripe and sweet watermelons, Taiwanese people like to tap or slap the melons and listen for a woody or hollow noise. You can often see people slapping watermelons at fruit stands in Taiwan. How do you eat Watermelon? Taiwanese people like to cut off the skin and then cut the flesh into chunks as pictured above. However you can still cut watermelon the American way, by cutting them into pizza slices. When is Watermelon Season in Taiwan? March to September. What are normal Watermelon Prices? Usually 15-40 NT per catty. Super cheap watermelons are below 15 NT a catty. Where are Watermelons grown? All over Taiwan, but watermelons from Hualien and Yilan are more well known. 
The red watermelons (known as Huabao 華寶 huá bǎo) in Taiwan are huge and are usually grown in northern and eastern Taiwan. They usually have to be shared with a whole family or group of friends to finish one before it goes bad.
13. Grapes 葡萄 (Pútáo) 
Taiwan grapes are different than ones in the US because they have seeds. Other than that, they taste the same. I didn't know that seedy grapes were a thing before I came to Taiwan. I was very unhappy to find tough little grape nuts inside on my first bite of these. It is annoying because you have to spit them out. Obviously, I prefer seedless grapes.
How do you eat Taiwan grapes? First, wash the outside off with tap water to get rid of any pesticides. You can then eat them whole, just remember to spit out the seeds. When is grape season in Taiwan? Year-round, but you will see more in the summer. What are normal grape prices? Usually 100-200 NT per catty. Super cheap grapes are below 100 NT a catty. Where are grapes grown in Taiwan? Mostly in central Taiwan, such as in Changhua, Taichung, and Nantou. 14. Wax Apple 蓮霧 (Lián wù) 
Wax apples are not made of wax and are not apples. They don't even taste like apples. they have soft, white, juicy, sweet, and crisp flesh which is unique to itself. They may look similar to an apple on the outside, but they are very light and less dense on the inside.
How do you eat wax apples? First, wash the outside off with tap water to get rid of any pesticides. You can then eat them whole or cut them in half. When is wax apple season in Taiwan? July to November. What are normal wax apple prices? Usually 50-100 NT per catty. They are one of the more expensive locally grown fruits. Where are wax apples grown? All over Taiwan, but mostly in the south, such as in Kaohsiung and Pingtung. 15. Peaches 水蜜桃 (Shuǐmì táo) 
Peaches in Taiwan are grown mainly in mountain areas such as Lalashan, and are not very common and usually not cheap. However, they taste just as good as peaches back home in the US.
How do you eat peaches? First, wash the outside off with tap water to get rid of any pesticides. You can then eat them whole or cut them into slices. When is peach season in Taiwan? June to September. What are normal peach prices? Usually 50-100 NT per catty. Super cheap ones are less than 50 NT per catty. Where are peaches grown? Mostly in high mountain areas, such as Lalashan or Wuling Farm. 16. Longan 龍眼 (Lóngyǎn) 
Leechee and Longan are pretty much the same things, so I am grouping them together here. Longan are named because they look like a dragon eye (see photo above), with white flesh and black seed inside. Leechee has more spiny shells that are a reddish color. They taste similar to citrus fruits, but taste more watery and fragrant than an orange, and are not as sweet and not as sour. They are actually part of the soapberry family which includes chestnuts.
They also both grow on fairly large trees. It is said that if you eat too many of these you will get a bloody nose or some other ill health effect, so eat them sparingly. Taiwanese like to dry Longan like raisins and put it in bread, which I hate. It ruins the texture and flavor of most breads. How do you eat Longan? It is best to peel them open and eat the flesh. Do not eat the seed. When is Longan season in Taiwan? July to September. What are normal Longan Prices? Usually 100-200 NT per catty. Where are Longan grown? All over Taiwan, but mostly in central and south, such as in Nantou, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung. 17. Leechee 荔枝 (Lìzhī) 
Leechee is like Longan but it has spiny shells that are a greenish and reddish color. Leechee is a bit larger, more juicy, and more fragrant than Longan.
It is said that if you eat too many of these you will get a bloody nose or some other ill health effect, so eat them sparingly. How do you eat Leechee? It is best to peel them open and eat the flesh. Do not eat the seed. When is Leechee season in Taiwan? April to September. What are normal Leechee Prices? Usually 80-200 NT per catty. Where are Leechees grown? All over Taiwan, but mostly in central and south, such as in Nantou, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung. 18. Jujube 棗子 (Zǎozi) 
Jujubes in Taiwan are pretty much the same texture as apples, but are a little less sweet and have a giant seed in the middle. They are also a bit smaller than apples. But otherwise, they are pretty much like apples.
How do you eat Jujubes? First, wash the outside off with tap water to get rid of any pesticides. You can then eat them whole or cut them into slices. When is Jujube Season in Taiwan? December to March. What are normal Jujube Prices? Usually 20-40 NT per catty. Where are Jujubes grown? Mostly in the south, such as in Tainan and Kaohsiung near the hills. 19. Pomegranate 石榴 (Shíliú) 
Pomegranates are kind of rare in Taiwan, but I never had one until I moved here. They are full of little red beads of juice with a little seed inside each one. The juice is fragrant and sweet. But these fruits are kind of hard to break open and eat.
How do you eat a Pomegranate? It is best to break them open and eat the fruity seeds one by one by hand. When is Pomegranate Season in Taiwan? Year-round, but you will see more in the summer. What are normal Pomegranate Prices? Usually 50-200 NT per catty. Where are Pomegranates grown? These are not grown very much in Taiwan, most are imported, but there are farms that grow them in Taichung and other places. 20. Persimmon 柿子 (Shìzi) 
Persimmons are a popular fruit in Taiwan, and although they look like tomatoes, they are actually sweet on the inside. They have a soft and mushy texture, and you can eat the skins. They are also dried in the sun and made into "cakes," which have a longer shelf life.
How do you eat Persimmons? First, wash the outside off with tap water to get rid of any pesticides. You can then eat them whole or cut them into slices. When is Persimmon Season in Taiwan? September to November. What are normal Persimmon Prices? Usually 20-50 NT per catty. Where are Persimmons grown? All over Taiwan, but mostly in central Taiwan such as in Taichung, Miaoli, and Hsinpu Township of Hsinchu. 21. Starfruit 楊桃 (Yángtáo) 
Star Fruit looks cool because it looks like a star when you cut it, but does not taste very good. Some Star Fruits I have eaten are really sweet, but most of the time it is like eating grass, but they have the texture and juiciness of apples.
How do you eat Star Fruit? First, wash the outside off with tap water to get rid of any pesticides. Then cut the fruit into slices that look like stars. When is Star Fruit Season in Taiwan? September to December. What are normal Star Fruit Prices? Usually 20-40 NT per catty. Where are Star Fruits grown? Most are grown in central and southern Taiwan, such as in Taichung, Nantou, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung. 22. Durian 榴槤 (Liú lián) 
Just kidding we don't like Durian. Why is during on this list?
Durian is actually okay if you eat it frozen, that way it tastes like ice cream. Otherwise, it is a very acquired taste, that stinks like rotten garbage and tastes like kitty litter. How do you eat Durian? It is best to not eat it. But if you must, open the shell and eat the flesh with a fork or spoon. When is Durian Season in Taiwan? Year-round, but you will see more in the summer. What are normal Durian Prices? Usually 100-400 NT per catty. Where are Durians grown? Mostly in the south, such as in Pingtung. The above list does not cover every fruit grown in Taiwan, just our favorite fruits that we think should be on this list. You may have your own list that looks different from ours. If we missed one of your favorite fruits, let us know in the comments.
1 Comment
G
5/22/2023 11:29:02 am
There are a few more fruits that could make the cut : mulberry, jackfruit, loquat, kumquat, lemon (green), rambutan. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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Author 作家We are US Expats that have extensive experience living, working, and travelling in Taiwan. In our day, we had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But we have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. Our blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. We are just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Archives 檔案
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