Looking for fruit that starts with the letter N? We’ve put together this list of unique and delicious fruits.
Everyone knows about Navel Oranges, they are often used as a centerpiece on Thanksgiving as an alternative to real flowers. This is because oranges symbolize abundance and fertility. But do you know many other fruits that start with the letter N?
Whether you’re looking for something readily available at your local supermarket or something a little more exotic, we’ve got you covered. Check out this list of fruits that start with N and see if you can find a new favorite!
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Nectarine
Nectarines are like peaches but smaller. Nectarines are fuzzy and have a thin skin that makes them easy to peel. They’re as sweet and juicy as peaches, and sometimes harder to find in stores.
Nectarines have been grown since the time of the ancient Romans, but they weren’t regularly available in the United States until the early 20th century. The name “nectarine” comes from an Arabic word meaning “date plums.” While buying a nectarine, look for one that feels heavy for its size and has a blush on its cheeks—a sign that it is slightly underripe.
Naartjie
A naartjie is a small, tart fruit (or vegetable) with a green skin and seedless white flesh. It’s common to find the word “citrus” on naartjie packages, which is why many people wrongly associate naartjies with oranges.
Naartjies are actually very high in fiber and vitamin C, making them an excellent snack food or addition to salads. They are used in traditional African medicine . While buying a naartjie, look for one that feels heavy for its size and has a lively scent.
Naranjilla
The naranjilla is a beautiful fruit with vibrant orange skin and sweet taste. Its skin is edible, but the fruit’s flavor intensifies when you peel it, revealing its inner white flesh.
The naranjilla has a thin skin that makes it easy to peel and eat. This tropical fruit can be eaten on its own or in juice or mixed with other fruits in recipes. While buying a naranjilla, look for one that feels heavy for its size and has a lovely orange color with glowing rosy spots.
Natal Plum
The natal plum is rare, a ripened plum that is sweet and juicy. The fruit has a smooth texture and a very deep reddish-purple color. Natal plums have thick rinds and deep red flesh.
The natal plum is one of many fruits native to Africa. The name comes from the Arabic word “natal” meaning “to bear fruit,” which refers to the fact that this fruit bears fruit many times during its lifecycle as opposed to just once, like most other fruits.
Neem
Neem is a small tree native to India, where it has been found growing wild for thousands of years. It grows well in many tropical and sub-tropical climates.
This tree grows very well in tropical regions because it thrives in areas with high humidity and abundant sunlight. It also can grow at a much faster rate than most other trees do. Many farmers use neem as an alternative to pesticides, since the insecticide doesn’t harm bees or other beneficial insects that are needed for agriculture .
Nam Dok Mai
Nam Dok Mai, better known as Longan, is a small fruit that grows in Southeast Asia. The inside of the fruit is very similar to a lychee, with a white under-layer of flesh surrounding a green seed.
Longans are large for their family (the Sapindaceae plant family). One reason for this is because the fruit ripens very slowly. It takes about six months after flowering for the fruits to fully mature. Because of their large size and unique texture, longans can be used in many different dishes and drinks. In Thai cuisine longans are often cooked with coconut milk or made into sweet juices.
Nance
Nance is a small, seedless fruit that grows in the United States. The skin is bright red when ripe and has a white flesh. Nance is one of many fruits native to North America and was first discovered in the United States at the end of the 19th century.
Nances are used to make jams, jellies, beverages, gelatos, syrups , and conserves . I use it in puddings, cookies, and pies because it has a sweet flavor that doesn’t overpower the other ingredients. The skin of the nance is edible and very versatile in cooking.
Northern Spy Apple
The Northern Spy apple is one of many heirloom apples to come from the United States. It was discovered in upstate New York in 1840 by a man named John Bunker.
The Northern Spy is known for its firm flesh and a crunchy texture when it is cooked. When eaten raw, the flavor is tart and not as sweet as other heirloom apples are. It has a thin skin that makes it easy to peel, but it often doesn’t need to be peeled because of its tart flavor and thin skin.
Newton Pippin Apple
The Newton Pippin apple is a type of heirloom apple that was discovered in Massachusetts in 1790 by Nathaniel M. Newton. It is generally used as a dessert apple, because of its tart flavor.
Newton Pippin apples have a thin skin and very firm flesh, especially when they’re cooked. The flesh is yellow, very sweet, and crisp. When you eat the flesh raw, it’s quite tart and not juicy at all. While buying a newton pippin apple look for one that feels heavy for its size and has crisp flesh on the outside that has some yellow color to it .
Nashi Pear
The nashi pear is a sweet, juicy fruit found in Asia, particularly Japan and China. The nashi pear has white flesh that has a slight green tint to it and has thin, glossy skin.
The nashi pear has a sweet flavor and can be eaten raw or used in juices and pies. I love this fruit because it’s so versatile and delicious! When buying a nashi pear look for one that feels heavy for its size with no cracks and a juicy, firm flesh.
A navel orange is a type of citrus fruit that was originally discovered and cultivated in South Africa. The fruit has an orange-colored skin with a soft, sweet and round flesh.
Navel oranges can be used to make juices, jams, and for eating directly out of the hand. While buying a navel orange look for one that feels heavy for its size and has no brown spots or injury on the skin.
Nonda Plum
The nonda plum, or quasimodo plum, is a type of plum native to Australia that grows wild in the shape of a gnarled tree. The fruit itself is small and has an optimal ripening period of six months.
The nonda plum grows very well in dry climates, since it needs little water to thrive. During this time it develops beautiful dark red spots and its skin becomes white. Nonda plums have a sweet taste with a high sugar content and are delicious eaten raw as part of an antipasto platter or made into jam, jelly and beverages .
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a sweet tasting spice made from the seeds of the nutmeg tree, Myristica fragrans, a tropical tree that grows in the Caribbean and Indonesia.
The spice is used in cooking to add flavor and aroma to food. Because nutmeg is one of many spices that has an essential oil it can be used as a supplement for health benefits . I use nutmeg to add scent to my baked goods and in my Christmas cocktail recipes.
Nepali Hog Plum
The Nepali hog plum is also known as the Nepali wild plum and the Nepali murraya. It is a small fruit that grows in Nepal and East Asia. The Nepali hog plum has a thin, pale yellow skin with red flesh inside.
The fruit is sour but sweet when cooked, making it very versatile in cooking. The hard skin of this fruit can be used to make jams, jellies and pies . When buying a nepali hog plum look for one that feels heavy for its size with no cracks or blemishes on the thin skin.
Nocera
Nocera is a small yellow fruit that grows in the United States. The skin is thin and the inside of the fruit is yellow with a slightly sour flavor. It has been all but forgotten in contemporary times, but it was at one point a widely grown fruit in Virginia and other states.
I use Nocera in my lemon and lime juice marinade recipe as well as sometimes for making jam and jelly . Its flavor is best described as sour because of its thin skin, pureeing it makes for a more balanced taste. Look for one with thin pale green skin that feels heavy for its size.
This was our comprehensive list for Fruits That Start With N. Have you tried any from this list? Let me know in the comments section.
