20 Uncommon Fruits that Start With C You Never Knew Existed!

Here are the mouth-watering fruits starting with the letter C; join us as we explore this category. This page is your comprehensive guide on how to try out some delicious options that are different from your routine fruits. As some of the fruits may be more exotic and difficult to find, such as Cainito (Star Apple) and Canistel (Eggfruit), there are also more familiar fruits on the list, like Cherries and Cranberries.

If you’re an experienced fruit lover or you are seeking new fruits to try, this page will definitely be interesting for you. Explore a list of fruits with c scientific names and find out what people from other countries call these delicious fruits, as well as learn various interesting facts.

So, let us go straight and get to know about different ‘C’ fruits in a very fresh manner.

Fruit that starts with C

  • Cainito
  • Calamansi
  • Canary Melon
  • Canistel
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cape Gooseberry
  • Caqui
  • Casimiroa
  • Cherry
  • Cherry Plum
  • Chokeberry
  • Citron
  • Clementine
  • Cloudberry
  • Coconut
  • Cranberry
  • Crowberry
  • Cumquat
  • Custard Apple
  • Cacao
  • Cactus Pear
  • Carambola
  • Carissa
  • Cara Cara
  • Camu Camu
  • Cupuacu

1. Cainito

Cainito, also known as Star Apple, is a unique tropical fruit native to South America. It has a purple, star-shaped exterior with translucent white flesh inside. The flesh has a sweet and slightly jelly-like texture with a mild flavor. Cainito is a good source of vitamins C and B6.

  • Scientific Name: Chrysophyllum cainito
  • Alternate Names: Star Apple, Aguaymanto (Colombia), Caimitier (French), Cainito, Ajara (Portuguese), Caimito Maduraverde (Spanish),
  • Interesting Fact: The star-shaped core of the Cainito is not edible.
Cainito Fruit

2. Calamansi

Calamansi, also known as Philippine lime, is a small citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia. It is a hybrid of lime and mandarin orange with a thin, green rind and juicy, tart flesh. Calamansi is widely used in Filipino cuisine for its refreshing flavor and is often used in drinks, sauces, and marinades.

  • Scientific Name: Citrus microcarpa
  • Alternate Names: Calamondin, Philippine Lemon, Panama orange
  • Interesting Fact: Calamansi fruits are typically eaten whole, including the rind, as the rind adds a fragrant bitterness to dishes.
Calamansi Fruit

3. Canary Melon

Canary Melon, a variety of Honeydew melon, is a bright yellow, elongated fruit native to Asia. It has a smooth, slightly waxy rind and pale green to white flesh. The flesh is juicy, sweet, and slightly tangier than Honeydew melon. Canary Melon is enjoyed for its refreshing flavor and high vitamin C content.

  • Scientific Name: Cucumis melo (Inodorus group)
  • Alternate Names: Juan Canary, Amarillo melon, Spanish Melon
  • Interesting Fact: Canary Melons are known for their exceptional juiciness compared to other melons.
Canary Melon Fruit

4. Canistel

Canistel, also known as Eggfruit, is a tropical fruit native to Central America. It has a bright yellow, egg-shaped rind and a dry, crumbly, orange-yellow flesh. The flesh has a sweet, custard-like flavor and a texture similar to a hard-boiled egg yolk. Canistel is a good source of vitamins A and C.

  • Scientific Name: Pouteria campechiana
  • Alternate Names: Yellow Sapote (English), Tiesa (Philippino), Sapote Mante (Spanish)
  • Interesting Fact: Canistel is sometimes called "nature's candy" due to its sweetness and creamy texture.
Canistel Fruit

5. Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe, also known as Muskmelon, is a popular melon native to Africa. It has a netted orange rind and juicy, sweet, orange flesh. Cantaloupe is a good source of vitamins A and C and is enjoyed fresh in salads or fruit cups.

  • Scientific Name: Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis (Cantalupensis group)
  • Alternate Names: Rockmelon (Australia), Sweet Melon, Persian Melon
  • Interesting Fact: The netting on the rind of a Cantaloupe is a natural indicator of ripeness. A riper melon will have a more pronounced net.
Cantaloupe Fruit

6. Casimiroa

Casimiroa, also known as White sapote, is a green, bumpy fruit native to Mexico and Central America. It has a creamy white flesh with a sweet, custardy flavor and a jelly-like texture. Casimiroa is a good source of vitamins B6 and C.

  • Scientific Name: Casimiroa edulis
  • Alternate Names: White Sapote, Mexican Apple
  • Interesting Fact: Casimiroa trees are known for their large, fragrant white flowers that bloom in the spring.
Casimiroa Fruit

7. Cherry

Cherry is a small, round fruit native to western Asia and Europe. It comes in various colors, including red, black, and yellow, and has a sweet and slightly tart flavor. Cherries are a good source of vitamins A and C and are enjoyed fresh, dried, or in jams, pies, and juices.

  • Scientific Name: Prunus avium (sweet cherry) or Prunus cerasus (tart cherry)
  • Alternate Names: Wild Cherry (tart cherry variety)
  • Interesting Fact:
  • Cherry pits contain a small amount of cyanide, but the amount is too low to be harmful unless consumed in very large quantities.
Cherry Fruit

8. Cherry Plum

Cherry Plum is a hybrid fruit resulting from crossing cherries and plums. It has a round to oval shape, a red or purple skin, and juicy, tart flesh. Cherry Plums are enjoyed fresh, in jams and jellies, or dried.

  • Scientific Name: Prunus domestica (hybrid species)
  • Alternate Names: Myrobalan Plum
  • Interesting Fact: Cherry Plums are known for their tartness, making them a good choice for jams and jellies that require additional sugar.
Cherry Plum Fruit

9. Chokeberry

Chokeberry is a small, dark purple or black berry native to eastern North America. It has a tart and astringent flavor and is not typically eaten raw due to its bitterness. Chokeberries are high in antioxidants and are often used in juices, wines, and jams.

  • Scientific Name: Aronia melanocarpa
  • Alternate Names: Black Chokeberry, Chokecherry (not to be confused with Prunus virginiana)
  • Interesting Fact: Chokeberries are a good source of vitamins A, C, and E, and are gaining popularity for their potential health benefits.
Chokeberry Fruit

10. Citron

Citron, also known as Cedrat, is a large, oblong citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia. It has a thick, lumpy rind and a sour, acidic flesh. The rind is more commonly used than the flesh due to its strong, fragrant aroma. Citron is used in candies, marmalades, and as a flavoring agent.

  • Scientific Name: Citrus medica
  • Alternate Names: Corsican Citron, Baladi (Middle East)
  • Interesting Fact: Citron is one of the oldest cultivated citrus fruits and was prized for its fragrant rind in ancient times.
Citron Fruit

11. Clementine

Clementine is a small, seedless citrus fruit resulting from a hybrid of mandarin orange and sweet orange. It has a bright orange peel and juicy, sweet flesh. Clementines are a popular choice for a snack due to their ease of peeling and refreshing flavor. They are also a good source of vitamin C.

  • Scientific Name: Citrus × clementina
  • Alternate Names: Mandarine Clementine
  • Interesting Fact: Clementines are named after Father Clément Rodier, a French missionary who is credited with discovering the fruit in Algeria in the late 19th century.
Clementine Fruit

12. Cloudberry

Cloudberry is a small, orange-red fruit native to arctic and boggy regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It has a soft, juicy flesh with a sweet and tart flavor. Cloudberries are enjoyed fresh, jams, and liqueurs. They are a good source of vitamins A and C.

  • Scientific Name: Rubus chamaemorus
  • Alternate Names: Bakeapple (Norway), Lowbush Salmonberry, Aqpik
  • Interesting Fact: Cloudberries are a relatively rare fruit due to their specific growing conditions and short harvesting season.
Cloudberry Fruit

13. Coconut

Coconut, technically a drupe fruit, is a large, ovoid fruit native to Southeast Asia. It has a fibrous husk, a hard brown shell, and a white, fleshy interior. Coconut flesh is enjoyed fresh, dried (copra), or shredded. Coconut milk and cream are derived from the white flesh and are popular ingredients in various cuisines. Coconut water, the clear liquid inside the young coconut, is a refreshing drink.

  • Scientific Name: Cocos nucifera
  • Alternate Names: Coco de Mer (Seychelles)
  • Interesting Fact: Coconuts can float in saltwater for long distances, allowing them to disperse and colonize new islands.
Coconut Fruit

14. Cranberry

Cranberry is a small, tart red fruit native to bogs and wetlands in North America. Cranberries are most commonly consumed dried, juiced, or in sauces due to their tart flavor. Cranberry juice is often associated with urinary tract health benefits. Cranberries are a good source of vitamins C, E, and K.

  • Scientific Name: Vaccinium subg. Oxycoccus
  • Alternate Names: Cowberry (informal)
  • Interesting Fact: Cranberries are one of the few fruits native to North America that are still widely consumed today.
Cranberry Fruit

15. Crowberry

Crowberry is a small, black berry native to arctic and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It has a juicy flesh with a sweet and tart flavor. Crowberries are enjoyed fresh, jams, and jellies. They are a good source of vitamins A and C.

  • Scientific Name: Empetrum nigrum
  • Alternate Names: Black Crowberry, Crakeberry
  • Interesting Fact: Crowberries are similar to cloudberries but have a black color and a slightly different flavor profile.
Crowberry Fruit

16. Cumquat

Cumquat is a small, oval citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia. It has a thin, edible rind and juicy, tart flesh. Unlike other citrus fruits, the rind of a cumquat is sweet and can be eaten along with the flesh. Cumquats are enjoyed fresh, candied, or preserved.

  • Scientific Name: Fortunella margarita
  • Alternate Names: Golden Lime, Meiwa Cumquat
  • Interesting Fact: Cumquats are sometimes referred to as "miniature oranges" due to their similar appearance and citrus flavor.
Cumquat Fruit

17. Custard Apple

Custard Apple, also known as Atemoya or Sugar Apple, is a heart-shaped fruit native to the Andes mountains in South America. It has a bumpy, green or brown skin and a creamy, sweet custard-like flesh with black seeds. The flesh has a unique flavor that some compare to custard or banana. Custard Apple is enjoyed fresh or in juices and smoothies.

  • Scientific Name: Annona reticulata
  • Alternate Names: Atemoya (certain varieties), Sugar Apple, Bullock's Heart (English Caribbean)
  • Interesting Fact: The custard apple is known for its large size and can weigh up to 5 pounds (2.3 kg).
Custard Apple Fruit

18. Cacao

Cacao is not technically a fruit, but the pod of the Theobroma cacao tree. The pods contain cocoa beans, which are roasted and processed to make chocolate. The cacao bean itself has a bitter taste, but when roasted and fermented, it develops the chocolate flavor we know and love.

  • Scientific Name: Theobroma cacao
  • Alternate Names: Cocoa (processed product)
  • Interesting Fact: Cacao beans were once used as currency in Mesoamerica by the Aztecs and Mayans.
Cacao Pod

19. Cactus Pear

Cactus Pear, also known as Prickly pear, is the fruit of various cactus species native to the Americas. It has a spiny exterior and a juicy, sweet flesh that can be red, yellow, or orange. Prickly pears are enjoyed fresh, in juices, jams, and jellies. The pads of the cactus plant can also be eaten as a vegetable.

  • Scientific Name: Opuntia
  • Alternate Names: Prickly Pear Fruit, Tuna (Spanish)
  • Interesting Fact: The spines of the prickly pear cactus are easily detached and can cause skin irritation. However, the flesh of the fruit is safe to eat once the spines are removed.
Cactus Pear Fruit

20. Carambola

Carambola, also known as Star fruit, is a tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia. It has a star-shaped cross-section with a juicy, tart or sweet flavor depending on the variety. Carambola is enjoyed fresh, in juices, salads, and jams. The star shape of the fruit makes it a popular garnish.

  • Scientific Name: Averrhoa carambola
  • Alternate Names: Five-angled fruit

    We hope you've enjoyed exploring the exciting world of fruits starting with C! This list has hopefully introduced you to some new and exciting options to add to your grocery list. From the sweet and refreshing to the tart and tangy, these fruits offer a variety of flavors and health benefits.

    Remember, this is just a starting point! There are many more amazing "C" fruits out there waiting to be discovered. So, keep exploring, keep trying new things, and enjoy the delicious world of fruits!