Been long overdue that Costco now sells longan. It's tasty, clean and better quality than the offerings in local asian markets (of which I'm generally averse to purchase).

Nostalgia is strong is how I dearly miss the plentiful tropical fruits of youth. Longan, lychee, rambutan, mango (richly flavorful and fiber free unlike the crap we get from Mexico here; Keit mangos are good and occasionally available here but very expensive at $5-7 each), guava, passionfruit, and others.

I don't know why we can get some tropical fruits here (ie - bananas, pineapple) but not the really good ones.

What a shame.

most likely it's because of agricultural pests or just the transit time from picking to ripening.

Could be. But w/ all the climate change over the past 20 years or so, you'd think we could grow tropical fruits in OR by now.... Or at least the Central Valley corridor if LA didn't suck the aquifers dry.

If I can find dragonfruit here at all it’s expensive and just doesn’t taste the same as quality stuff I get in another state. Papaya, same thing. Honestly I’d take it frozen if I could get the good stuff. It retains more nutrients.

There won't be much coming out of Florida anytime soon. The recent cold snap wiped out alot of produce.

I have 3 varieties of bananas whose stalks went from green to brown. Not sure if they'll recover, doesn't look like it, though I have a loquat that should recover. Four years ago I had two mango trees wiped out when we had two nights that went to 25 degrees.

The state is working with farmers, but I wouldn't expect much this year in regards to tropical fruit from Florida.

Just got back from Costa Rica. The mango,papaya, pineapple and others were fantastic.

quote:

rambutan

Our daughter told us and our friends she had try this it was supposed to be the “fifth flavor”.

Only if that flavor is ASS, we declared as everyone spit it out!

Maybe with some Vegemite on it…

For me it’s manzano bananas.

Small and very tasty. Unlike common Cavendish bananas they get better after the peel has developed dark spots.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:

quote:

rambutan

Our daughter told us and our friends she had try this it was supposed to be the “fifth flavor”.

Only if that flavor is ASS, we declared as everyone spit it out!

Maybe with some Vegemite on it…

Really? They’re my favorite quick snack in Costa Rica. Get a huge bag to last a few days from a street vendor for a few bucks. Tastes like a chewy grape. Not quite as sweet, maybe.

Vegemite, on the other hand… really? I had a taste once and my kidneys still haven’t forgiven me.

You probably have the “cilantro tastes like soap” gene, don’t you…

-Rob

Are mangoes tropical? Can’t eat what’s offered in the grocery store. We were on Maui last November. We took the rarely traveled Western route to Hana. Found mangoes ripe in the woods. So sweet and juicy, you could only eat them bent over. The flavor was paradisiacal. My favorite fruit.

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:
<snip>
You probably have the “cilantro tastes like soap” gene, don’t you…

-Rob

Probably not, since he apparently likes Vegemite.

Bring on the durian! I am one of the folks that enjoy it.