13 Puerto Rican Fruits You Must Try (By a Local)

Trying the most scrumptious Puerto Rican fruits should be high-priority if you’re a foodie visiting the archipelago.

The local weather makes it possible to cultivate many tropical fruits that you’ll find are part of local Puerto Rico cuisine. 

I’m a local who has written an entire ebook on Puerto Rico. I’ve enjoyed many of these tropical fruits myself and I recommend you experience their unique colors, flavors, and textures too.

If you don’t know where to start, I’ve listed out the best fruits you can try in Puerto Rico.

13 Best Puerto Rican Fruits to Try

Quenepa

A round drupe with a sweet and juicy pulp.

🍊 Where to Find Quenepa: Hacienda Costa Verde (Salinas), Cultivos Frescos de Aquí (Humacao)

Quenepa is a native fruit of the Caribbean and South America. Quenepas are small round drupes that grow from medium to tall trees. 

They ripen during the summer and are popular throughout the archipelago. You can eat the inside sweet pulp by breaking the outer skin with your teeth and the seeds roasted or grounded. 

Besides quenepa, you will find rambutan in Puerto Rico which is another fruit species very similar to quenepa. 

👉 Did You Know? Quenepas grow in massive quantities in Ponce and you’ll often find people selling them at plazas, and side road kiosks.

Mango

A sweet fruit rich in fiber and great for smoothies.

🍊 Where to Find Mangos: La Placita (San Juan), Plaza del Mercado de Río Piedras (San Juan)

Mangos are originally from Southeast Asia, but you’ll find them everywhere in Puerto Rico. In fact, there are thirty types of mangoes in Puerto Rico. 

The Mayagüezano and Largo are two of the most common types. The fruit is available during summer, and you know it’s ripe when it’s yellowish or slightly squishy to the touch. Mangos are both refreshing and sweet.

Pineapple

Sweet and sour fruit used for popular Puerto Rican drinks.

🍊 Where to Find Pineapples: El Sol Sale Para Todos (Lajas), D’Mi Tierra (Santa Isabel)

Pineapple is one of the fresh fruits you can find in Puerto Rico.

Although it’s cultivated throughout the island, the pineapple of Laja’s is particularly sweet. They are so popular that there is a Puerto Rico festival named after them.

Pineapples are good for digestion and are high in vitamin C and fiber. This is why they’re great to consume at any age, though they are high in sugar!

You can buy fresh on the market or you can try any of it via a popular Puerto Rican drink known as piña colada and smoothies. It’s also available in coffee cake or pineapple candy. 

Breadfruit

A versatile fruit used to make different Puerto Rican dishes.

🍊 Where to Find Breadfruit: Amasar (Jayuya), La Placita (San Juan)

Although breadfruit reached Puerto Rico through Europe, it has become a local staple food along with rice, green plantains, and beans.

Breadfruit is known in Spanish as pana. It’s used to make different dishes during the various stages of its development.

When it’s green, locals like to eat it boiled, baked, or fried in tostones. When it’s ripe it’s also used to make the dough for rellenos, which are meat-stuffed fritters. 

Pana is quite filling and cheap, perfect for a meal on a budget. It’s also a great meat alternative for vegan dishes.

Starfruit

This unique-looking fruit is full of vitamins.

🍊 Where to Find Starfruit: PRoduce (Online), Cultivos Frescos de Aquí (Humacao)

The star fruit is popular among Puerto Ricans for its citric yet refreshing flavor. 

Starfruit is also known as carambola and most Puerto Ricans eat it in slices or prepared in frappés. You can find carambolas in local markets. They are great snacks for on-the-go.

Guayaba

A tropical fruit you will find in multiple foods in Puerto Rico.

🍊 Where to Find Guayaba: Estación Experimental de Juana Díaz (Juana Diaz), Productos Morales (Hatillo)

Guayaba, known in English as Guava, is one of Puerto Ricans’ favorite fruits, and it shows in the many dishes we prepare with it. You’ll find guayaba in Puerto Rican desserts, jam, juice, popsicles, pastes, cookies, and even ice cream.

But, Puerto Ricans also like to eat this fresh fruit directly from trees. Guayabas can be round or pear-shaped. Although many recognize it for its characteristic pink color on the inside, it can be white too.

Guanábana

An odd-looking fruit with a rich juicy flavor.

🍊 Where to Find Guanábana: Hacienda Costa Verde (Salinas), Estación Experimental de Juana Díaz (Juana Díaz)

Don’t judge guanábanas for their appearance (or smell!), I can guarantee you they taste amazing.

This fruit’s flavor is similar to the flavor of an apple, but it has a creamy texture composed mostly of water. 

Most Puerto Ricans consume guanabanas (soursop) in limber, frappé, sorbets, or juice, as they make a refreshing treat for everyone. Many people also consume it for its medicinal properties.

Pomarrosa

A fruit that smells and tastes like a flower.

🍊 Where to Find Pomarrosa: Hacienda Campo Rico (Carolina), Mermelada Montemar (Aguadilla)

Pomarrosas look similar to guavas and have a texture like a pear. Depending on your taste, you can eat them raw or cooked.

You can also consume Pomarrosas in marmalade, juice, and jelly.

If you need a delicious alternative to multivitamins, pomarrosa is a good source of Vitamin C, B3, iron, calcium, and phosphorus.

🚜 Want to explore Puerto Rico’s agriculture? Check out my guide to the best Puerto Rico farms to visit!

Coconut

A popular tropical fruit that can take the form of almost anything.

🍊 Where to Find Coconut: Sao Farm Inc (Hatillo), Hacienda Campo Rico (Carolina)

Whenever you think of the tropics, you’re bound to think about palm trees and coconuts. And that’s why you should also try them during your visit. Coconuts aren’t exactly endemic, but they sure will make your vacation in Puerto Rico better!

Coconuts are a refreshing drink and a crunchy snack. They are also versatile, which is why you’ll find them in popular drinks like piña colada, and desserts like tembleque. They are easy to find in local markets too.

Banana

Green or ripe, everyone loves bananas in Puerto Rico.

🍊 Where to Find Bananas: Martex Farms SE (Santa Isabel), Placita (San Juan)

Bananas are commonly consumed in Puerto Rico. They are filling and a great source of potassium. They can also be eaten raw.

When they are green, locals prepare them in different dishes like “guineitos en escabeche” or eat them together with other root vegetables. When they are ripe, they are sweet and ideal for making smoothies. 

Once in Puerto Rico, you should try out guineos niños and guineos mafafos, two bananas with variations in form and flavor from the usual bananas you see at home. 

👉 Did You Know? Green bananas and green plantains aren’t the same. Although plantains are similar to bananas and are technically a fruit, they aren’t eaten raw in Puerto Rico.

Jobo

A fruit rich in antioxidants with a citrus flavor.

🍊 Where to Find Jobo: Hacienda Campo Rico (Carolina), Mermelada Montemar (Aguadilla)

Jobo is a fruit native to Oceania, but it has been in Puerto Rico since the 18th century. It looks similar to a mango during the ripe season between October and November.

This fruit is rich in antioxidants and nutrients, and if you like pineapples or mangos, you’ll love jobo too.

But, eat with caution! Jobo hides a spiky large seed in its interior that can hurt your teeth if you bite right into it.

Parcha

A bittersweet fruit that grows on vines.

🍊 Where to Find Passion Fruits: Finca Atabey (Santa Isabel), Girasolero (Carolina)

If you are a fan of passion fruit products, you’ll love trying fresh ones in Puerto Rico. 

Passion fruit’s interior is odd-looking and maybe even unappetizing, but don’t let appearances fool you – this citric fruit is delicious when consumed fresh.

Parcha, as it’s known locally (instead of Maracuya, the name in most of Latin America), is a beneficial fruit if you have high blood pressure, as it maintains your heart health.

Depending on the plant species it can taste sweeter or more bitter. 

Papaya

Papaya is a replenishing fruit that is easy to eat.

🍊 Where to Find Papaya: Hacienda Campo Rico (Carolina), Plaza del Mercado de Río Piedras (San Juan)

Unlike other fruits, Papaya is originally from the American continent and was introduced to the Caribbean in the 16th century.

Papayas are rich in antioxidants, have diuretic benefits, and help the digestive system. They are sweet and light to the stomach.

Papayas are commonly used in smoothies and Puerto Rican candies, which is a great way to introduce them to kids.

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Puerto Rican fruits, whether they are natural to the archipelago or not, offer a great diversity that will enrich every foodie’s stay! Up next, check out my article about the best restaurants in San Juan!