Picture the scene… The sun is burning down, the palm trees are swaying in the breeze, and the sea is sparkling on the horizon. Today we are looking at exotic fruit and a great way to enjoy their flavors and properties: fruit teas.
But while we’re on the subject, what exactly is an exotic fruit, and why do they conjure up such enchanting images?
Should we say exotic or tropical fruit?
Did you know? The term “exotic” actually means “from a foreign, faraway country.” The word therefore refers to imported fruits that do not grow at home. However, everything is relative. A papaya would be an exotic fruit for a European, but not for a Brazilian as they grow right on their doorstep! A term used by all countries would instead be “tropical fruit,” meaning that they are grown in the Tropics.
This is no coincidence. Tropical fruits require a specific climate to thrive. They need an average temperature of 80 °F (27 °C) and above all very little variation between the hottest and coldest months of the year. The main producing regions are found in South America and the Caribbean, along with certain places in Asia and Africa. A number of tropical fruits were introduced to Europe by leading explorers returning home from expeditions around the globe.
These exciting foods offer consumers their full flavors, but also a range of benefits!
The benefits of tropical fruits
We love tropical fruits, and so we should! They are filled with excellent qualities. Firstly, they contain very few calories. Secondly, they are filled with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Last but not least, their sweet flavors and bright colors make us feel great!
Speaking of which, these fruits add a pinch of exoticism to the teas and blends from Kusmi Tea. Let’s find out more!
Fruit teas from Kusmi Tea
Kusmi has been a leading tea company since 1867, and offers a selection of blends made using tropical fruits. Get ready to make your mouth water!
A world of tropical blends
Pop quiz! What are the most popular tropical fruits in France? You can have a few minutes to think…
Believe it or not, the most popular fruits are bananas, avocados, and…pineapples, the latter of which is used to flavor the fabulous tropical Blue Detox tea. This blend combines the sweet taste of this tropical fruit and the round flavors of rooibos along with the vegetal notes of maté and green tea. The freshness of mint adds the finishing touch to this delicious exotic tea.
In our Blueberry-Coconut White Tea, creamy coconut is mixed with green tea, white tea, and blueberry. There is actually a whole heap of benefits in this exotic fruit tea. Just like tea, coconut has a high level of antioxidants which can help fight against cell aging. This tropical fruit is rich in vitamins, magnesium, and potassium, and also contains manganese, copper, iron, and phosphorus. Impressive!
As for a fruity infusion, Kusmi recommends its Exotic Fruit Tea, an organic tropical infusion to be enjoyed hot or cold. This blend also features pineapple, as well as mango and passion fruit – two ingredients which are found in the Tropical White fruit tea.
A closer look at Tropical White fruit tea
We have decided to showcase mangos and passion fruits, which are both used in Tropical White, the white fruit tea by Kusmi Tea. A great chance to learn more about these two exotic fruits!
Mango
Mangos are the fleshy fruit from the mango tree, also known as mangifera indica, a plant originally from South Asia and particularly abundant in India. Its orange flesh is fragrant, juicy, creamy, and sweet. There are hundreds of mango varieties, which are all very rich in vitamins and minerals.
Mango offers its round flavors to our fruit tea, and its sweetness also makes it perfect for breakfast.
Passion fruit
Passion fruit grows on the passiflora edulis, a vine species originally from South American countries such as Brazil. Unlike mangos, the best passion fruits have wrinkled skin!
This fruit is also known as granadilla (in reference to grenadine, another seed-filled tropical fruit) or maracuja. Its unique flavor comes from the pulp surrounding its seeds. And to top it all off, it is packed with nutrients!
The tangy notes of passion fruit are a big part of our Tropical White exotic fruit tea.
What is your favorite fruity or exotic tea?