What is a fruit that starts with j

Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge around food or incorporate some new fruits into your diet, this list is for you.

Learn about these 20 fruits that start with J from around the world. From stinky fruits to hidden delicacies, there is plenty to experience.

1. Jungle plum

Originating in either South America or southern India, the jungleplum is a purple fruit that grows to be about ¾” in diameter. This small fruit ripens to have a dark purple color with clear-green pulp.

The succulent, sweet flavor of a jungleplum finishes off with a sour note similar to that of tamarind.

2. Jack

The jack fruit, not to be confused with Jackfruit, is a type of mango from southeast Asia. Smaller than its common mango relatives, the jack fruit packs a flavor similar to a pineapple-mango combo.

The skin of this mango is usually brown, and its interior is yellow-white. Native to Malaysia and Indonesia, the jack fruit grows in trees that can grow to be 150 feet tall!

3. June Plum

June plums grow in clusters of up to 12 fruits, with each fruit measuring 9-10 cm in length. They grow in green and yellow hues, developing a pineapple-like taste over time. Crisp, dense June plums are best for eating.

On top of eating for flavor, in Asia, these fruits are also used to help alleviate coughs and fevers.

4. Jostaberry

The jostaberry is a cross between blackcurrants and gooseberries. This berry is edible both raw and cooked, tasting more gooseberry-like raw and more blackcurrant-like as it ripens.

Created by those who wanted thornless gooseberry plants, the jostaberry was created in England in the 1880s.

At first, this hybrid did not create enough fruit for consumption. After a few years and plenty of tweaks, we developed the jostaberry we know today.

5. Java Apple

The java apple has bears little resemblance to the apples we are used to seeing. With an appearance closer to that of Asian pear, it is native to the forests of Malaya and the Nicobar Islands.

The java apple is a watery fruit with a light sweetness – some are more impressed by its flavor than others.

6. Jaltomato

These small fruits only grow to be 1-1.5 cm in diameter, starting off green and ripening into a dark purple or black color. Tiny seeds are found in the center of the fruit and, when opened, jaltomatos exude a smell similar to that of grapes.

Strangely enough, their flavor is described as a cross between a grape and a tomato…

7. Jackalberry

Jackalberries are called so because the jackals of Africa are fond of the fruit. Humans are also fans, having used the jackalberry for nutrition for centuries.

The taste of the green-yellow jackalberry has been likened to that of a lemon, although it gains sweetness as it ripens.

8. Jocote

This tropical fruit ripens to a red or purple color, edible skin and all. The riper the jocote, the sweeter its pulp.

Popular in Central America, there are over 50 recorded varieties in Nicaragua alone. They can grow in clusters or alone, with each jocote growing to 2.5-5 cm in diameter.

9. Java Plum Jamun/Jambul

The java plum is also called jamun, jamul, or jambolan plum. Native to southeast Asia, the java plum plant can grow to be almost 100 feet tall, living more than 100 years!

The java plums themselves grow in large quantities on each tree. They have a slightly acidic taste and are often used in jams. This tree is considered an invasive species in Florida, South Africa, and on several islands.

10. Jaracatia

Jaracatia is a strange sight, growing in an orange, 5-lobed ovaloid shape. It gives off an intense aroma with a pulp that resembles that of the papaya.

Originally found in South America, this fruit is used to make compotes and syrups, especially in Brazil. Jaracatia should be eaten raw and ripe; unripe jaracatia contains an irritating milk that could cause digestion issues.

11. Jujube

Jujubes are also known as Chinese dates. Grown in Asia but popular worldwide, jujubes are small round fruits that are dark red or purple.

Jujubes are often dried out and used in sweets. Low in calories but rich in vitamins and minerals, they are also consumed to help with sleep issues and anxiety.

12. Jatoba

Jatoba fruit, also called the stinking toe fruit (P.U.!), comes from the largest tree in the Caribbean.

Jatobas are 3-5 inches long and are found within a large pod. The pod is brown and the kidney-shaped jatoba fruits are cream-colored. When the pod is opened, an unappealing smell is released – hence the fruit’s nickname. Nevertheless, jatoba fruit is dense and dry with a sweet taste.

13. Jackfruit

Jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, growing up to 40 pounds or more! The skin is a greenish color with small spiky knobs. The flesh is a yellow color with a banana-like flavor.

Jackfruits are very popular in Asia but are sold in supermarkets all over the world.

14. Juniper Berry

Even though it’s called a berry, this fruit is a cone with a berry-like appearance. Juniper berries are used in spices and gin most often in Europe and North America.

Juniper berries combine a piney flavor with citrus notes. The skin of the juniper berry is bland, which is why these cones are often crushed.

15. Jua

The jua is the relative of the jujube. It is round, with yellow skin and white pulp. Typically growing to be about 1” in diameter, jua fruit gives off a sweet flavor.

Jua is native to northeast Brazil, thriving in arid and sandy areas.

16. Jaboticaba

Jaboticaba, also called jabuticaba or the Brazilian grapetree, is common in South America.

They grow into a purplish-black color with a white pulp, usually maturing at 3-4 cm in diameter.

Jaboticabas are eaten raw or used for jams, wines, and juice. Their flavor is similar to Muscadine or Kyoho grapes.

17. Junglesop

This rare fruit comes from the African jungle. While edible and said to be similar to the soursop fruit, little is known about the junglesop.

Junglesop is sought after in Africa, but the taste can vary greatly from fruit to fruit. Some people have described junglesop to have an acquired taste.

18. Jussara Palm

The jussara palm fruit comes from a type of acai palm, bearing dark purple, round fruit. Measuring at ½” per jussara palm fruit, you can use this fruit much like you’d use the acai.

While the fruit is edible, this plant is primarily used for its hearts of palm.

19. Jelly Palm

Jelly palm fruit is tarty and sweet. They grow the same size and shape as cherries, but in clusters on the Pindo palm tree. People forage for this fruit in Brazil.

The tropical flavor of the yellow jelly palm fruit has nuances of pineapple, coconut, banana, and apricot.

20. Jamaican Nutmeg

Jamaican nutmeg fruits are softball-sized fruit that contains special seeds. These seeds are the actual source of the nutmeg-like flavor, which is why they are used to make spices.

The fruit eventually burst open, revealing the seeds which are highly sought after for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

Can’t think of other fruits that begin with J aside from jackfruit and juniper berries?

There are not only five, not even ten. You’ll be surprised that there are more of them cultivated around the world.

Let’s improve your fruit vocabulary and find out where you can find these fruits. We can give you 16 names of fruits beginning with the letter J!

Now, let’s add more color to your fruit bowl. Read on!

What Are The Fruits That Start With J?

1. Jackfruit

First on our list is the famous exotic Asian fruit is, jackfruit.

Jackfruit or jack tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus), also known as the largest fruit of all trees, is native to India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Taste

Jackfruit has a strong, sweet, and kinda funny fragrance. The young flesh of the jackfruit is often pickled or cooked in soups when unripe. The ripe yellow flesh can be eaten raw or made into jams when it has ripened.

Guess what? A piece of this heavy fruit can weigh up to 120 pounds (55kg).

Benefit

Jackfruits are rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants which help our bodies fight off diseases.

How To Eat

Once you slice the jackfruit in several slices, use your hands or a knife to remove the segments of fruit then just eat the fleshy parts that embrace the seeds.

2. Jaboticaba Fruit

The next fruit is a native to the Brazil region called jaboticaba. It is also called jabuticaba, or the Brazilian grape tree, as the shape and size of the fruit are akin to grapes. The scientific name of the jaboticaba fruit is Plinia cauliflora.

Taste

The jaboticaba has a thick and purple outer dark skin (thicker than grapes), and it has a juicy gelatinous flesh that is somewhat similar to the sweetness of lychees.

Benefits

The jaboticaba is rich in calcium, iron, and potassium. These are important minerals that our body needs to function normally.

How to eat

You can eat jaboticaba fruit raw or extract the juice!

3. Jamaican Fruit

The renowned national Jamaican fruit is called ackee (Blighia sapida), ankye, achee, or ayee. In fact, ackee is cousins with lychee and longan belonging to the soapberry family.

Taste

The flesh of this bright red pear-shaped fruit has a nutty flavor, with a creamy and spongy texture that is similar to scrambled eggs!

Benefits

It is found that the Jamaican fruit has the potential to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, boost energy levels, support digestion, and improve immunity

How to eat

However, you need to make sure to eat them ripe! Why? It contains poisonous substances that can cause potential fatalities if still unripe.

4. Jamun

One of the fruits starting with J is the jambul fruit. Jamun or jambul fruit (Syzygium cumini) is a sweet and acidic purple berry and a popular summer fruit in India, Indonesia, and Pakistan.

Taste

To enjoy the best taste of the Jamun fruit, season it with salt before eating them. Don’t be surprised that it will leave a purple stain on your tongue!

Benefits

The Jamun is rich in antioxidants, B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium.

5. Japanese Persimmon Fruit

The Japanese persimmon variety does not only grow in Japan, but you can also find them in China and in the Himalayas region.

In Brazil, they call it the Brazilian cherry. Today, you can also find them cultivated on the shores of California.

Taste

The taste of Japanese persimmon fruit has a rich, creamy honey-like flavor with a texture that’s similar to the ordinary peach.

Benefits

Japanese persimmons are used to cure headaches and body pains for thousands of years. contain vitamins A and C, and manganese.

How To Eat

Just slice and eat it like an apple. Yes, the Japanese persimmon is edible.

6. Japanese Plum

Japanese plums are pretty bitter when eaten before they are perfectly ripe. The smooth-skinned fruit is firm, and it turns to a dusky yellow color when it fully matures.

Taste

The Japanese plum can be likened to a combination of peach and apricot. This fruit contains a lot of pectins which makes them great for making jam.

Benefits

Japanese plums are rich in fiber, potassium, and manganese. It helps treat certain digestive issues like dyspepsia and bloating.

How To Eat

Japanese plums are usually eaten fresh. Just peel off the skin then just bite into its flesh.

7. Jatoba Fruit

Jatoba fruit (Hymenaea courbaril) or Brazilian cherry is an oblong-shaped stinky-smelling fruit that looks the size of a toe. Yes, that’s how it gets its nickname: the stinking toe fruit. However, those who eat it are the ones who are not bothered by its stinkiness.

Taste

The stinking toe fruit or jatoba fruit has a dry and delicious edible sweet pulp encased in a hard brown shell.

Benefits

Interestingly, the dried and powdered jatoba pulp is used in making cookies, crackers, and soups in the Caribbean, Central, and South American regions.

How To Eat

You need to break the outer shell of the Jatoba fruit using rocks or a hammer to remove the fruit. Remember to keep some water beside you since the texture of this fruit is very dry.

8. Jazz Apple

Jazz apples, a Scifresh cultivar variety, is a patented domesticated apple grown by approved US farmers. (*)

Taste

The Jazz apple is a popular fruit that has a delicious and firm flesh that does not soften when cooked.

Benefits

This apple variety is the best option for making apple-flavored baked goods.

How To Eat

Eat it just like how you eat a fresh and crispy apple.

9. Jelly Palm Fruit

Jelly palm fruit (Butia capitata) from the Butia palm tree, is called pindo palm, coquinho-azedo or butiá in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Some countries call it palm date, wine palm, or yatay. (*)

Taste

The yellow-red cherry-shaped edible fruit of the pindo palm has a unique tart and sweet taste. It’s like combining apricot, pineapple, coconut, and banana.

Benefits

The jelly palm fruit is best made into jellies or jams.

How To Eat

Scrub the jelly palm fruit clean before taking a bite.

10. Jitomate

If you think of tomatoes, just say jitomate! In southern Mexico, juicy tomatoes are called jitomate. In a botanical sense, tomatoes actually fall under the fruit category.

Taste

It provides a savory flavor to many types of dishes.

Benefits

Jitomates are rich in lycopene which helps reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

How to Eat

In the culinary world, jitomates are eaten raw or it is used as a vegetable ingredient for different dishes.

11. Jocote Fruit

Jocote of the cashew family is a yellow/purple-red thin-skinned fruit native to Central America and the Caribbean. The scientific name of the jocote fruit is Spondias purpurea.

Taste

It has juicy and sweet flesh and they are popularly used in Scandinavian cuisines. And, the taste of an unripe jocote fruit is tart and a little bit bitter.

Benefit

The jocote fruit is rich in protein, fat, and fiber.

How To Eat

You can eat them fresh even if it is still unripe with added salt. The ripe ones are eaten like mangoes.

12. Johannisberre

Johannisberre is the German name for red or black currant fruit.

Taste

The taste of johannisnerre is akin to passion fruit with a dark berry flavor.

Benefit

They’re rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and anthocyanins that can help strengthen the immune system, soothe and treat flu symptoms.

How To Eat

They’re not usually eaten raw, but you can make this lemony-tasting fruit into jellies or bake with other sweet fruits.

13. Jostaberry Fruit

Blackcurrant x gooseberry is equal to jostaberry. The scientific name of the jostaberry fruit is Ribes × nidigrolaria and they are cultivated in places with cooler climates.

Taste

This cross-bred sweet, juicy, and tangy fruit is native to Germany.

Benefit

Jostaberries contain rich amount of vitamin C, antioxidants, and anti-fungal properties.

How To Eat

You can eat them raw or use them for making jams, jellies, and pie fillings.

14. Jujube Fruit

Jujube fruit, also known as the Chinese date, is mainly cultivated in some parts of Southern Asia. The scientific name of jujube is Ziziphus jujuba.

The jujube fruit turns dark red or purple and wrinkly when it ripens.

Taste

Benefit

In Chinese medicine, jujube fruit has a couple of potential health benefits. It is used to help decrease anxiety and even cure insomnia. It contains antioxidants phytochemicals that can provide sedative effects.

How To Eat

Fresh jujube fruits taste somewhat like sweet apples. When dried, it has a taste and chewy texture similar to dates.

15. Junglesop Fruit

Next in our list of fruits beginning with J is the junglesop fruit. This fruit grows in the tropical regions of Central Africa.

Junglesop (Anonidium mannii) is a large fruit that can weigh from 5 kg to 15 kg!

Taste

The junglesop fruit has a thick leathery brown skin with a soft yellow-orange sour to a peach-sweet pulp.

Benefit

The bark part of the junglesop tree is traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal infections.

How To Eat

The tropical African fruit is usually eaten fresh.

16. Juniper Berry Fruit

Juniper berry (Juniperus communis) may look like a kind of fruit but is technically a strong and aromatic herb. They’re not berries at all.

Taste

The juniper berry fruit can also give a classic peppery taste to gin drinks.

Benefit

Juniper berry is often used as a natural preservative since it has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. These tiny Juniper berries are also used as diuretics and antiseptics.