Fruits in Bali aren’t just food – it’s a way of life. From tropical smoothies to spicy fruit salads, Bali’s exotic fruits can be stunning and sometimes visually intimidating.
Whether it’s piled in heaps at a roadside fruit stall, or blended into your happy hour cocktail, fruits in Bali are an explosion of flavor, color, and culture. Let’s dive into some of the most unique fruits in Bali and what to expect from a bite.
1. Durian
Durian is often referred to as the “King of Fruits,” but it’s also one of the most controversial fruits in Bali. It has a spiky exterior and a very pungent aroma. You either love or it you hate it – no in-between.
Inside of Durian you’ll find creamy flesh with a texture very similar to custard. The taste is somewhere between nutty and slightly savory.
While the smell can be unbearable to some people, locals swear by its flavor. You can easily find this if it’s in season.
- Pronunciation: Doo-ree-an
- Season: November to March
- Flavour: Rich, creamy, custardy
2. Snake Fruit (Salak)
Snake Fruit or salak is one of the more visually intimidating fruits in Bali. It has a reddish-brown scaly skin that feels like a snake – hence the name.
When you peel it, the fruit reveals a firm, semi-juicy flesh that has a medium sweet taste. The texture has a crunchiness similar to apple.
Salak can be easily found in Bali (specifically Salak Bali), especially in Karagasem where most of the plantations are.
- Pronunciation: Sah-lak
- Season: All year round
- Flavour: Sweet with some tanginess
3. Rambutan
The rambutan is one of oddest-looking fruits in Bali. It’s a bright red fruit that looks like a small sea urchin. The name comes from the word Rambut which means hair in Indonesian.
Since it’s a member of the lychee family, the inside has a similar translucent look, sweet taste, and wet-rubbery texture.
- Pronunciation: Ram-boo-tan
- Season:
- Flavour: Sweet, juicy, citrusy tang
4. Mangosteen (Manggis)
Due to its uniqueness, Mangosteen is one of the most sought-after fruits in Bali, especially among tourists.
It has a thick purple rind on the outside which I don’t recommend biting into. The interior is what you’re after – soft, white, fluffy segments.
- Pronunciation: Mang-giss
- Season: October to March
- Flavour: Sweet with floral undertones
5. Bali Pomelo (Jeruk Bali)
The Pomelo is one of the largest citrus fruits in Bali. It’s called Jeruk Bali which literally translates to Bali Orange. The taste is often compared to a mild, sweet grapefruit without the bitter aftertaste.
Jeruk Bali can easily be found all year round, especially at traditional markets. It’s often eaten fresh or sometimes used in fruit salads.
- Pronunciation: Jeh-rook Bali
- Season: All year, especially in April to June
- Flavour: Mild sweetness and cirtrusy, less bitter than grapefruit
6. Dragonfruit (Buah Naga)
In my opinion, Dragonfruit (or Buah Naga) is one of the most beautiful fruits in Bali. The bright magenta skin and the even brighter magenta interior is quite visually stunning.
The taste is a mild, subtly sweet flavour with a texture similar to kiwi. Compared to the white dragonfruit, the purple / magenta variety is sweeter.
Dragonfruit is a common ingredient in smoothie bowls and juices in Seminyak Cafes, Ubud Cafes, and Canggu Cafes. It’s a healthy fruit and low in calories. But the seeds might trigger a bowel movement.
- Pronunciation: Boo-ah Nah-gah
- Season: October to April
- Flavour: Mildly sweet and refreshing
7. Jackfruit (Nangka)
The Jackfruit (or Nangka) is the largest fruit in the world that grows on a tree. Some of them are massive and can weight up to 40 kg.
The flesh is a golden yellow with a unique sweetness with hints of banana and mango. If it’s ripe, it’s often used in desserts.
However, young jackfruit is more commonly found in Indonesian foods like Gudeg and curries – in this case it’s called Sayur Nangka (sayur = vegetable).
- Pronunciation: Nang-kah
- Season: All year, peak January to May
- Flavour: Tropical sweetness
8. Soursop (Sirsak)
Soursop or Sirsak is a spiky green fruit with a soft white interior that somehow tastes like a mild fusion of strawberry and pineapple.
The flesh has a creamy texture with a unique sweetness. While it’s commonly found in fruit stalls, it’s a popular option at fresh fruit juice stands (mixed with sugar of course).
Sirsak is believed to have tons of health benefits, including boosting your immune system. You might even find herbal teas with Sirsak.
- Pronunciation: Seer-sak
- Season: All year
- Flavour: Mild sweetness
9. Papaya
Papaya (or locally spelled as Pepaya) is one of the most common fruits in Bali. You will likely encounter papaya during your floating breakfast or pretty much any fruit salad in Bali.
While you can find the Thai and California varieties, the Bali type is slightly smaller with a firm, buttery texture and deep orange colour. The sweetness is milder than the Thai counterpart.
Papayas in Bali are quite refreshing which is why it’s often found in fruit salad and used as morning fruit juices. Beware: It might make you poop!
- Pronunciation: Pe-pa-yah
- Season: All year
- Flavour: Tropical sweetness
10. Passionfruit (Markisa)
While passionfruit (or Markisa) is grown in many places, it’s less common than other fruits in Bali.
The Bali variety is often sweeter than other tropical regions with a vibrant, honey-like undertone with less of a face-twisting aftertaste.
You can sometimes get them in fresh juices, but I’ve come across passionfruit being used more in cocktails than in juices.
- Pronunciation: Maar-kee-sah
- Season: January to April
- Flavour: Tangy, honey
11. Ice Cream Bean (Buah Salju)
This is one of my favourite fruits in Bali – and quite rare! In other parts of the world, it’s called Ice Cream Bean, or Guaba in South America.
The flesh inside of the skin surrounds with seed with a furry texture (like cotton candy) and has a sweet taste. The only closest comparison that comes to mind is the taste of Mangosteen.
If you ever come across this fruit in Bali, I highly recommend giving it a try. While the sweetness is milder than those in South America, it’s still a wonderful taste.
- Pronunciation: Boo-ah saal-joo
- Season: December to February
- Flavour: Cotton candy, sweet and creamy
12. Bali Berry (Kepundung)
Locally known as Kepundung, Bali Berry is the same size of a grape with a slightly sour kick. It’s usually used in traditional desserts or eat fresh as a tangy snack.
While it’s not as widely cultivated as other fruits in Bali, it has a nostaligic charm for locals, esepcially for Balinese people who grew up in rural areas where Kepundung trees are common in home gardens.
- Pronunciation: Keh-poon-doong
- Season: January to March
- Flavour: Tangy, slightly sour
13. Ambarella (Kedondong)
This is another unique fruit that’s not commonly found in the West. It has a crunchy bite with a flavor similar to green apple. You will find kedondong as an ingredient in Rujak, a spicy Indonesian fruit salad.
It has a fibrous interior with a firm, juicy flesh that you can bite into. Some know it as June Plum, Ambarella, or Golden Apple in the Caribbean.
Pro tip: I highly recommend trying kedondong lightly pickled. Add some salt and chopped peppers and you’re good to go for a healthy snack.
- Pronunciation: Keh-don-dong
- Season: All year
- Flavour: Apple-like, slightly sour
14. Bananas (Pisang)
In my experience, Bananas in each part of the world all have their own unique flavor. In Indonesia, there are tons of different Banana types, almost all of which you can find in Bali.
But nothing tops the sweet, milky flavor of Pisang Susu, which literally translates to Milk Banana. It’s super small with a very thin yellow skin. The banana itself? Melts in your mouth – I’m not exaggerating.
- Pronunciation: Pee-sang
- Season: All year
- Flavour: Sweet, milky
15. Pineapple (Nanas Madu)
The pineapple fruits in Bali are called “Honey Pineapple” – Nanas Madu. This is one of Indonesia’s most prized varieties – and yes, it’s as sweet as it sounds.
These are smaller than the standard pineapples but packs an intense natural sweetness with lower acidity, making it incredibly juice and easy to eat fresh.
Unlike some pineapples that leave a slight tingle on your tongue, Nanas Madu is smooth and mellow. One bite alone feels like you’re well into cheat day. I may sound biased here, but it tastes better than the Hawaiian pineapple.
- Pronunciation: Nah-nas Mah-doo
- Season: All year, mainly March to July
- Flavour: Sweet, honey-like
Where to Buy Fruits in Bali?
Warung Buah
Fruit stalls (or warung buah) can be found almost anywhere in Bali. These are usually small, family-owned shops that focus primarily on selling fresh fruit. While you can buy some of the bigger fruits per piece, expect to pay per kilo for the small ones like bananas, pear, mangosteen, rambutan, etc.
Traditional Markets
You have to experience a traditional market in Bali (pasar) at some point during your trip. Markets like Badung Market and Kreneng Market are vibrant with local vendors who sell fresh fruits, veggies, local food, and even souvenirs.
Supermarket
You’ll be able to find some of the more popular fruits in Bali sold in major supermarkets like Pepito, Frestive, or Bintang Supermarket. Some convenience stores might carry bananas and pineapples. Keep in mind, these will likely be marked up at higher prices.
What Fruits in Bali are Imported?
Most fruits that you would easily find in the West aren’t grown here, so they would need to be imported to Bali. These are mainly fruits that don’t grow well in the tropical climate, or simply aren’t produced in large enough quantities.
- Apples – While some apples are grown in Indonesia, most varieties are imported from the U.S., China, or New Zealand.
- Grapes – Almost all grapes sold in Bali come from Australia, U.S., or China.
- Cherries – These are very sensitive and need specific growing conditions.
- Kiwi – While the taste is tropical, it’s actually not a tropical fruit.
- Pears – Asian pears can be found in Bali but are usually imported from other islands. Other varieties are imported from China or Australia.
- Bananas – Some bananas, like the Cavendish, are imported.
Some useful resources for your Bali Holiday
- Bali Airport Transfer
- Book a Private Car and Driver
- Get a WISE Debit Card for Bali
- Bikago Scooter Rentals
Neil
I’ve been in Bali for so long I’ve grown roots (literally and metaphorically). For the past 10 years, I’ve experienced Bali from every angle. I’ve explored the temples, I’ve tried all the food, and I’m proudly fluent in the Indonesian language. I hope our website helps you get an authentic experience for your holiday in Bali, whether you’re here to enjoy the finer things in life, or to learn more about Bali’s rich culture.
Learn more about Bali Culture
The Subak System: Bali’s Genius Water Network
Balinese Hinduism: Traditions, Beliefs & What Makes It Unique
Galungan and Kuningan in Bali: What Tourists Should Know
Who are the Pecalang? Bali’s Traditional Security Explained
Ogoh-Ogoh – 15 Best Places to see Ogoh-Ogoh Parades in Bali
