Not all fruits are created equal in the eyes (or taste buds) of eaters around the world. Some fruits have earned a notorious reputation for their challenging flavors, textures, or smells. Here are 10 fruits considered by many to be the least enjoyable, often dubbed the worst for various reasons, from bitterness to pungency.
AUTHOR: Rebecca Holcomb
Table of Contents
1. Grapefruit
When I was little, my grandfather would eat half of a Ruby Red grapefruit with a sprinkle of sugar for breakfast every morning. For many individuals, however, grapefruit is the nastiest fruit known to mankind. One respondent said, "I thought all fruits were great, but then grapefruits came along. It tastes like poison, messes with a lot of folks' medicines, needs sugar to taste okay, and needs lots of labor to enjoy. There are much better citrus fruits to choose from."
2. Durian
Durian is noted primarily for its interesting and memorable odor and is definitely a love-it-or-hate-it fruit. For several people, this tropical fruit from Southeast Asia is at the top of their 'hate it' list. One person had this to say about this spiny fruit. "I hate the taste and everything about it. Best ammunition in a food fight, though."
3. Papaya
Anyone who's tasted papaya knows it tastes odd. For one user, it was a mixup with watermelon that ruined papaya's chances. "I hate it not necessarily because it tastes horrible but because the first time I had it, I saw it cubed in a bowl, and I thought it was watermelon. I will never forgive papaya for what it did to me."
4. Banana
Plenty of people love bananas, and dishes you can make from bananas, like banana pudding and banana bread. For others, just the idea of eating a banana can bring on a convulsive gag reflex. One participant stated, "Bananas make my teeth cringe because they're just glorified baby food. I hated them as a kid, and I still hate them now. Tastes horrible to me."
5. Mango
Mango can be great if you like them. When texture matters, several posters can't step past the sliminess of a mango. One interested party even has a genetic aversion to the taste. "Flavor is fine, but the texture being firm and slimy is a no for me. I have a genetic disposition that makes them taste like soap."
6. Apple
Fruit can be interesting because there are so many textures. Citrus fruit is chewy and pulpy. Apples and pears can be fibery, while mango and kiwi are slimy. When I was little, I couldn't handle the tough texture of apple skin and would always spit it out. Apparently, I'm not the only one, as one poster said, "Apples with their watery texture and taste. Bitter, tough skin. Raw, baked, cider, etc., to this day, I'll never choose to eat an apple unless it's in some form of pie or pastry."
7. Kiwi
Kiwi can be a tricky fruit to enjoy. Like peaches, these small fruits come covered in skin with fine hair. They're entirely edible but can be irritating, and several commenters were quick to say so. "I don't like the taste, and it has all of the features I hate in a fruit. Are they covered in weird, hairy skin? Check. Seeds that are too small to avoid while also being too large to ignore? Check. Ripeness that's difficult to discern without eating? Check. Too small for one to be a serving, but too big to eat whole? Check."
8. Watermelon
When I was a child, fresh, cold watermelon was a treat during the hot summer months. And because it was fruit, my parents quickly picked one up. Now, I can't stand the texture of any melon, and I'm not alone in my dislike. One contributor said, "I hate the taste, the texture, and the seeds. It makes me sick to my stomach as it's always so bland."
9. Pears
Pears are another texture choice for me. I don't like soft fruit you eat as is. If an apple or peach is too soft, I'm throwing it away. Pears are always soft, and their grainy texture makes me gag. One individual compared it to eating gritty fruit, saying, "As if I want to eat that apple after you dropped it in the sand."
10. Tomatoes
I know that this is a technicality that most people cringe over. Tomatoes make more sense as a vegetable than a fruit, but humor me. I love tomatoes of all kinds. Beefsteaks make great sandwiches, heirlooms have such rich flavor, and cherry or grape tomatoes are fantastic as a snack. However, not everyone loves these veggie-flavored fruits. One person noted, "All your life, everyone tells you it's a vegetable, and then you find out it's a fruit and a vegetable in one; I hate that split personality. Ketchup is good, but tomatoes are nasty, disgusting, squishy disasters. They can be okay cooked, but eating them raw is a different story."
Source: Reddit.
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