You certainly know what lemon and lime are, and these two popular citrus fruits start with the letter L. But when you think about other types of fruits that start with L, you probably cannot remember any of them.
And that is not a surprise since there aren’t many popular fruits that name starts with L but trust me, there are a lot of amazing fruits that’s popularity isn’t high, but that doesn’t diminish their value.
So, in this article, I will present you with the ultimate list of 36 unique fruits with the first letter L, that you just have to know. When you are ready, we can proceed on the journey through the 36 juicy gifts of nature that have names starting with the letter L.
The Ultimate List Of 36 Fruits That Start With L
Here is that list of fruits whose name starts with the letter L. Let’s proceed, shall we?
1. Lablab Fruit
First on the list of fruits that start with L is an attractive lablab fruit. It originates from Africa, India, and Indonesia and is a member of the Fabaceae family. Common names for this amazing fruit are the Lablab bean, Field bean, and Hyacinth bean.
A fruit tree can grow up to 3-6 meters, its leaves are edible, and its seeds can be used to make tofu. Almost everything on this unique tree is edible and rich in important vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, and thiamin.
2. Lady Apple Fruit
This type of apple is one of the oldest known. It is a French apple that was naturalized in America in the 19th century. It has a few other names but one of the most popular is Christmas Apple since it is considered a decorative apple.
The color of the skin is lime green, and the flesh is not crispy but rather tender. So, it is not often eaten raw but rather caramelized, baked, or roasted for various delicious dishes.
3. Lady Finger Bananas
Among many banana varieties, the lady finger banana is one of the sweetest, so it is not a surprise that it is also called the sugar banana. It grows on the Finger banana tree, whose other name is the Baby Banana tree because it can only grow up to 5 inches long.
A lady-finger banana is smaller and sweeter and has a creamy consistency that melts in your mouth. Because it is so sweet, it can go in any sweet dish or dessert you can imagine, but it is best suited for smoothies and anything related to peanut butter and chocolate.
If you have problems with gluten, you can use it to make gluten-free banana pancakes.
4. Lambkin Melon
This type of melon is botanically classified as Cucumis melo. Still, many people also call it Christmas melon because it lasts well into the holidays due to its long shelf life.
It is oblong and a similar shape to an American football. Its skin is smooth and yellowish-green in color. Underneath is a pale green flesh that is very aromatic and sweet in flavor. The seed cavity is in the center.
The flesh is mainly eaten raw on its own, but it is also good in salads. Regarding nutritional value, vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber lead the way.
5. Lancetilla Mango
This heavy mango fruit originates from Honduras and was introduced to the Americans at the beginning of this century. This tremendous fiberless fruit has a blood-red color skin and lemon-yellow flesh.
Its flesh is firm, very sweet, and completely fiberless. It is moderately acidic. It is suited for making mango, pickled mango, and sticky rice dishes.
6. Langley Bullace Damson Plum
This one is a late heavy cropping variety and a tiny fruit that is round to round-oblong in shape. When it comes to color, it is a lovely blue-black shade.
The taste, when eaten raw, is not so nice since it has a tart flavor. But it can be delicious as canned food and it is excellent in pies and makes good damson gin. This plum’s texture is firm.
7. Langra Mango
Another mango on the list, this time from northern India, is a bit smaller than the previous one. This mango cultivar also grows in Varanasi, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. In some of these countries, it is also known by the name “Danka mango”.
It has green-toned skin when young, and nice yellow skin with some greenish tinges, when it ripens. Its flesh is smooth and perfect for eating raw or making into a dried mango snack.
8. Langsat Fruit
Although it is not very popular in the Western world, in southeast Asia, very few people do not know about it. Langsat fruit, or Lansium Parasiticum, originates from western Malaysia and the Philippines islands.
It is also very popular in Asian countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and southern India.
It is an edible fruit with white flesh and inedible, bitter seeds. When it comes to the flavor profile, it is a unique combination of tangy, sweet, and sour flavors. Though the taste is somewhat similar to a grape.
This incredible fruit is rich in vitamin A, thiamine, and riboflavin and is also packed with all sorts of antioxidants.
9. Lantana Camara Berry
Lantana Camara berry grows on the evergreen shrub that typically grows up to 70 inches high. Alongside leaves and beautiful flowers, grow sweet and tart berries.
Those berries grow all year round with the peak season in the summer. They are only edible when they ripen and turn into a dark purple shade. Don’t even think about eating them before they ripen because they are toxic.
You can use these berries for making jams and jellies.
10. Lakoocha Fruit
This unique fruit grows on the Lakoocha tree, predominantly found in tropical regions and some other places like Nepal, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
It is a member of the Moraceae family and is known by various other names like monkey fruit, lokhat, monkey jack, badhal, lakuch, and tamping. The flavor profile is a unique combination of tangy and sweet flavors, making it taste like some citrus fruits.
It is also a healthy fruit since it reduces hair loss, skin diseases, and herpes. It can also treat dysentery and swelling, and clean wounds as well. A superfood indeed!
11. Lapsi Fruit
Another less-known fruit originates from Nepal. It is known by the scientific name choerospondias axillaris and lapsi and aamli in some Nepali speaking communities. It grows on the Lapsi tree whose hardwood is suitable for harvesting.
The skin of this oval fruit is greenish in the beginning but, when it ripens, it changes color to yellow. The flesh is somewhat bright yellow and has an extremely sour flavor, and I recommend you eat it with chili salt to balance the flavor.
And let’s not forget the nutritional value because it is enormous. This fruit possesses a large amount of complex carbs and it is also rich in vitamin C and amino acids. You can use it for making sweets, jellies, pickles, and ice creams.
12. Lardizabala Fruit
Another specific and very interesting fruit on the list of fruits that starts with L is the one that grows on the flowering plants called evergreen lianas that are native to southern and central Chile.
The plant is famous for its beautiful flowers, but the fruits are also not for the trash. They are 2-3 inches long and green and purple when ripe. The flesh possesses a sweet taste and you can consume it raw or cooked.
13. Le Conte Pear
Le Conte pear fruit grows on the deciduous pear tree that can grow up to 8m. It is a hybrid of European pear and Chinese sand pear. The fruit is bell-shaped and creamy yellow when it comes to skin.
The flesh is medium soft and very juicy with a mildly sweet taste, and it is ideal for various sweet dishes and desserts.
14. Lemato Fruit
As you can conclude from the name of this fascinating fruit, it is a unique combination of tomato and lemon, i.e. hybrid of these two popular fruits. And that is exactly how it looks.
Outside, you see a lemon but when you cut it in half you see the flesh of the tomato. There is not much to say about this hybrid since it is relatively new. Only 82 people have tried this fruit and the rest of us are still waiting to experience its uniqueness.
15. Lemons
And, finally, there is that popular citrus fruit called lemon. I assume that you all know how it looks and tastes, but I will just say that this fantastic yellow citrus fruit has a recognizable sour flavor that is used in so many ways that it is impossible to count them.
One of the most popular drinks where the main ingredient is lemon, which is so refreshing on those hot summer days, is undoubtedly lemonade. It also goes well with various types of seafood, including raw tuna in sushi, salmon, and many others.
But maybe one of the most important things that characterize this citrus fruit is its incredible nutritional value and the health benefits that go with it. It is extremely rich in vitamin C, fibers, and many antioxidants.
When it comes to health benefits, lemons support heart health, prevent kidney stones, protect against anemia, reduce cancer risk, improve digestive health, and so many more.
16. Lemon Drop Melon
Another lemon on the list of fruits that start with L? Or is it? It certainly isn’t. It is a melon and a hybrid of the so-called Galia melon.
It has golden-tanned skin and, underneath the skin, a pale green succulent flesh that is soft and dense. The flavor is not sweet since it is low in sugar, making it an excellent choice for people who tend to avoid sugar because of dietary requirements or other health issues.
It is also nutritionally rich since it possesses high levels of vitamin C and B6.
17. Lemon Aspen Fruit
When you read the name, you undoubtedly think of the traditional lemon, but this isn’t a type of lemon at all. It is a tropical fruit and one of the many bush foods native to Australia.
It is a small fruit – way smaller than a lemon – and it is pale green, yellow, or off-white in color. Its flesh is pale yellow and it has a juicy succulent texture. It has an apple-like flavor with a hint of grapefruit and the tart flavor of lemon.
It can be used for making jams, jellies, sauces, beverages, and preserves.
18. Limau Bali
This medium-sized fruit is very similar to grapefruit. It is classified as Citrus maxima and it belongs to the Rutaceae family. The fruit is very large in size and has green skin.
Beneath the green skin is the light orange to pale pink flesh that is somewhat juicy and contains cream-colored seeds. The flavor of this fruit is sweet with mild acidity and it is very aromatic.
Regarding nutritional value, limau bali fruit is rich in vitamins A, B, and C, potassium, iron, and calcium.
19. Limeberry Fruit
Limeberry, also known by its botanical name Triphasia Trifolia, is an evergreen shrub that is a member of the Rutaceae family. It originates from tropical southeastern Asia.
The fruit that grows on this tree is edible, its skin is red in color and the flesh is pulpy with a flavor similar to sweet lime. Because of its unique aroma, it is often used for making preserves and tea.
But it is mainly famous for its health benefits. This fruit is mostly used for treating skin diseases, colic, and diarrhea, and it is also great for sore throat and cough.
20. Limes
Another member of the Citrus genus and Rutaceae family, the lime tree is widely grown in tropical and subtropical areas. The lime fruit that grows on these trees is edible but highly acidic.
There are a few important types of limes: Persian lime, key lime, desert lime, and Makrut lime. Lime juice is mainly used as the main ingredient in pickles and chutneys and is also used for flavoring some confections, foods, and drinks (most often in various cocktail recipes).
Just like lemon, lime fruit is exceptionally nutritious since it contains vitamin C and a bunch of antioxidants. Limes can boost immunity, promote healthy skin, reduce the risk of heart disease, prevent kidney stones, and lower the risk of certain cancers.
21. Leucaena Leucocephala
Leucaena Leucocephala originates from Mexico and Central America. This tree is not that popular for its fruits, but rather for some other uses like medicinal uses, social uses, animal food, etc.
You can only eat the young pods and you will most likely find them in salads, stews, legumes, and tacos.
Another interesting usage is in the pulp and paper industry.
22. Liberty Apple
When you read the name of this fruit, it is easy to confuse it with the Big Apple, New York City, but it really does not have anything to do with that.
Instead, it is a beautiful apple with amazing red color and a sweet and mildly tart flavor. It is best to eat this apple fresh because it is very juicy and crispy, but you can also use it to make some sweet and delicious pies.
23. Limequat Fruit
This interesting hybrid of key lime and kumquat grows on the limequat tree that bears fruit all year round. It is small and oval in shape, and green in color but turns yellow when fully ripe and that is the only time when you can consume it.
It is not really recommended to eat it raw because of its extremely sour flavor, but you can always cook it or use it to make some delicious limequat jelly for your crispy toast.
24. Lingonberry
Lingonberry is known by many other names including Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea, mountain cranberry, partridgeberry, or cowberry. It is an evergreen shrub and a member of the Ericaceae family.
It grows little wild berries that possess dark-red skin and a very acidic taste that is very similar to cranberries, although not that acidic. You can use it in both desserts and savory dishes.
But it is really most popular for its extraordinary health benefits and nutritional value. It is good for your brain health, and oral health, and it promotes gut health as well.
25. Lilly Pilly Berry
This berry with its funny and cute name grows on evergreen shrubs or trees and belongs to the so-called Myrtaceae family. It is very small in size and round to oval in shape.
It possesses a firm, shiny, and taut skin that ranges in color from pink-red to magenta. It has a thin, white flesh that can be seedless or may contain a tiny hard seed. The flavor of the fresh is somewhat sweet-tart with fruity, spice-filled tones.
This berry is full of vitamin C and other antioxidants which is not a surprise for a berry.
26. Lippens Mango
Another mango is on the list of fruits that start with L. There are really a lot of them. This one originates from Florida and, nowadays, it still mainly grows in that same Florida and around the United States.
This mango is ovate to oblong in shape and has skin that is yellow in color and has pink or crimson blush. The flesh is also yellow and fiberless, sweet, and has a monoembryonic seed.
27. Lodi Apple
Lodi apples, scientifically known as Malus Domestica, are an early summer fruit that belongs to the Rosaceae family. They are moderate in size and conical in shape. The color of smooth skin is pale green and underneath is ivory to white soft flesh with small black-brown seeds.
The main flavor is tart but the aftertaste is subtly sweet. Because of that, they are best suited for baking and stewing, and it is best to simmer them in a sauce along with some other seasonings like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
Some important nutrients that this apple contains include vitamins A and C, fiber, iron, potassium, and phosphorus.
28. Loganberry
Yet another hybrid. This one is a combination of European raspberry and North American blackberry, and it has the size and shape of a blackberry and the taste of raspberry. So, you can conclude that the taste is tart and slightly sweet.
These berries can be used in a variety of ways. Ripe ones can be eaten fresh and tarter ones are good for jamming, canning, and freezing. They are also great for sorbets, salads, and ice creams.
When it comes to nutritional value, loganberries are rich in manganese and vitamin C alongside other important nutrients.
29. Loquat Fruit
Loquat is a fruit that originates from China and is also known as “Japanese Medlar”. It grows on the loquat tree, which is also popular for its leaves from which lots of people tend to make an herbal tea that is delicious and beneficial for health.
The fruit itself is round in shape and possesses yellowish or burned-orange skin. This fruit is praised for its outstanding sweet flavor and for its huge nutritional value.
Loquat fruit is packed with nutrients that include vitamins A, B6, and B9, as well as magnesium, potassium, and manganese.
30. Longan
Longan fruit is also known by the botanical name Dimocarpus Longan and it is native to southeast Asia and cultivated in Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, and China.
This little round fruit has a brown shell and white flesh underneath. The flesh is edible, but it contains an inedible black seed that needs to be taken out. You can use its flesh as an ingredient for sorbets, salads, jellies, smoothies, and puddings.
This incredible exotic fruit is also known for its extraordinary health benefits. It improves memory, boosts skin health, improves sleep quality, and immunity, prevents anemia, and protects against chronic diseases.
31. Long Island Cheese Pumpkin
This one may be a surprise to you because there is a question of what pumpkin has to do with the list of fruits that start with L, and maybe some of you may think that it belongs to the list of vegetables that start with P or L. But, is that so?
Well, the answer may surprise you because a pumpkin is actually a fruit since everything that starts from a flower is scientifically a fruit.
This one originates from the northeastern US and it reassembles cheese in appearance. Underneath the cheesy skin is a stringless flesh with fine grain and a somewhat brittle texture, as well as sweet and earthy flavor.
This pumpkin is loaded with nutrients such as beta carotene, some cancer-fighting antioxidants, and vitamins A, C, and potassium.
32. Long Neck Avocado
This specific type of avocado got its name for its giraffe-like appearance. It originates from Florida, the Caribbean, and other tropical parts of the world. Its bright green skin is thin, smooth, and glossy.
Its yellow-green flesh is thick and creamy and has a high moisture content. In the center of the flesh is an oval, brown seed. That edible flesh of avocado has a savory, salty-sweet flavor.
This type of avocado is high in vitamins C and K, as well as in antioxidants, potassium, folate, and fiber.
33. Lord Lambourne Apple
You can immediately tell from the name that this variety of apples has something to do with England. Actually, it is a classic, high-quality English dessert apple.
Its shape is round and not too flattened and the color of the skin is the typical combination of green with orange flush over it and a hint of russet. Underneath is a white flesh that is quite crispy and it has a powerful, refreshing, acidic flavor.
34. Louise Bonne Of Jersey Pear
And there is finally one flavorful and juicy pear on the list of fruits that start with L and that is a Louise Bonne of Jersey pear that originates from Normandy, France.
It is a red flushed pear that possesses a distinctive, slightly acidic flavor, and it is a classical flavorful, buttery, and juicy dessert pear.
The time frame from October to November is this pear’s best time.
35. Lychee Fruit
Lychee is considered of Indian and Chinese origin and grows in many other Asian countries as well. It is a tropical fruit that belongs to the family of soapberries.
This fruit’s skin is reddish and not edible. But below is an edible white flesh that has a tangy, juicy, and sugary flavor, similar to the flavor of mangosteen. An inedible brown seed is in the middle, and the texture of the flesh is firm and with a glossy sheen.
It is best to consume lychee on its own, but you can also add ripe lychee to fruit salads, or as an ingredient in ice cream, sorbet, and sweet summer tea.
36. Lucuma Fruit
Lucuma, or more correctly loo-coo-ma, is a fruit that originates from South America, i.e. from Peru and Chile. Because it loves cooler climates, this fruit is mainly found in the cool highlands of the coastal valleys of Chile and Peru.
This fruit has green skin and yellow flesh that possesses a dry and mealy texture. The flavor is super sweet and, because of that, lucuma fruit is used for flavoring ice creams, juices, and milkshakes.
It is also rich in some essential nutrients like iron, niacin, potassium, calcium, magnesium, carotenoids, and phosphorus.
Know Your First Letter L Fruits
I am sure that this was one very interesting journey through the “forest” of all these exciting and exotic fruits that start with L. I believe this is the best way to discover nature’s finest fruits that you have never heard of before and learn some really interesting facts about them.