The Kakadu Plum—also known as gubinge, billygoat plum, or Terminalia ferdinandiana—was recognized for its health benefits long before modern science caught on. Indigenous Australians have utilized this remarkable fruit for thousands of years as a traditional medicine to treat colds, flu, headaches, and infections, as well as an antiseptic for wounds. What’s fascinating is that…

History & First Uses: Kabosu was introduced from China into Kyushu and, by the Edo period (mid-1600s), was already being cultivated in Ōita Prefecture, where it earned a reputation both as a seasoning for grilled fish and sashimi and as a folk remedy for fatigue, inflammation, and liver sluggishness. Its juice doubled as a vinegar…

The very first medicinal uses of evergreen huckleberry trace back centuries to the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast—tribes like the Coast Salish, Comox and Quinault—who brewed teas from the leaves and used the berries and poultices to ease digestive upsets, urinary complaints and to help regulate blood-sugar levels. These practices were recorded in…

The etrog is a cultivated variety of the citron (Citrus medica), a large, fragrant citrus fruit distinguished by its thick, bumpy rind and minimal pulp. Its first recorded use comes from biblical times (6th–5th century BCE), where Leviticus 23:40 names the etrog as one of the “Four Species” waved during the festival of Sukkot to…

The emu apple (Owenia acidula) has a long history of use by Aboriginal Australians, likely dating back thousands of years. It was traditionally consumed as a bushfood, with the fruit pulp eaten fresh or after ripening on the ground. Some accounts even mention its use in ceremonies due to its mildly hallucinogenic properties. The earliest…

The elephant apple (Dillenia indica) was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae in 1759. That’s its botanical debut in Western science, but its cultural and culinary use stretches back much further in Southeast Asia. In regions like India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, elephant apple has long been…

Did you know that Eggplant might play the part of a veggie on your plate, but botanically speaking, it’s a fruit, specifically a berry. That’s because it develops from the flower of the eggplant plant and contains seeds. Nature’s got a way of blurring those culinary lines. Same goes for tomatoes, cucumbers, and even bell…

Elderberry, from the Sambucus genus—most notably Sambucus nigra—is a small, dark purple fruit that grows on the elder tree, native to Europe and North America. It’s been a staple in traditional medicine for thousands of years, prized for its immune-boosting and antiviral properties. The earliest known medicinal use of elderberry dates back to Ancient Egypt…

I hope you are still interested in fruits that can be introduced into your daily routine to improve your overall health and wellness. We’re only up to the letter E, so let’s explore what fruits the letter has to offer. Eggfruit (Canistel) A tropical delight with a creamy, bright yellow flesh reminiscent of a hard-boiled…