Fruits come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors, offering a wide range of options to fit any taste preference. From sweet and tangy to tropical and exotic, fruits starting with the letter “L” are especially diverse, offering rich textures and flavors.
Whether you’re a fan of citrus fruits like lemons or craving tropical varieties such as the Lancetilla Mango, this list of 25 fruits that start with “L” will introduce you to some amazing new fruits to try. Let’s dive in!
1. Lemon
Taste and Texture: Lemons are one of the most recognizable citrus fruits with a bright yellow skin and juicy, tangy flesh. They offer a zesty, sour flavor that’s ideal for flavoring dishes, beverages, or desserts.
Health Benefits: Packed with vitamin C, lemons boost immune function and are known to improve skin health and digestion.
2. Lime
Taste and Texture: Limes are smaller than lemons with a green skin and acidic, tangy taste. They’re commonly used to add a refreshing, citrusy flavor to drinks, fruit salads, and savory dishes.
Health Benefits: Like lemons, limes are an excellent source of vitamin C and antioxidants, supporting immune health and reducing inflammation.
3. Lancetilla Mango
Taste and Texture: Known for its large size and vibrant yellow skin, the Lancetilla Mango is a tropical fruit with a juicy, fiber-rich flesh and a sweet, slightly tart flavor.
Health Benefits: Rich in vitamins A and C, this mango variety supports vision health, skin rejuvenation, and immune function.
4. Lady Finger Banana
Taste and Texture: The Lady Finger banana, also known as “apple bananas,” is smaller and sweeter than traditional bananas. Its creamy texture and mild sweetness make it a favorite for snacking or adding to fruit salads.
Health Benefits: These bananas are a good source of potassium, which is essential for heart health and maintaining proper muscle function.
5. Lemon Drop Mangosteen
Taste and Texture: This hybrid fruit is a cross between the mangosteen and lemon, offering a tart, citrusy flavor with the creamy, fragrant texture of mangosteen.
Health Benefits: Known for its high antioxidant levels, the Lemon Drop Mangosteen can help protect the body from oxidative stress and support immune health.
6. Lablab Fruit
Taste and Texture: Lablab is a bean-like fruit, often harvested while young and consumed as a legume. The skin is green, and the flesh is starchy and firm.
Health Benefits: Lablab is a great source of protein, fiber, and essential minerals, which support digestion, heart health, and overall energy.
7. Longan
Taste and Texture: Longan is a tropical fruit with translucent flesh and a sweet, floral taste. Often compared to lychee, it has a smooth texture and is commonly found in Asian desserts.
Health Benefits: Rich in vitamin C, longan fruit helps boost immune health and improve skin complexion.
8. Lilly Pilly
Taste and Texture: Lilly Pilly, native to Australia, has a tart, berry-like flavor with a crisp, juicy texture. It’s often used in jams and sauces.
Health Benefits: This fruit is rich in antioxidants and has antimicrobial properties, making it beneficial for overall immune health.
9. Langsat Fruit
Taste and Texture: Langsat is a small, tropical fruit with translucent flesh that has a sweet yet slightly tart flavor. It has a unique, pleasant aroma and a smooth texture.
Health Benefits: High in vitamin C, langsat can help improve immune function and skin health.
10. Lemon Aspen
Taste and Texture: This unique fruit from Australia has a sour, lemony flavor, combined with a tangy, aromatic profile. The pulp inside is firm and fibrous.
Health Benefits: Lemon Aspen is rich in antioxidants and helps to improve digestion and immune health.
11. Lulo
Taste and Texture: Lulo, also known as the naranjilla, is a citrus-like fruit native to South America. Its bright orange skin contains tangy, green flesh that offers a refreshingly sour flavor.
Health Benefits: Lulo is an excellent source of vitamin C and antioxidants, making it a great choice for boosting immune health and combating oxidative stress.
12. Lemon Drop Melon
Taste and Texture: This melon has a smooth, yellow skin and sweet, juicy flesh. It’s a hybrid fruit that combines the refreshing sweetness of melon with a hint of citrusy lemon flavor.
Health Benefits: High in water content and vitamin C, lemon drop melon helps in hydration and supports skin health.
13. Liberty Apple
Taste and Texture: The Liberty Apple is a tart variety with a crisp texture and distinct flavor, making it a great addition to pies, tarts, or fresh fruit salads.
Health Benefits: Rich in fiber, the Liberty Apple supports healthy digestion and helps maintain a balanced blood sugar level.
14. Limequat
Taste and Texture: Limequat is a hybrid fruit between a lime and a kumquat. It has a tangy flavor with a small, edible skin, making it perfect for snacking or adding zest to dishes.
Health Benefits: Limequats are packed with vitamin C, supporting immune function and providing a boost of antioxidants.
15. Loquat
Taste and Texture: Loquats are small, oval-shaped fruits with a smooth yellow skin and a sweet, slightly tart flavor. The flesh is juicy and soft, making it a popular addition to fruit salads and desserts.
Health Benefits: Loquats are a good source of fiber, vitamins A and C, and antioxidants, promoting healthy digestion and skin health.
16. Lapsi
Taste and Texture: Lapsi is a small, sour fruit that grows in the Himalayan region. It has a tart, astringent flavor, often used in making chutneys and beverages.
Health Benefits: Lapsi is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, offering various health benefits like improving digestion and boosting immunity.
17. Lucuma
Taste and Texture: Lucuma is a Peruvian fruit with a dry, creamy texture and a rich, caramel-like flavor. It’s often used as a natural sweetener in smoothies and desserts.
Health Benefits: Lucuma is packed with fiber, antioxidants, and essential vitamins, making it a great fruit for maintaining energy levels and promoting digestive health.
18. Lacatan Banana
Taste and Texture: Lacatan bananas are a variety of bananas with a creamy texture and a sweet, mellow flavor. They are widely grown in tropical regions.
Health Benefits: Like other bananas, Lacatan bananas are rich in potassium and vitamin B6, supporting heart health and muscle function.
19. Little Mango
Taste and Texture: The Little Mango is a miniature variety of mango, often grown in tropical regions. Its flavor is incredibly sweet, with juicy flesh that’s less fibrous than larger mangoes.
Health Benefits: A great source of vitamins A and C, the Little Mango is excellent for boosting the immune system and promoting healthy skin.
20. Longan
Taste and Texture: Longan fruit has a translucent, juicy flesh with a sweet, floral flavor. It’s often eaten fresh or used in Asian culinary dishes.
Health Benefits: Rich in vitamin C and iron, longan helps to enhance immune health, improve blood circulation, and promote healthy skin.
21. Lablab Purpureus
Taste and Texture: This bean-like fruit is often consumed in its young stage. It has a starchy texture and a mild flavor, making it suitable for savory dishes.
Health Benefits: Lablab purpureus is a good source of protein, which is essential for muscle growth and repair, and supports digestive health.
22. Lemon Raspberry
Taste and Texture: Lemon raspberries are a hybrid fruit that combines the tartness of lemon with the sweetness of raspberries. It has a juicy, tangy flavor that’s perfect for adding to fruit salads or beverages.
Health Benefits: High in vitamin C and antioxidants, lemon raspberries help boost immunity and fight inflammation.
23. Lulo Fruit
Taste and Texture: Lulo, or naranjilla, is a sour tropical fruit with bright orange skin and tangy, green flesh. It has a citrus-like taste, making it an excellent addition to drinks or desserts.
Health Benefits: Rich in vitamin C, lulo is great for boosting the immune system and providing antioxidant benefits.
24. Liberty Tomato
Taste and Texture: Known for its firm texture, the Liberty tomato has a tangy, slightly sweet flavor that makes it a perfect addition to salads, sandwiches, or salsas.
Health Benefits: Packed with vitamin C and lycopene, Liberty tomatoes support immune health and may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.
25. Lanzones
Taste and Texture: Lanzones are small, tropical fruits with translucent, sweet flesh and a slightly tart taste. They are native to Southeast Asia and are often eaten fresh.
Health Benefits: Lanzones are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, helping to improve digestion and support immune health.
FAQ
What is the most popular fruit that starts with L?
Lemons are the most well-known fruit starting with L, known for their tangy flavor and versatility in culinary uses.
Can I use lemons and limes interchangeably in recipes?
While both are citrus fruits, lemons are sweeter and less acidic than limes. They can sometimes be used interchangeably, but be mindful of the flavor differences.
Are Lulo and Lime the same?
No, Lulo is a tropical fruit native to South America, with a tangy flavor similar to lime but with a unique green flesh.
Conclusion
Fruits that start with L offer an exciting array of flavors and textures, from the tangy zest of lemons to the creamy sweetness of Lucuma.
Whether you’re looking to try new fruits for smoothies, fruit salads, or just as a snack, these 25 fruits provide a variety of health benefits and culinary possibilities.
Let us know in the comments which of these fruits you’d like to try, and share your favorite ways to incorporate them into your meals!
