The Global Table: Produce Across the World, Pt. 2

A big part of traveling is food. Food is powerful. It is the great connector—shaping our memories and cultivating community. Friends and strangers alike share their cultural traditions, their favorite foods, and their most treasured recipes.

You probably have your own story about how food has impacted your life. Maybe it’s the experience of sharing a family meal or a time when you tried something new (and delicious).

Surely, you’ll have some unforgettable food experiences on one of Rustic Pathways’ high school summer travel programs, but before you go, learn about some of the unique fruits and vegetables you’ll see in markets around the world.

Jocote

Latin America
The jocote is a small tropical fruit native to the Americas and particularly popular in Costa Rica and the Caribbean. Its name comes from the Nahuatl word xocotl, meaning sour fruit. The fruit is said to taste similar to a plum when ripe.

Summer travel programs to experience jocote:
Costa Rica: Turtle Conservation Project
Peru: Andes to Amazon

Mangosteen

Southeast Asia and Latin America
Though the exact origins of the mangosteen are unknown, it’s thought to have come from the islands of Southeast Asia due to its widespread cultivation in the tropical region. The white flesh of the purple mangosteen is sweet and tart, juicy and fibrous. The rind and seeds are inedible.

Summer travel programs to experience mangosteen:
Thailand: Amazing Thailand
Vietnam: Ultimate Asia

Coconut

Everywhere
Originating in the Pacific Islands, fresh coconuts are cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates around the world. Known for its versatility, the coconut can be used in a variety of self care products or consumed in a variety of preparations.

Summer travel programs to experience the coconut:
Fiji: Sun, Sand, and International Service
Dominican Republic: Marine Life and Coastal Restoration

Bird’s Eye Chili

Southeast Asia and Africa
Commonly found in Southeast Asian cuisine, the bird’s eye chili is often also called the Thai chili. It is quite small and varies in color, but packs serious heat. It is in the same Scoville range of the habanero.

Summer travel programs to experience the bird’s eye chili:
Laos: Southeast Asian Adventurer
Thailand: Marine and Rainforest Conservation in Thailand

Durian

Asia and Australia
Don’t bring durian on public transportation or into your house. The durian, native to Southeast Asia and cultivated in Australia since the 1960s, is distinctive for its pungent odor and spiky rind. Though some have described the odor as rotting food, the flesh is rich, custardy, and has the essence of almonds.

Summer travel programs to experience durian:
Australia: Seven Wonders of Australia
Thailand: Come With Nothing, The Mekong Expedition