18 Typical Fruits That Start With R

Raspberry is a perennial fruit native to Europe and Northern Asia. Its history dates back to ancient times, as it was mentioned in Greek mythology and Roman agricultural texts.

There are many different colors for juicy raspberries, such as red raspberry, black raspberry, and yellow raspberry. Among them, the most popular is the red raspberry, which is sweet, lightly tart, and highly aromatic.

All raspberry varieties can be eaten raw or combined with other ingredients to prepare various dishes, like breakfast cereals, cakes, pies, sorbets, and fruit salads.

Raisin, literally “grape” in both modern and Old French, refers to dried grapes, which have a chewier texture and a more concentrated sweetness than their fresh counterparts. It was created in the Mediterranean at least 4,000 years ago.

While all kinds of grapes are suitable for making raisins, seedless varieties with high sugar content are the best options. Sultanas and currants are special raisin varieties made with golden grapes and Black Corinth grapes, respectively.

Interestingly, raisins are more affordable than fresh grapes since they have a longer shelf life and don’t require complex transportation and refrigeration facilities.

Raisins can be eaten directly as a snack or used to garnish desserts, cakes, and salads. My favorite way of using raisins is incorporating them into cookies or combining them with breakfast cereals.

Rambutan is a tropical fruit indigenous to Southeast Asia, with Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia being the most significant producers. Its name literally means “hair” in Malay, referring to its hairy appearance with plenty of soft spikes.

Underneath this unique exterior is white juicy flesh that tastes sweet and mildly acidic, reminiscent of grapes and lychees. Therefore, some people nickname the rambutan as “hairy lychee.”

Rambutans are typically eaten fresh by cutting the outer skin and popping out the fleshy part, though they are also an exotic ingredient for desserts and fruit salads. The skin and seed of rambutan contain toxins and are unsafe for human consumption.

Rockmelon is a common Australian and New Zealand name for cantaloupe, a popular melon fruit that has been cultivated since ancient times. It thrives in hot climates, with a growing season in late spring through summer.

A typical rockmelon has an oval shape or can be slightly flattened. Its netted rind is usually a pale yellow or beige, while the juicy pulp inside is an orange-yellow color, accompanied by musky aromas.

When you’re looking to enjoy rockmelons beyond eating them fresh or slicing them for cheese boards, consider adding them to salads, desserts, smoothies, or soups.

Since rockmelons often shed their stems naturally, if a fruit still has its stalk, it’s not ripe enough and may not be as sweet.

Rose apple refers to various tropical fruits in the Syzygium genus, most of which are native to Southeast Asia. It can be found in many parts of the world, including India, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands.

The most notable rose apple varieties include watery rose apple, wax apple (Java apple), and Malay rose apple. Therefore, “rose apple” can be used as a generic name for any of those varieties.

Mature rose apples showcase a glossy appearance with a bell-like shape, ranging in color from light pink to deep red. Their flesh is crisp, juicy, and sweetly mellow.

In particular, rose apples have a high water content, so they are a highly hydrating fruit in summer.

Redcurrant, also spelled as red currant, is a berry fruit originating in Northern Europe and Northern Asia. It grows in clusters on deciduous shrubs in cool, temperate regions.

Redcurrants are in season in summer. During that time, their red, smooth peel is a beautiful sight that attracts all eyes.

The succulent flesh of redcurrants is both sweet and tart. While some people like to eat redcurrants raw, these red fruits are more suited for cooking and baking, especially in the preparation of jellies, syrups, and sauces.

Roselle is a flowering plant whose leaves, roots, and fruits are all edible. It originated in West Africa but is now widely cultivated in many tropical regions, especially the Caribbean.

Roselle fruits have a deep red color, consisting of the calyces (the cup-like structure at the base of a flower) and the seeds. Flavor-wise, they are tart and full of cranberry-like aromas.

Unlike most fruits, roselle fruits have the calyces as the most important part. Their distinct sourness and red color are mainly used in tea and beverages, though certain salads and sauces also contain roselle fruits.

Riberry, also known as cherry satinash or small leaved lilly pilly, is an exotic tropical fruit mainly found in the coastal rainforests of Australia. It has a long history with the Aboriginal Australians.

Riberries are characterized by their bright red to pinkish skin, pear-shaped form, and crisp flesh with a tart flavor and hints of spices. They grow best in Australian bushland and are harvested in the summer, between December and February.

With a unique tart and spicy flavor profile, riberries are a fascinating addition to sauces and desserts. Of course, you can eat them raw, too.

Rose hip, also known as rose hep, rose haw, or rosehip, is the red or orange fruit of various plants in the rose family. It can appear in wild and cultivated environments in various regions with temperate climates, from Asia to Europe and the Americas.

Rose hips are often harvested in autumn and display a smooth, round to oval shape. Their floral flavor is tangy and subtly sweet, which shines in jellies, herbal teas, and syrups; you can eat raw rose hips like berries as well.

Due to their high amount of vitamins and nutrients, rose hips are usually used in supplements and skincare products. Rose hip oil is particularly sought-after for its healing and rejuvenating properties

Rangpur, also known as rangpur lime or mandarin lime, is a yellow or orange citrus fruit hailing from India. It was named after a city in what is now Bangladesh.

Rangpurs are thin-skinned lime resulting from a cross between the citron and mandarin. Their skin is easy to peel, while the pulp is highly juicy and as acidic as regular limes.

In short, rangpur limes combine the juiciness of mandarin with the tartness of lime. This unique combination makes them highly versatile in cooking and bartending as a substitute for limes in dishes and cocktails.

Red mombin is a tropical plum-like fruit native to the Americas and belongs to the cashew family. Its alternative names are jocote, Spanish plum, and purple mombin.

In their ripe form, red mombins are small, oval-shaped fruits with vibrant purple-red skin. Their juicy flesh has a sweet yet slightly tangy flavor, making them perfect for eating fresh, drying for later, or boiling to make jams and beverages.

Rough lemon is a type of citrus fruit resulting from a natural hybrid between the citron and mandarin. It is mainly cultivated for its hardy nature and tolerance to various soil and climatic conditions.

As suggested by its name, rough lemons sport a thick, bumpy skin with a bright yellow color. They have a larger size and more acidic taste than regular lemons, so you can use them instead of lemons or limes for a more robust flavor in marinades, dressings, and beverages.

However, rough lemons have much less pulp than other lemon varieties, so gardeners usually grow them as rootstocks for more productive lemon plants. A rough lemon tree provides the perfect base for grafting other lemon varieties.

Rollinia, also known as wild sugar apple or biribá, is a tropical fruit originating from South America. It sports a prominent appearance with a spherical shape, a large size, and bright yellow skin covered in soft spikes.

Rollinia has a rather short shelf life, as its spikes can slowly turn black within a few hours or a week (if refrigerated) after harvesting. In terms of flavors, the creamy white flesh of rollinia has a custard-like texture and a sweet, slightly tangy flavor reminiscent of lemon meringue.

Ramontchi, also known as Indian plum, is a tropical fruit found in Asia and Africa. It has good drought resistance and can be grown in arid regions.

Ramontchi is the size of a small plum and has tough skin and juicy flesh. Available in yellow or orange hue, this fruit is usually eaten fresh.

Rhobs el arsa, literally “bread of the garden,” is a citrus fruit mainly used in Morocco, though it originated in India and still grows in the wild there. It has a flattened oval shape with a small knob at the top and a light yellow or orange color.

Rhobs el arsa is significantly larger than regular lemons, but its rind is also much thicker. The yellow interior is full of juicy and acidic pulps.

Rumdul is an exquisite plant that has an important place in Cambodian and Thai cultures. Its flower was recognized as Cambodia’s national flower by a 2005 royal decree, and its edible fruits are also highly desirable.

Growing in clusters, rumdul fruits boast a luscious dark red, almost black color and a pleasant fragrance. Their flavor is sweet, mellow, and ideal for raw consumption.

The rumdul fruit season usually occurs in the early monsoon season. During this time, Cambodian vendors usually sell rumdul fruits to both locals and tourists.

Rambai, also known as rambi or mafai-farang, is a tropical fruit found in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. It grows on large, evergreen trees in the humid climate.

Rambai fruits grow in large clusters that hang from the tree, similar to how grapes are found in vineyards. However, imagine replacing the grapes with tough-skinned fruits in shades of yellow or brown, and instead of grapevines, picture tall trees that can reach up to 18 meters high.

The taste of ramba is a refreshing mix of sweet and sour flavors. Besides eating this fruit raw, locals also ferment it into traditional alcoholic beverages.

Rowanberry, also known as rowan or mountain-ashes, is a bright red berry native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Woodlands and mountainous areas are usually its home.

Rowanberries are small and come with a sharp, bitter taste, so they are unsuitable for raw consumption. However, cooked and sweetened rowanberries can go into jellies, jams, and liqueurs.

Flavorful rowanberry-base jams and sauces are ideal for complementing gamey meat. Rowanberries also have a significant presence in folklore and pagan mythology throughout Europe, from Norse to Celtic myths.

The options above are the most prominent fruits that start with R. In the next section, I will delve into interesting R-named vegetables you should know about.