Fruits by Season in Taiwan

Photo Credit: Tridge.com

Fruits fruits the magical fruits the more one eats the more one… 

If you enjoy fresh fruit and are new to Taiwan, get ready to have your world rocked. Taiwan is famous for its fruit. In fact, the Island has been nicknamed “the kingdom of fruit” on account of the quality and different varieties of fruit that is grown throughout the year. In our opinion (and we are only slightly biased) Taiwan has some of the best fruit on the planet — especially if your baseline for good fruit up until this point has been a European or American grocery store half a world away. 

While it is not hard to most of the popular fruits year-round within Taiwan, it does pay to be aware of the different growing seasons. Not only will you benefit from the prices, but when your fruit is in season here, there is very little that can match it.  

Pro Tip 1: While we have not encountered any adverse side effects, simply washing most of our fruit in clean drinking water, if you are a westerner with a sensitive digestive track, a good rule of thumb is to only buy and eat fruits that come with a peel. 

Pro Tip 2: There are a number of different counting words for different types of fruit in Chinese. If you take the time to learn them you will be well received at your local fruit stand. Otherwise, 个 (ge) should get you by in a pinch. 

Pro Tip 3: Some fruits will be far less expensive if you buy in bulk, others due to trade controls or market fluctuations may be more expensive.

Names of the different Fruits in Mandarin:

• Apple 苹果 （pingguo）
• Banana 香蕉 (Xiāngjiāo)
• Custard Apple 釋迦 (Shì jiā)
• Dragon Fruit 火龍果 (Huǒlóng guǒ)
• Durian 榴槤 (Liú lián)
• Grapes 葡萄 (Pútáo)
• Guava 巴樂 (Bālè)
• Jujube 棗子 (Zǎozi)
• Kumquat 金桔 (jin ju)
• Leechee 荔枝 (Lìzhī) 
• ​Longan 龍眼 (Lóngyǎn)
• Loquat 枇杷 (pipa)
• Mango 芒果 (Mángguǒ)
• Mulberries 桑椹 (Sang shen)
• Oranges 橘子 (Júzi)
• Papaya 木瓜 (Mùguā)
• Passion Fruit 百香果 (Bǎixiāng guǒ)
• Peaches 水蜜桃 (Shuǐmì táo)
• Pears 梨子 (Lizi)
• Persimmon 柿子 (Shìzi)
• Pineapple 鳳梨 (Fènglí)
• Pomegranate 石榴 (Shíliú)
• Pomelo 柚子 (Yòuzi)
• Starfruit 楊桃 (Yángtáo)
• Strawberries 草莓 (Cǎoméi)
• Watermelon 西瓜 (Xīguā)
• Wax Apple 蓮霧 (Lián wù)

Fruits by time of year

January

• Cherry tomatoes 小番茄
• Custard Apples釋迦
• Jujubes 蜜棗
• Kumquats 金桔
• Strawberries 草莓
• Sugar apples 釋迦
• Oranges 柳丁
• Tangerines 橘子
• Wax apples 蓮霧

February

• Cherry tomatoes 小番茄
• Custard Apples釋迦
• Grapes 巨峰葡萄
• Jujubes 蜜棗
• Kumquats 金桔
• Limes 檸檬
• Oranges 柳丁
• Strawberries 草莓
• Sugar apples 釋迦
• Tangerines 橘子
• Wax apples 蓮霧

March

• Cherry tomatoes 小番茄
• Custard Apples釋迦
• Grapes 巨峰葡萄
• Limes 檸檬
• Loquats 枇杷
• Mulberries 桑椹
• Strawberries 草莓
• Sugar apples 釋迦
• Wax apples 蓮霧

April

• Custard Apples釋迦
• Grapes 巨峰葡萄
• Loquats 枇杷
• Mulberries 桑椹
• Peaches 桃子
• Plums 李子
• Watermelons 西瓜
• Wax apples 蓮霧

May

• Grapes 巨峰葡萄
• Leechee 荔枝
• Mangos芒果
• Peaches 桃子
• Pineapples 鳳梨
• Plums 李子
• Watermelons 西瓜
• Wax apples 蓮霧

June

• Dragon Fruit 火龍果
• Leechee 荔枝
• Mangos 愛文芒果
• Peaches 桃子
• Pears 梨子
• Pineapples 鳳梨
• Plums 李子
• Watermelons 西瓜

July

• Avocadoes酪梨
• Dragon Fruit 火龍果
• Limes 檸檬
• Leechee 荔枝
• Longans 龍眼
• Mangoes芒果
• Passion fruit 百香果
• Peaches 桃子
• Pears 梨子
• Plums 李子
• Watermelons 西瓜

August

• Avocadoes 酪梨
• Dragon Fruit 火龍果
• Leechee 荔枝
• Longans 龍眼
• Mangoes芒果
• Papayas 木瓜
• Passion fruit 百香果
• Peaches 桃子
• Pears 梨子
• Plums 李子
• Pomeloes 柚子
• Watermelons 西瓜

September

• Apples平果
• Avocadoes 酪梨
• Dragon Fruit 火龍果
• Grapes 葡萄
• Mangoes芒果
• Papayas 木瓜
• Passion fruit 百香果
• Pears 梨子
• Persimmons 柿子
• Pomeloes 柚子
• Starfruit 楊桃

October

• Apples平果
• Custard Apples釋迦
• Dragon Fruit 火龍果
• Grapes 葡萄
• Papayas 木瓜
• Persimmons 柿子
• Starfruit 楊桃

November

• Custard Apples釋迦
• Dragon Fruit 火龍果
• Grapes葡萄
• Oranges 柳丁
• Papayas 木瓜
• Persimmons 柿子
• Starfruit 楊桃
• Sugar apples 釋迦
• Tangerines 橘子

December

• Cherry tomatoes 小番茄
• Custard Apples釋迦
• Jujubes 蜜棗
• Kumquat 金桔
• Oranges 柳丁
• Persimmons 柿子
• Starfruit 楊桃
• Strawberries 草莓
• Sugar apples 釋迦
• Tangerines 橘子
• Wax apples 蓮霧

Final Notes

*Bananas 香蕉, Guavas 巴樂, Papayas 木瓜, Pineapples 鳳梨,  as well as a number of other fruit grow in Taiwan year round. 

Enjoy and try not to eat too many at once!