Blog
The My Exotic Fruit blog!
We thought there’s no better place to start than to introduce you all to our business, talk about how we began
and explain what we do.
Welcome to A Fruit Enthusiast's Diary.
A series by our
founder, Colin
Some of our customers have asked us what goes on behind the scenes at a
UK-based exotic fruit company and the work that's involved to get weird and wonderful fruits to people's doors. Have you ever wondered the same?
READ MORE BELOW
MANDY FROM MY EXOTIC FRUIT USING OUR PRODUCE ON CHANNEL 4'S SUNDAY BRUNCH
Here at My Exotic Fruit, we are no strangers to the film and TV industry. However, it was a first for us when Mandy, one of our staff members, informed us that a recipe featuring our very own produce was included on a TV cooking show!
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE MY EXOTIC FRUIT WORLD?
2024 marks 10 years since My Exotic Fruit was founded! With each year that’s gone by, we’ve got bigger and better ...
MCLAUCHLANS PICK YOUR OWN BERRIES IN ESSEX
May 2024
In May 2024, co-owners Colin and Christina spent a weekend visiting farm shops to get inspiration for our new shop, The Greengrocer!
LIVE TO 100
If you saw the Netflix series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, you will know that purple sweet potatoes are so renowned for their health benefits that some people believe that eating them will increase your life expectancy!
WORKING WITH I’M A CELEBRITY … GET ME OUT
OF HERE!
In 2020, we were excited to be contacted by the team working on the hit ITV show I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here.
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
June 2024
23. Durian – Musang King
My tastebuds are delighted every time I take a bite of the super creamy flesh, with the velvety smoothness combined with a fantastic sweetness.
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
June 2024
22. Mango – Mankurad
The differences between mankurad and alphonso mangoes are a constant source of debate in India.
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
June 2024
21. Pear – Marguerite
The smooth, delicate skin is creamy-yellow to golden in colour and is covered in small brown speckles: they look almost too good to eat!
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
June 2024
20. Melon – Charentais
You can’t help but pick these small melons up for a smell! They have a sweet, mellow, melon aroma, with enticing hints of papaya and mango.
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
May 2024
19. Papaya – Variety unknown
One of the most annoying things about papayas is when they have lots of seeds, as this means you have less flesh to enjoy, so I was pleased that this variety didn’t have many!
PROVIDING FRUIT AND EXPERTISE
FOR ITV’S LOOSE WOMEN
We received an email from ITV asking us to provide some fruits for a I’m a Celebrity-inspired ‘bushtucker trial’ for the cast and the celebrity guests for an upcoming episode – the guest happened to be Boris Johnson’s father, Stanley Johnson.
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
April 2024
18. Apple – Envy
When most people go abroad, they buy mementos. I buy fruit!
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
April 2024
17. Mango – Kartha Kolamban
The flavour is never a disappointment! Although the rich sweetness is delicious, I particularly enjoy the unusual notes of citrus, especially the hints of orange.
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
April 2024
16. Custard Apple – Atemoya
Although we tend to sell 350-450g atemoyas, these fruits can grow gigantic: they can weigh up to 1kg!
GOING BANANAS FOR DR WHO!
Spring 2024
We were asked by a member of the prestigious production company filming the show in London whether we have a specific type of banana they required to shoot a scene recreating a religious ceremony.
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
March 2024
15. Blood orange – Tarocco Gallo
Tarocco Gallo have a wonderful sweetness to offset the tartness: as someone with a sweet tooth, this perfect balance of sweet and sour made them a real treat!
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
March 2024
14. Kumquat – di Giarre
Combined with their deep orange colour, they almost remind me of chunky Chantenay carrots!
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
March 2024
13. Tomato – Iberiko
Beneath the tough skin of these soft fruits is a fantastic internal structure: because these tomatoes aren’t very fleshy, the interior is instead made of up of lots of cavities filled with juice and seeds.
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
March 2024
12. Apple – Golden Delicious
When I first picked up a Golden Delicious apple, I noticed that they have a very similar appearance to Goldrush apples (although they are slightly greener and have less distinctive brown speckles).
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
March 2024
11. Pear – Abate Fetel
I bought this pear on a Sunday – it was ready to eat by Thursday. Smelling the fruit, I noticed that it wasn’t very aromatic, and I could say the same about the flesh.
WORKING WITH HESTON BLUMENTHAL'S, THE FAT DUCK
Although Colin always loves to share his passion for, and knowledge of, unusual rare fruits, being brought in as an expert speaker to what was once voted the best restaurant in the world was an unparalleled honour.
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
March 2024
10. Strawberry – Florida Pearl
I was immediately struck by the colour: instead of the bright red we usually associate with strawberries, these strawberries have an attractive, creamy-white exterior.
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
March 2024
9. Apple – Goldrush
As soon as I took a bite of these crisp fruits, I was amazed by the rush of intense, sweet flavour these apples provide!
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
March 2024
8. Spring onion – Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria
These thick, firm vegetables stand out from the crowd due to the fantastic purple colour of their bulbs and their rich onion aroma.
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
March 2024
7. Tomato – Antociano ribbed tomato
These firm, medium-sized tomatoes have an intriguing shape (somewhat resembling beef tomatoes) and are notably heavy for their size.
We firmly believe that our shop will be the best fruit and vegetable shop in Essex
March 2024
My Exotic Fruit founder and managing director Colin was interviewed by the Southend Echo about his new fruit and vegetable shop opening in 2024!
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
March 2024
6. Tomato – Pomodoro a grappolo
The taste is far superior to that of a supermarket-bought tomato: the soft flesh has a bright, delicate flavour and a subtle bite.
Navel Chocolate orange
hits the sweet spot
February 2024
My Exotic Fruit founder and managing director, Colin, was interviewed by Maura Maxwell (@maurafruitnet on Twitter/X)
at Fruitnet.
We were chosen by Chelmsford City Council to feature in their
business e-newsletter.
February 2024
This edition spotlighted Essex food businesses. We were featured alongside three other brilliant local businesses.
A taste to die for
January 2023
In January 2023, My Exotic Fruit
founder Colin was asked to contribute to a newspaper article about one of the most renowned exotic fruits: Durian
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
October 2022
5. Serving exotic fruit drinks at
Nestlé’s Product Technology Centre
Join me as we go on the road in the UK for an outing to the Nestlé Confectionery Product Technology Centre in York with the My Exotic Fruit bar.
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
August 2022
4. Pick your own organic blueberries in Exmoor
A spontaneous activity after spotting a roadside sign advertising ‘PYO Blueberries in a rural setting with spectacular views’ on a weekend trip to Lynton in Devon.
Fruity facts with Kay –
The history of the banana
June 2022
Bananas, the staple tropical fruit found in almost every household but how did they come to be such a favourite?
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
April 2022
3. Breadfruit simply fried in coconut oil
Enough for 3 servings.
Delicious!
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
April 2022
2. Celina Pear
A small pear with gorgeous yellow and red soft peel.
A Fruit Enthusiast’s Diary
April 2022
1. Chantecler Apple
A medium to large size apple with yellow/green, semi rough peel.
Three exotic fruits you need
in your life!
January 2022
We all know that age-old adage: an apple a day to keep the doctor away.
But staying healthy on the same familiar fruits found in your local supermarket can get a little boring.
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