20 Weird Fruits That Start With E (Watch out for #20!)

HurryTheFoodUp is reader-powered. If you click through using links on our site we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Alphabet games are such a good memory test, or a fun game to play with kids! This list of fruits that start with e will provide endless inspiration and some cool obscure knowledge that you can whip out when everyone is floundering!

What do we count as a fruit? The definition of a fruit is ‘a mature ovary of a flowering plant that is edible’, which basically means it develops from a flower and is where the seeds of the plant are stored/is the seed of the plant itself.

That’s where we get some confusion with “vegetables” that are actually fruits and vice versa. You’ll see tomatoes and eggplants on this list – because they are both technically fruits under the botanical definition.

However, from a culinary perspective, fruits and vegetables are classified more along the lines of flavour, with fruits being used in sweet dishes (ie. desserts) and vegetables being savoury.

While you’re here, why not check out our other letters of the alphabet lists for fruit – such as fruit beginning with x, y or c.

Here are all the fruits that start with E:

Eggplant

An example of a culinary vegetable but botanical fruit! Eggplant, also known as aubergine or brinjal, is used in a variety of cuisines, from French, to Italian to Middle Eastern.

They can come in a range of sizes, from a large size to a small – did you know that smaller eggplants are usually better, and less likely to be bitter? It’s true! You should check out these vegetarian eggplant recipes for recipe inspo and tips on perfect eggplant prep!

The scientific name for eggplant is Solanum melongena!

Emblica fruit

I bet you think you have no clue what this one is! Well, you might be more familiar with it than you think! Emblic is also known as Indian gooseberry, and is closely related to that fruit. Like gooseberries, emblica are small fruits with a sour taste.

They are used to prepare dal and a sweet dish called ‘amle ka murabbah‘, which is made by candying the fruit in sugar.

The scientific name for emblica is Phyllanthus emblica.

Elephant Apple Fruit

The scientific name for this fruit is dillenia indica, but its common name is elephant apple because elephants love to eat it! It grows in China and tropical regions of Asia. The elephants that eat it are actually a key seed distributor for the plant, along with monkeys and deer!

Because it is so important to those animals and therefore the forest ecosystem, it is forbidden to harvest it from certain parts of forests. It is also forbidden to sell it commercially. The fruit that is available for human consumption, is large and hard and sour and is used in curries, jams and jellies.

Eastern Hawthorn Fruit

Part of the hawthorn family, this type of hawthorn berry is native to Mediterranean, Anatolia, Caucasus, Crimea and western Iran. It is bigger than other hawthorn fruits. It can be eaten raw, but in the Caucasus it is baked into bread!

It is also believed to have medicinal properties, particularly when it comes to treating cardiac and digestive issues. Research is being conducted into these health benefits!

The scientific name for hawthorn is Crataegus monogyna.

Entawak

This tropical fruit is native to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. It can only grow in tropical climates. It’s fruit is orange red and it tastes like a pumpkin. Like a pumpkin, it has large seeds which are often roasted and eaten as a snack.

The entawak’s scientific name is Artocarpus anisophyllus.

Evergreen Huckleberry

This fruit grows mostly in North America, specifically the Pacific Northwest in the United States and British Columbia in Canada.

Thanks to its sweet taste, it has been eaten raw by Native Americans for centuries. It has a similar taste to blueberries. Also great for making jams and jellies!

The scientific name for the evergreen huckleberry is Vaccinium ovatum.

Egusi

Egusi is a gourd that is native to West Africa. It is a distant relative of the watermelon! You only eat the egusi seeds, not the fruit itself.

The egusi is also known by its scientific name Citrullus colocynthis.

Edward Mango

This variety of mango originated in Florida and is named after Edward Simmonds, who was the head of the USDA’s Plant Introduction Station in Miami, Florida, and was the person responsible for breeding it. He came up with this new type of mango because Indian mangos did not survive well in Florida.

He crossbred Indian mangos with other mangos from Southeast Asia to come up with these delicious fruits which have the color and flavor of Indian mangoes and the disease resistant qualities of other Southeast Asian mangoes.

The scientific name for the Edward mango is Mangifera indica.

Emu Apple Fruit

The emu apple comes from Australia. It has a sweet flavor and is a fantastic healthy snack. Aboriginal people in Australia often bury the fruit for a day before eating, as this apparently enhances its flavor.

The emu apple goes by the scientific name Owenia acidula.

Ensete

Ensete is also known as the false banana, as its fruit resembles bananas, but is inedible. What is edible though are the roots, which are an important foodstuff in Ethiopia, the only place where this is cultivated.

The ensete is also called by its scientific name Ensete ventricosum.

Elderberry fruit

Elderberry is chock full of vitamin C and has been a popular fruit used for medicinal purposes for years. It can be used to treat cold and flu symptoms, however if consumed raw, its bark and berries can cause stomach problems!

The scientific name for the elderberry is Sambucus.

European Pear

The common pear comes from European countries. The edible fruit is sweet and with a slightly gritty texture. Wild pears, from which the European pear is thought to be descended, have been found on sites that date as far back as the Neolithic and Bronze Age.

The scientific name for the european pear is Pyrus communis.

Elands Sourfig

This fruit is native to South Africa, though it has also been naturalised in some coastal areas in the South of England. In South Africa, the fruit is used to make a jam.

The elands sourfig goes by the scientific name Carpobrotus acinaciformis.

Emu Berry Fruit

Emu berries are grown in specific regions of Australia. The plant is also known as the dysentery bush and diddle diddle! Crushing, boiling and eating the entire plant relieves symptoms of cold, flu and diarrhoea!

The scientific name for the emu berry Podocarpus drouynianus.

Egg fruit

This fruit is native to Southern Mexico and central America, however it is also cultivated in Brazil, India, USA and Australia, among other places.

It gets its common name from the fact that it has a similar texture to a hard-boiled egg yolk. It has a sweet flavour and is used to make jam, pancakes, smoothies, or added to custard and ice cream.

The egg fruit’s scientific name is Pouteria campechiana.

Etrog fruit

This citrus fruit is very important in Jewish traditions! It is used specifically in a week long holiday called Sukkot, during which it is held or waved as part of the prayers.

For the fruit to qualify as kosher it cannot have been grafted or mixed with any other species. Etrog farms are supervised strictly by rabbis, and only a few varieties make the cut. It can be eaten after its use in the Sukkot celebrations – it is used in a similar way to lemons, as it has a simliar flavor profile.

The etrog is also known by its scientific name Citrus medica.

Enterprise Apple

This type of apple was bred to resist disease. It retains high quality for up to 9 months in storage, making it a great commercial option!

The scientific name for the enterprise apple is Malus domestica.

Early Girl Tomato

The early girl tomato is a species of tomato developed in the USA in the 70s. It is popular with home gardeners because it ripens early and is extremely flavorful. These tomatoes are about the size of a tennis ball!

The scientific name for the early girl tomato is Solanum lycopersicum ‘Early Girl’.

Early gold Mango

The earlygold mango is another variety of mango grown in Florida! It goes by the same scientific name as normal mangos, mangifera indica.

Ephedra

Be careful with this one! Ie. stay away! This fruit has been used for weight loss and athletic performance, as it stimulates the heart, lungs and nervous system, but it is banned in the USA because of serious health concerns! Ephedra is its scientific and common name.

Did you learn some new fruits that start with e? I know I did! Have you tried any of the more obscure ones or do you know any that we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments!