Weird & Surprising Fruits That Start With S (#2 is scary!)

Need to know some fruits that start with S, including the weird and surprising ones? You’re in the right place!

From berries to pomes, there are so many kinds with so many colours and wonderful flavours.

Down below is a whole collection of some of the most common and lesser-known fruits that begin with S from around the globe. Take a look and see!

Fruits are some of the healthiest and tastiest foods out there. They’re high in all kinds of nutrients and range in flavor from sweet to sour and even bitter.

Like many people, I’m a self-confessed fruit fan. Is your favourite on this list?

25 Fascinating fruits that start with S

Safou

Important to human and animal alike, the safou is native to many regions on the African continent. It’s a a unique and nutrient-dense S fruit. The safou tree is also known as the bush butter tree because its fruit has a smooth and avocado-like consistency with a unique flavor.

Safou can be eaten raw, boiled in salty water or even after being roasted over an open flame. Its scientific name is Dacryodes edulis.

Salak

This scary fruit – the salak fruit, is also known as the snake fruit! That’s because of the brown ‘skin’ on its outside. It’s a brown fruit which is native to parts of Southeast Asia.

Its varieties vary in taste, from the extremely bitter ones to the others with a somewhat sweet but sour flavor and even texture from soft and succulent to dry and crunchy like an apple.

The scientific name of the salak fruis is Salacca zalacca.

Salal

One of the most common yet overlooked berries of the Pacific Northwest, the salal is a small, slightly hairy fruit that’s dark in color and usually ripens towards the end of the summer.

It has a taste pretty similar to the blackcurrant and blueberry with earthy undertones.

Gaultheria Shallon is the scientific name of this fruit starting with S.

Salmonberry

A tender, slightly sweet berry (but with a sour taste), salmonberry is a fruit native to North America and Alaska, and it’s used to flavour all kinds of beer and wines. It’s also used to make many kinds of sweet treats and desserts.

Scientifically, it’s the Rubus spectabilis.

Sand cherry

A sand cherry is a kind of berry found in North America. They taste lovely when they’re fully ripe but can be somewhat bitter sometimes. Sand cherries are usually dark red or even black in color and are scientifically called the Prunus pumila. They make me think of one of my favourite books, Dune.

Santol

The santol fruit is another fruit native to some tropical regions of Southeast Asia. There are two varieties of this fruit, with the red one being more common than the yellow.

The santol is also known as the cotton fruit for its pillow-like white pulp that resembles cotton. It’s a bit sour but generally has a yummy sweet taste with floral notes. It is known as Sandoricum koetjape scientifically.

Sapodilla

With a scientific name, Manilkara zapota, the sapodilla fruit is native to southern America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The egg-shaped fruit is rough to the touch and has flesh whose color ranges from yellow to light brown.

It can be soft or gritty in texture (kind of like a pear) and it has a sweet and somewhat earthy flavor that’s often compared to that of caramel.

It’s also known as a ‘naseberry,’ so it’s also on my list of N fruits!

Satsuma

A member of the citrus family, satsuma is a kind of tangerine with yellowish-orange skin that’s super easy to peel. It’s a juicy fruit with a slightly tart yet sweet taste.

Satsuma mandarin is a great snack to have on hand when you need a quick burst of energy and can boost your immune system. Its scientific name is Citrus unshiu.

Seagrapes

Also known as green caviar for their appearance which is quite similar to a fish roe, sea grapes are small, somewhat transparent fruits with a distinct taste. They are found in areas of shallow sea and they taste like muscadine grapes.

Seagrapes make a pop sound when they’re eaten and are popular in Japanese restaurants.

Scientifically, this fruit that starts with S is also known as Caulerpa lentillifera. In my opinion it’s one of the coolest fruits on this list.

Serviceberry

A serviceberry is a cranberry-colored fruit that tastes somewhat like a grape and blueberry with hints of almond and peach.

It’s also known as Saskatoon and you can have the fruit raw but it is perfect in jams and pastries like pies.

The scientific name of it is Amelanchier alnifolia.

Sharon fruit

Hey, Sharon!

The Sharon fruit is a kind of persimmon that is sweet and juicy. It’s a fresh-tasting and sweet fruit that’s often used in a variety of cuisines.

You could have it as a snack or in desserts as its sweetness pairs with a whole host of other ingredients.

This fruit is also rich in vitamin A, which is good for your eyesight. it’s known botanically as Diospyros kaki.

Shonan gold

Shonan gold fruit begins with S too! It’s a unique yellow fruit that’s actually a hybrid of two citruses.

This type of citrus fruit closely resembles a lemon and has a sweet but sour taste (like quite a few of the fruits on this list!), characteristic of the family it originates from.

It’s also super fragrant (they smell lovely) and is scientifically known as the Citrus flaviculpus.

Soncoya fruit

Native to many parts of both North America and South America (including Central America), the Soncoya fruit is also known as the sincuya. Its flesh is soft and fibrous and its taste is similar to that of a mango.

On the outside, it’s got these spike-like projections and the ripe fruits can be super hard to cut. Scientifically it’s known as the Annona Purpurea.

Sour cherries

Scientifically known as the Prunus cerasus, sour cherries are a kind of cherry fruit that’s loved for its tart flavor.

They’re a rich source of antioxidants and vitamins and are used to make all sorts of pastries and drinks. You’ve probably seen them on cakes or tarts. I used eat glazed versions from the baking cupboard when I was little!

Sour cherries are also known as tart cherries or dwarf cherries. The skin of a sour cherry is soft and glossy while its shape is somewhat round and plump.

Sour orange

Great for sour pies and for making marinades, the sour orange is a tart and bitter-tasting variant of the orange in the citrus family. It’s also known as the seville or bitter orange and it is native to the eastern region of South Asia.

This fruit that starts with the letter S is botanically classified as Citrus aurantium.

Soursop

Also known as the Brazilian pawpaw, soursop is a green fruit and a member of the tree apple custard family. It has a juicy and fibrous flesh with a citrusy taste of that of pineapples and mangoes.

Soursop is super popular in the countries it’s native to as it can be eaten raw or used to make all kinds of sweet treats, beverages and even ice creams. I’ve heard great things and can’t wait to try one!

The scientific name of the soursop fruit is Annona muricata.

Splendor apples

Splendor apples are a unique variety of apples that’s a hybrid of a cultivar and another apple species native to New Zealand. It’s sweet and usually bright red in color.

They’re also usually medium or large in size and are well-known as dessert apples.

Their genus and species names are Malus domestica.

Star apple

With a creamy, sweet, and bright taste, the star apple is a unique fruit native to many regions of the West Indies and Central America.

Although it’s sized and shaped like an apple, it resembles a star when cut and is henced named a star apple. Scientifically, the star apple fruit is known as the Chrysophyllum cainito.

Starfruit

With ridges down its sides, a starfruit is a unique fruit with a sweet and tangy flavor. It’s bright yellow in color and derives its name from the shape it has when it’s sliced laterally. I’ve gotta admit, it’s a cool-looking fruit!

Starfruits are super refreshing and are loaded with all kinds of vitamins. Scientifically, the star fruit is known as Averrhoa carambola.

Strawberries

Strawberries are probably one of the most widely known and grown fruits worldwide. These little sweet and juicy berries are an amazing addition to a whole host of meals and contain loads of nutrients as well as antioxidants.

The scientific name of this popular fruit is Fragaria x ananassa. It sounds like a team meeting.

Sugar apple

A sugar apple is a tropical fruit that’s also known as the sweetsop. It’s got such a rich and sweet flavor with a creamy texture and it’s often used in smoothies and desserts because of its unique taste.

A sugar apple fruit is also rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. It’s native to the tropics and has the botanical name Annona squamosa.

Sugar baby watermelon

This small variety of watermelon is known and loved for its petite size as well as its taste and nutritional value. On the outside, it’s dark green and on the inside, bright red with grainy flesh.

It’s scientifically known as Citrullus lanatus.

Sugar palm fruit

Sugar palm fruits are large, dark-colored fruits with a jelly-like texture and mildly sweet taste. It’s native to South Asia and is enjoyed widely in the region as it’s used to make all sorts of treats.

Sweet lemons

Sweet lemon is a general name for classifying a group of fruits that, unlike most of their other citrus family members, have low acidity hence less of a tang to their taste.

They can be green (what?!) or yellow in color and have the exact same appearance as other citrus fruits. Sweet lemons are botanically classified as Citrus limetta.

Sweet pepper

Sweet peppers are a category of less pungent-tasting peppers that are actually more sweet and fruity.

You’d be forgiven if you thought they were vegetables.

Peppers are actually fruit, classified under the berry family even though they are culinary veggies. Scientifically, the sweet pepper is known as Capsicum annuum.

When it comes to sweet peppers, they include cherry peppers as well as green, orange, purple and red bell peppers.

Well, that was an interesting list, indeed!

I’m almost certain you’re looking forward to trying out at least one of these fruits, I know I am!

This list of fruits that start with S has something for everyone. Whether you prefer sweet or tangy, there is a fruit on this list that will satisfy your taste buds. Or if you used this list for teaching or games, I’d love to hear how they went!

So next time you’re looking to try something new, consider giving the letter S a try!

If you want to dive into other letters, there’s a plethora of options. For starters, check out these foods starting with R!