Some fruits you may not know

1. Martillo

Named "hammer" (martillo in spanish) probably because of it's rough exterior. You are meant to pick those seeds you see in the pic and suck them dry. Very bitter taste and similar in texture to a guava.

2. Maracuya

I know the translation is Passion Fruit, but the ones I see on american cooking shows are normally kinda purple both inside and out. This is probably the most common fruit juice for colombian families.

3. Uchuva

Uchuvas are small and yellow. They contain flavonoids, which kill stomach parasites and also aid digestion. Some doctors even claim uchuvas may help prevent colon and stomach cancers. Strangely, they are also said to aid the optic nerve and are sometimes used to treat mouth and throat infections too – which must make them Colombia’s most diverse health fruit. Commonly used in salads

4. Zapote

The fruit can have a laxative effect, being high in dietary fibre but it is also rich in tannin, which is everything from an anti-inflammatory and anti-viral to an aid for gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome. Zapote is full of minerals and antioxidants too.

Zapote is one of Colombia’s toughest fruits, being fast growing, wind and drought resistant and able to grow in dry, arid regions like Curramba (hence my username). It is found only in the northern coast and, along with the nispero, is considered the typical "ccosteño" fruit.

5. Mangostino

Mangosteen’s purple skin may be inedible, but its soft, white inside has a sweet, tangy flavour. Restrictions on imports in some countries mean mangosteens can still fetch a high price overseas. It can be added to juices, smoothies, sweet or savory dishes or eaten raw.

6. Borojo

This is aptly known as "Colombian Viagra". It is very common for people to consume it for it's aphrodisiac properties, which have been well-known for centuries to our native indians. Though it can be eaten in many ways, the most common is the juice or mousse.

This is how it is normally sold: as a paste for juices or desserts. I personally find it disgusting.

7. Curuba

A lot of childhood memories from this deliciously sweet and sour fruit. It was initially exported only as pulp, but has since become so popular it is now sent whole to the USA, Europe and Japan. Curuba is full of powerful antioxidants known as proanthocyanidins, which help prevent against the damage caused by pollution and smoking. A milk-based juice is the most common way to consume it, but it is also very popular in desserts

8. Lulo

This. This is THE fruit to try if you ever come to Colombia. It is common in juices, desserts, with fish, in sauce... any way you can consume it it will be a treat. I usually help out foreigners in national parks so as to avoid local fruit vendors from ripping them off. This is the juice that I always offer to buy them to blow their friggin minds.

Lulo is a tangy, citrus-like fruit. It boosts the immune system because it is full of Vitamin C, which stimulates white blood cell production (white blood cells defend against pathogens and infectious diseases). Colombia is lucky to grow lulo because it is a notoriously fragile fruit. It bruises very easily and is difficult to mass produce. Yet here it grows just about everywhere.

9. Nispero

That other costeño fuit. Found mostly in the northern coast of the country, Nispero is yet another superfruit – said to have cancer fighting properties and to help maintain a healthy blood pressure. Nispero is also full of Vitamin A, which improves eye health and is good for teeth and bones too. Doctors are currently researching whether the fruit’s leaves can also help prevent skin cancer. Nispero can be eaten raw and it makes for an excellent juice or smoothie, but it’s also great as a jam.

10. Mamoncillo

Translated it means "little sucker" probably because, like the Martillo, you are meant to suck them dry. This is another one of a kind Colombian fruit. About the size of a large seedless grape, the mamoncillo has a leathery green skin that protects an orangey-yellow sometimes sweet, sometimes acidic fruit—normally larger mamoncillos are sweeter than smaller ones. To eat a mamoncillo, you'll need to pop the skin open with your fingernail and push the rest the fruit out. Be careful, though, because mamoncillos have a large pit, meaning you'll have to carefully eat away the fruit and spit the pit out. As kids, we would have mamoncillo seed fights after we were done eating them. Mind you, there is an expression here about the fruit due to it's laxative effect:
el que se comio una libra de mamoncillo (if you ate a pound of mamoncillo)
la noche la paso estrenando calzoncillo (you will spend the night breaking in new underwear)