The range of fruit available in Bali is almost a reason for going there in itself. Pineapples, papayas, coconuts, bananas, avocados – all are common and cheap. In addition there are a number of fruits you might be encountering for the first time – don’t let this be a reason for not giving them a try. You don’t want to find yourself tasting them for the first time on you last day and discovering, too late, that you were made for each other. The following are the main attractions:

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• Salak – with a texture not unlike a Brazil nut but tasting like a lychee.
• Rambutan – very like a lychee but with a hairy red skin.
• Mangosteen – a fruit that travels badly and so is little known outside the tropics. The outside is black, brown or purple, and the inside stunning.
• Blimbing – you can eat all of this refreshing pale green or yellow fruit. When cut, its cross-section is a five pointed star.
• Jambu sotong – guavas.
• Markisa – passion fruit. You will see them on sale in the mountains – you break them open and eat everything you find inside, seeds and all. Exquisite is the only word for them.
• Nangka – jack fruit. So big, you should only want to buy a segment. You eat the yellow inner part and discard the white outer layer.
• Jeruk – the word refers to all citrus fruit, but the pomelo, or jeruk bali, is the commonest. It is like a grapefruit but bigger and the taste is a lot sweeter. Lemons are jeruk nipis, ordinary oranges jeruk manis.
• Durian – love it or loathe it. This is the infamous fruit that stinks, but tastes to some people like heaven. You can even get durian-flavored ice cream- a good means of judging whether or not you want to brave the real thing.
  

The are many more. If you see them on sale, given them a try. If you’re worried you don’t know which part to eat, ask the tradesman – street sellers in Bali will normally do just about anything to encourage you to buy. Just ask him to open one up for you and if you do not trust his standard of hygiene, buy a couple and give him one, then eat them in tandem.