zaro

What is the Purple Fruit That Tastes Like Chocolate?

Published in Exotic Fruits 2 mins read

While no widely recognized purple fruit distinctly tastes like chocolate, the Akebi fruit is a distinctive purple fruit whose vine is sometimes called the "chocolate vine" due to the scent of its flowers, not the taste of its fruit. Its unique flavor profile is subtly sweet and often described as custard-like, similar to a blend of banana, passion fruit, and melon.

Understanding the Akebi Fruit

The Akebi fruit is a fascinating and unique produce item primarily known for its striking purple appearance and edible, translucent pulp.

  • Origin and Cultivation: Akebi fruit is native to the northern Tohoku region of Japan, where it has grown in the wild since ancient times. It is mainly cultivated in the Yamagata prefecture. While wild varieties have been harvested for centuries, the cultivated variety has only been available commercially for the last few decades, making it a relatively rare find outside of its native region.
  • Appearance and Texture: When ripe, the Akebi fruit displays a vibrant purple skin that splits open to reveal its white, gelatinous, and semi-transparent pulp embedded with numerous small, edible black seeds.
  • Flavor Profile: The fruit's pulp is subtly sweet and mild, often compared to a blend of tropical fruits like passion fruit, lychee, or even a very mild banana or melon, with a custard-like consistency. The skin can be bitter and is usually not eaten raw, though it can be cooked.
Feature Description
Color Deep purple (skin)
Taste Mild, subtly sweet, custard-like (pulp); hints of banana, melon, or passion fruit. Not chocolate.
Origin Native to the northern Tohoku region of Japan (mainly Yamagata prefecture)
Availability Wild variety since ancient times; cultivated variety commercially available for only the last few decades.
Common Name Often associated with "chocolate vine" due to fragrant flowers, not fruit taste.

Why the "Chocolate" Association?

The common name "chocolate vine" for the plant that produces Akebi fruit, Akebia quinata, stems from the sweet, vanilla-like fragrance of its beautiful purple-brown flowers. This aromatic quality gives rise to the "chocolate" moniker, leading to a common misconception that the fruit itself tastes like chocolate. However, the fruit's flavor is distinctly different from cocoa.