Sasha CampbellHave you ever bitten into a peach so juicy that the juice drips down your chin? Or a plum so sweet it’s almost like candy? If so, you have enjoyed the deliciousness of stone fruits.
Stone fruits, also known as drupes in botanical terms [1], are fruits that contain a single large seed (the “stone” or “pit”) surrounded by fleshy fruit.
Some of the most popular ones are peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, and cherries. The summer season wouldn’t be the same without their vibrant colors and flavors.
Whether you like to bake them in pies and tarts, grill them for a savory treat, or enjoy them raw by the handful, these fruits are a warm-weather favorite.
This article will explore some of the most common stone fruits.
How to Tell When a Stone Fruit is Ripe
The best way to tell if a stone fruit is ripe is by gently squeezing it. If it yields slightly with gentle pressure, it’s ready to pick.
Here are a few other signs that your stone fruit is ripe:
- The fruit will become somewhat soft, and the skin may wrinkle.
- The color will deepen and become more vibrant.
- It will have a sweet aroma.
- Moreover, it may twist or snap off the branch easily when ripe.
List of Stone Fruits
With such a variety of delicious drupes, you may have options for year-round eating.
1. Peaches
Peaches are deliciously sweet stone fruits, perfect for summer. Their juicy flesh makes them a tasty snack or dessert ingredient.
There are two main categories: freestone and clingstone. Freestone peaches have pits that easily separate from the flesh, while clingstone pits cling tightly to the flesh.
Popular freestone varieties include Red Haven, Elberta, and Loring. Popular clingstones include Flavorich and June Gold.
2. Nectarines
Nectarines are one of the most delectable stone fruits. They have smooth, fuzz-free skin and sweet, juicy flesh, and they look like perfectly polished peaches.
Biting into a ripe nectarine may feel like an indulgence, but it’s nutritious and delicious.
3. Plums
Plums range from sweet to tart and come in various colors. There are many species of plums grown worldwide. Some of the most common types are:
- Santa Rosa: Reddish-purple, juicy, and sweet. Most popular for eating fresh.
- Damson: Small, tart plums primarily used for preserves and flavoring gin.
- Greengage: These are round green plums that are sweet when ripe [2].
- Mirabelle: Small, yellow plums with a honey-sweet flavor. Popular in France.
There’s a plum for you with this range of sizes, colors, and flavors. Whip some into a plum crumble or chutney for a classic dessert.
4. Cherries
Cherries are among the most beloved fruits. Each cherry contains a single hard pit inside, which holds the seed.
Their sweet, juicy flesh and the pit in the center define them as stone fruits. Cherries come in two types: sweet and sour.
5. Apricots
Apricots are one of the earliest summer fruits. Their yellow-orange, velvety skin surrounds sweet flesh and a single pit containing the seed.
The kernel inside the pit has an almond-like flavor.
6. Dates
Dates are true drupes. They grow on graceful date palm trees with large fronds and clusters of oval fruit, ranging from deep red to bright yellow.
Their sweet, sticky flesh has been enjoyed for centuries in the Mediterranean region.
Bite into a date, and you’ll find a single seed surrounded by rich, caramel-like flesh in the center. Dates are nature’s candy and a perfect portable snack.
Stuff them with fillings like almond butter or wrap them in bacon for an appetizer. Blend them into a chutney or mostarda to serve with meats like lamb or duck.
7. Mangoes
Mangoes originate from India and Southeast Asia and grow best in hot, humid climates. However, some varieties can also thrive in warmer, temperate regions.
Their sweet orange flesh and tropical flavor make them irresistible.
The mango tree can grow over 100 feet tall and may continue producing fruit for decades [3]. Mangoes come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, from greenish-yellow to orange and red.
Inside, the soft flesh surrounds a large seed. Mangoes are ready to eat once they yield slightly to pressure and have a fruity aroma.
Enjoy mangoes fresh or in smoothies, salsas, chutneys, and cocktails. They pair well with sticky rice, oatmeal, yogurt, and other fruits.
Mangoes are also high in vitamins A and C and antioxidants [3], making them a nutritious addition to smoothies, salsas, chutneys, desserts, and other dishes.
8. Lychees
Lychees are exotic stone fruits native to southern China.
These round or oval fruits have rough, pinkish-red, leathery skin and juicy, translucent white flesh surrounding a hard seed. The sweet flavor of lychees is reminiscent of grapes and strawberries.
Peel off the bumpy skin to enjoy lychees raw. They also work well in fruit salads, drinks, and desserts. Ripe lychees will have a slightly springy feel when squeezed.
9. Olives
These are one of the oldest stone fruits cultivated by humans.
Olives are native to the eastern Mediterranean region and have been cultivated for thousands of years [4]. They have been an essential part of Italian cuisine and culture for ages.
Olives grow on small olive trees and ripen in a variety of colors. They can be eaten as a snack, added to salads, pasta, and pizza, pressed into olive oil, or blended into tapenade, a flavorful olive spread.
10. Almonds
Almonds are the edible seeds of a type of stone fruit (drupe). The hard shell we recognize is actually the pit.
Almond trees require a long, warm growing season to bear fruit. They grow best in Mediterranean climates and some areas of the western United States.
11. Avocados
Avocados are true drupes (stone fruits), even though most people do not think of them as such. They contain a single large seed surrounded by soft, creamy flesh.
Avocados are commonly used in salads, sandwiches, dips, and spreads, making them one of the most versatile stone fruits.
12. Jujubes (Chinese Dates)
Jujubes, also called Chinese dates, are small stone fruits. They have been cultivated in Asia for thousands of years.
They are typically round or oval and change from green to reddish-brown as they ripen.
When fresh, jujubes have a crisp texture similar to an apple and a mildly sweet flavor. As they dry, they become chewy and date-like, which is how they earned the nickname “Chinese date.”
Jujubes are often eaten fresh, dried, or used in teas, candies, and desserts.
13. Sloe Fruits (Blackthorn Plums)
Sloes are small, dark purple stone fruits that grow on blackthorn shrubs. They may look like tiny plums, but they have a tart and astringent flavor when eaten fresh.
These fruits are native to Europe. They are also best known for making sloe gin, a popular fruit-infused liqueur.
After the first frost, sloes tend to become softer and less bitter.
Sloes contain a single pit surrounded by a thin layer of flesh, making them true drupes. They can also be used in jams, jellies, syrups, and preserves.
14. Coconuts
Coconuts are large fibrous drupes (a type of stone fruit) with a hard inner seed surrounded by a thick husk.
They grow on coconut palm trees and are common in tropical regions. The coconut palm can reach 100 feet tall and produce 60 to 100 coconuts annually.
Coconuts provide food, drink, and shelter for people in tropical areas. They are also commercially important crops that produce coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut water.
Takeaway
You now know more about some of the world’s most popular stone fruits and what makes them unique. Look for these delicious fruits at your local farmers’ market or grocery store.
Whether you enjoy them fresh, baked into desserts, or added to savory dishes, stone fruits offer a wide variety of flavors and textures for every palate.
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