The beautiful fruits of Rarotonga are a huge part of everyday life here. All around the Pacific islands, you’ll encounter a diverse array of delicious and unique fruits. But right here in Rarotonga there is a whole list of new and tasty fruits to try on a trip at any time of year.
There is fruit stalls dotted all along the roadside stretching right around the island. Or if you take the inland back roads you can’t help but drive past plantations and orchards that showcase some seriously impressive tastes and colours ready to harvest!
12 Favourite Fruits of Rarotonga
We love the tastes and colours of the Pacific and feel like all this incredible fruit needs to be tried.
So go and be adventurous – take this list with you and let us know in the comments how many of these popular island fruits you get to try…
1. Soursop – Kataraapa
We’d vote soursop as the most exciting looking fruit we’ve found in Rarotonga.
Albeit it is a somewhat labour-intensive input-for-taste-output kinda fruit. But well worth your while.
Soursop has an almost ice-cream-like texture – intercepted with large, smooth pips – so is even more tasty when it’s been cooled in the fridge.
In Rarotonga, soursop are in season between June and November so keep a look out for them on the tables at the market on Saturday.
2. Starfruit – Raaparaapa
How cool is it to find a fruit shaped like and called a ‘Starfruit’?! These are a common on any breakfast platter at your villa or resort in Rarotonga. You can even find starfruit as a popular smoothie ingredient!
In the Cook Islands, starfruit (also known as Carambola) is typically in season during the summer months, from November to March.
The skin is thin and waxy, though not particularly tasty. But it is edible a bit like an apple. Or if you buy it at the market, slice your starfruit horizontally to reveal perfect starry snacks.
3. Mango – Vi
Mangoes are one of the Pacific superfruits filled with Vitamin A and C. The season is fairly short – from November to January – and at that time of year you can find mangoes literally everywhere. They fall on the ground in abundance!
There are many different varieties across the Pacific but a favourite on the island here is the sweet green mango. It has a prominent tip you bite off and suck the mango juice up through – almost like a straw!
Living here I admit, it’s not just our kids who haven’t escaped that telltale yellow stain down your clothes. It is a sure sign of having devoured some fresh juicy backyard mangoes!
4. Vikavakava – Sour Mango
The first time we were introduced to vikavakava we tried the hard, green version of the less ripe Sour Mango fruit. This is not at all like a soft, fleshy traditional mango.
But the coolest thing about this fruit when it is at that ripe stage is that it’s literally so hard the best way to open it is to smash it onto the ground and crack it. Seriously!
The word ‘Vi’ in Cook Island Māori means ‘mango’. While ‘kavakava’ is another word for sour.
This is a pretty apt description of Vi Kavakava!
These are a fruit from the mango family. Though unless you are tempted by the smash-fruit option to try these out(!) you can wait until they soften and turn a green-yellow colour, when the flesh is less sour.
5. Pawpaw – Ninita – Fruits of Rarotonga
Pawpaw – or papaya – are everywhere in Rarotonga! At times you can pass a pawpaw plantation where these delicious fruit are literally falling off the trees there are so many.
They can otherwise be found at any of the markets, roadside stalls and even commonly at the local minimarts and supermarkets.
The Cook Islands climate is ideal for growing papaw making it one of the most common fruits of Rarotonga all year round.
6. Jackfruit – Kuru Papa’a
Albeit Jackfruit isn’t always listed on popular fruits of Rarotonga. Because the truth is that it isn’t all that common.
Plus, when it is around, this island fruit can be easily confused with Durian (Asia’s famously stinky fruit). Though Jackfruit is similar in size and colour on the outside it is very different once open.
Jackfruit can grow to be the largest and heaviest of fruits in the world!
The skin is green and covered in ridged bumps while the flesh inside has a vibrant orange-yellow colour and a gummy-like texture. But all looks aside, it has a sweet and delicate taste.
7. Breadfruit – Kuru – Fruits of Rarotonga
We LOVE breadfruit. It’s the most unusual looking fruit (and admittedly can feel overwhelming to arrive home with such a large fruit to deal to). But Kuru seriously packs a punch with the different kinds of island favourites that can be created from this humble (and kind of knobbly-looking) bright green fruit!
Breadfruit isn’t one of the fruits of Rarotonga found on a breakfast platter. It is commonly used as a starch substitute so it is often made into island fries or hot chips – which are delicious by the way.
But the most common local way of eating breadfruit in the Cook Islands is in a stew-like soup served with corned beef and rice.
If you aren’t feeling quite so adventurous you can also find Kuru crisps at the local markets and stores which are crunchy and delicious.
8. Dragonfruit
Dragonfruit lives up to its exciting name in appearance and certainly stands out on any market table! It’s easy to enjoy: just slice it and remove the thick rind.
The catch however? Despite its seriously impressive presentation, dragonfruit is actually not very flavourful. Rather, it’s best enjoyed in a vibrantly coloured ice cream or smoothie!
9. Drinking Coconut – Nu – Fruits of Rarotonga
These are a signature drink for any tropical island. But here in the Cook Islands the young coconut is referred to as ‘Nu’.
It’s not hard to find freshly husked drinking coconuts at roadside stalls and the markets all around the island. It is a seriously refreshing island treat and one of the fruits of Rarotonga that you can’t get back home.
A husked Nu ready to drink should cost between $4 – 6 NZD.
Just ask the Mama or Papa selling the Nu to slice it open for you and it’s ready to drink with no straw required!
8. Sprouted Coconut – Uto
This is one of nature’s most amazing coconut treats! Uto is quite literally the inside of the sprouted coconut. This is where a fallen coconut has started to grow roots from the nut inside and a small green shoot has started to sprout.
I reckon this is handsdown one of the most unique fruits of Rarotonga! If you get the chance to try Uto, make sure you do.
Uto is often referred to as ‘island marshmallow’ and is a delicacy all around the islands of the Pacific. It does kind of have a marshmallow or candy-floss-like texture inside!
Living in Raortonga, we love it and sometimes pack Uto into the kids lunchboxes as a snack.
If you are on the hunt for something new to try I recommend finding some Uto. It has fast become one of our favourite fruits of Rarotonga!
11. Island Bananas – Meika – Fruits of Rarotonga
It is agreed that bananas aren’t exactly unique or new to try. Indigenous island bananas however, are much smaller, fatter and sweeter than their mainland relatives.
These Meika are often on sale around the island at the small roadside fruit stalls. Or at the main Punanga Nui Market in town on a Saturday. Be sure to try some!
17. Green Oranges – Anani
Albeit it does sound like an oxymoron, but green oranges are one of the most common fruits of Rarotonga.
While they might appear intimidating, these island oranges are worth the effort. They can grow to be quite large. Plus they do turn from a shade of green to be tinted with yellow when ripe. They definitely get a few points for interest with the name disparity!
Trying the Tropical Fruits of Rarotonga
Enjoy the tropical adventure that is tasting all of these unique and tasty fruits of Rarotonga.
Or read more about it over on our travel blog Away with the Steiners.
Read More About Travel to Rarotonga
- All About The Rarotonga Bus.
- Hiring A Scooter In Rarotonga.
- Renting A Car In Rarotonga.
- How To Buy A Car In Rarotonga.
- Finding And Renting A House In Rarotonga.
- Rarotonga Reef Explorer Tour With Ariimoana.
- Is Dengue Fever A Worry For Travel To Rarotonga?
- Transport And Getting Around Rarotonga.
Travel Planning for Cook Islands & Beyond
These are the companies we use and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. Easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel including those who have already left home. Make sure you have travel insurance before holidaying to Rarotonga!
Hi! I’m Sarah. I am the self-confessed dreamer, travel-schemer and the main editor behind this blog. I love to write, and it is a dream come true to share so many experiences together and inspire others in our stories.
