There is a wide variety of yellow fruits available, varying in color and size. The most commonly known yellow fruits are yellow apples, lemons, yellow plums, and yellow pears. Tropical yellow fruits like bananas, pineapples, mangos, and yellow star fruits are also popular. There are some lesser-known yellow fruits like yuzu, loquat, yellow watermelon, and golden raspberries.
Yellow fruits are tart and are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. They contain fiber and natural sugars, and the yellow color is due to antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin. Yellow fruits with yellow skin or flesh usually have significant amounts of vitamin A and C.
You can find a list of popular yellow fruits and how to distinguish them from each other. Additionally, you can discover more information about unusual and exotic yellow fruits that you may not have heard of before.
What Fruits are Yellow in Color?
Yellow fruits can be classified into five groups based on their shape, namely pomes, berries, drupes, pepo, and citrus fruits. While yellow fruits are typically associated with a specific color, they come in various shapes and sizes unlike red or green fruits. Below is an overview of different types of yellow-colored fruits.
Yellow pomes: These are seeded fruits with a fleshy interior. Apples, quince, pears, and plums are all examples of yellow pomes.
Yellow drupes: A massive stone is found in the midst of these fruits. Yellow drupes, such as yellow cherries, dates, and mango variants, are all examples of yellow drupes.
Yellow citrus fruits: A lemon is the classic yellow citrus fruit. Pomelo and grapefruits, on the other hand, belong to this category.
Yellow berries: We commonly think of certain fruits as being different varieties of fruit, even if they are yellow berries. Yellow gooseberries and bananas are two examples of yellow berries. A pineapple is a fruit made up of tightly packed juices. Yellow bell peppers and yellow tomatoes, for example, are yellow fruits that we consider vegetables.
Yellow pepo: Summer squash, pumpkin, melons, and certain types of zucchinis are among the varieties of Pepo fruits with yellow skin or flesh. Despite the fact that we often consume the others as vegetables, just one yellow pepo (canary melon) is on the list of yellow fruits.
Common Types of Yellow Fruits (With Pictures)
Let’s explore the many appealing yellow fruits that may be found in your own garden or at your nearby shop.
Yellow Apple (Malus domestica)
Yellow apples are a medium-sized fruit with a bright yellow skin and crisp flesh that is typically sweet. The most popular yellow apple variety is the Golden Delicious, which has yellowish-green skin and a sweet taste. Other yellow apple cultivars have yellow skin with red blushing and a round shape.
Although apples are often associated with green or red fruit, yellow apple varieties come in a variety of colors. Yellow apples also come in various shapes and sizes.
The flesh of yellow-green-skinned apples has a honey, sweetness, and spice flavor. The Jonagold apple has light green skin with crimson red hues that contrasts with the apple’s crispness. The apple is big and yellow and has a lovely acidic taste.
Newton Pippin is a sweet fruit with a yellow skin tint that is native to Newton. The crisp apple flesh has a bright, crisp flavor with a hint of sweetness. Some Pippin varieties have a uniform color.
The classic yellow apple, Golden Delicious, has a delicious taste and a crunchy texture. According to the description, the fruit has a “uniform yellow tint with crimson coloring.”
Yellow Pear (Pyrus communis or Pyrus pyrifolia)
Various types of Asian and European pears have smooth, yellowish skin with freckles. Sweet yellow Asian pears have a similar shape to apples and are covered in pale yellow or yellowish-green skin. The flesh is crunchy and delicious. European yellow pears have yellowish-green skin that turns slightly red when ripe.
In the United States, the Bartlett or Williams pear is a popular yellow pear variety. This delightful fruit comes in two color variations: yellow and red. It has a delicate and juicy flesh. Another type of yellow pear is the Bosc pear, which has dark yellow or almost tan skin and a crisp, firm flesh.
Yellow Mirabelle Plum (Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca)
The Mirabelle plum, a small oval-shaped yellow fruit with speckled skin and a pleasant taste, is highly sought after among all plum varieties due to its exceptional flavor and beautiful spring tree blooms. Golden yellow plums have a rich, tangy flavor that makes them ideal for salads, jellies, or desserts.
Finding Mirabelle plums in the United States can be challenging since they are only available from France’s Lorraine region. However, there are several native yellow plum trees in the United States, such as Yellow Ball, Golden Large, and Yellow Honey, which offer sweet, tangy flavors.
Yellow plums are oval drupes that range in size from 0.7″ to 2.7″ (2 – 7 cm). Some purple or red plum varieties have a powdery, waxy coating on their glossy dark skins. When you cut a yellow plum open, the flesh is yellow-green or yellow-amber in color.
Yellow Cherry (Prunus avium)
Several varieties of sweet cherries have firm, rounded yellow fruits with a smooth skin, including the popular Rainier cherry. As they ripen in early to mid-summer, the yellow skin of these cherries may turn a bright shade of red as they become sweeter. When fully mature, these cherries display a range of yellow and red hues.
Another example of a yellow and red cherry is the Royal Ann cherry variety. The firm flesh of this sweet-tart cherry is delicious whether eaten fresh or preserved off the tree. Additionally, the yellow cherry’s refreshing sweet-tart taste makes it a palate cleanser.
Yellow Citrus Fruits (With Pictures)
Most varieties of citrus fruits are orange or green. However, a few tangy fruits in the citrus category have yellow rinds.
Pomelo (Citrus maxima)
The pomelo is a type of large yellow citrus fruit that has a thick yellow-green spongy rind and pale yellow sections. It has a tangy-sweet flavor similar to grapefruit but with a slightly bitter aftertaste. The fruit is spherical in shape with a pointed end and can weigh up to 4 pounds (2 kg) and measure between 6 and 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) in diameter, making it the largest citrus fruit. Its botanical name is Citrus maxima.
Lemon (Citrus limon)
Yellow lemons are a commonly known sour citrus fruit with an oval shape, bright yellow rind, and acidic flavor. While most lemon varieties are known for their puckery taste, some cultivars can have a sweeter flavor.
Typically, yellow lemons have a diameter of around 2 inches (5 cm) and an oval shape with pointed ends, though their size and shape can vary. Eureka lemons, Meyer lemons, and Lisbon lemons are among the most popular types of yellow lemons.
Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi)
Grapefruit is a citrus fruit that has fleshy segments of light yellow or dark red color and a sour taste. The fruit is round and has a yellowish-orange skin. It can grow up to 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) wide and 4 inches to 6 inches (10 cm) long. Grapefruit trees produce the fruit in grape-like clusters, which is why it is called grapefruit. There are sweet, sour, and tart grapefruit varieties with yellow or pink pulp. Grapefruit is closely related to large pomelo citrus fruits.
Sour Yellow Fruits (With Pictures)
Apart from tangy citrus fruits that make your lips pucker, some other yellow fruit varieties have a naturally sour taste.
Yellow Gooseberries (Ribes)
Small in size and tart in flavor, true blueberries or sour currants are berries that are similar in size to grapes. In contrast, yellow gooseberries have a sweeter taste compared to green or red gooseberries, but still have their characteristic tangy flavor.
Gooseberries come in a range of colors, including green, yellow, red, and dark purple. Due to their tart taste, gooseberries are frequently used to make pies, jams, and preserves.
Quince (Cydonia oblonga)
Quince is a small, golden-yellow fruit that looks like a big, lumpy apple. It has a firm texture and a tangy, astringent flavor. The fruit is round in shape and has a strong aroma. This yellow pome grows on a small deciduous tree and its golden fruits are typically 3″ to 4.5″ (7 – 12 mm) in diameter.
Despite its resemblance to other lovely yellow fruits, the apple-like pomes have an unpleasant sour taste. However, cooking quince fruits produces a honey-flavored, sweet jelly or jam with a deep apricot color.
Sweet Yellow Fruits (With Pictures)
The intense sweetness of most yellow fruits is a common characteristic. Yellow-skinned fruits, on the other hand, come in a variety of sweet flavors.
Canary Melon (Cucumis melo)
The canary melon is a large, oval-shaped yellow fruit with a bright, leathery, yellow skin and pale yellow-green sweet flesh inside. It is known for its sweet flavor with a tangy aftertaste. The fruit can weigh up to 5 pounds (2 kg) and measure up to 5 inches (13 cm) in width, and is also referred to as the San Juan Canary melon due to its size and shape.
The fruit’s vivid, bright yellow color, similar to that of a canary bird, gives it its name. Compared to honeydew melons, canary melons have a sweeter taste. The sweet, pale yellow flesh of canary melons is perfect for use in fruit salads or fruit platters when cut into pieces.
Barhi Dates (Phoenix dactylifera)
The yellow Barhi date is a delicious oval-shaped fruit with a crunchy sweet flesh and a golden yellow skin. As the yellow drupe ripens off the tree, its sweetness increases, and its color turns brown with a chewy texture. Barhi dates typically range from 0.8 to 1.6 inches (2 to 4 cm) in length and width.
Unlike most other date varieties, Barhi dates are sold as unripe types of dates and have a crunchy texture. Their sweet butterscotch-like flesh is covered by a thin, slightly bitter skin. Yellow dates have a unique flavor profile that includes notes of butterscotch, cinnamon, fresh sugar cane, and coconut. Additionally, some yellow dates have astringent overtones similar to those experienced after eating certain types of persimmons.
Tropical Yellow Fruits
Indulge in the taste of exotic yellow fruits that come from tropical regions across the world. If you want to sample some of the most popular tropical fruits that are yellow in color, here are some options to consider.
Banana (Musa)
Bananas are among the most recognized yellow fruits due to their long, curved, and cylindrical shape with a bright yellow skin. Botanically classified as a fruit, bananas are actually yellow berries with creamy white to pale-yellow starchy flesh.
Growing in clusters of about 20 fruits, each “finger” of the soft, luscious fruit is about 7″ to 8″ (17 – 20 cm) long. Although they are typically vivid yellow with black freckles, bananas come in various colors, including red, purple, and green.
When bananas are too ripe, they turn dark brown and mushy with a strong sweetness.
Mango (Mangifera indica)
Mango is a fibrous fruit that comes in various colors like yellow, orange, and green-red. It has a thick and leathery skin and an oblong egg shape that is somewhat flattened.
Mangoes have a fragrant and resinous scent that is distinctive. The taste and appearance of mango fruits may differ, depending on the cultivar. Aromatic drupes range from 2 to 10 inches (5 to 25 cm) in length.
Mangoes are widely grown in Florida, Spain, the Caribbean, Africa, and Australia. Although mangoes are originally from South Asia, Florida is home to many mango cultivars.
Pineapple (Ananas comosus)
Pineapple is a juicy fruit with a unique taste. When sliced open, the flesh of the pineapple appears in shades of pale yellow to bright yellow. This tropical fruit has a sweet taste with a tangy aftertaste, which makes it very popular. Pineapples are typically large, weighing between 2 to 6 pounds (0.9 to 2.7 kg).
Pineapples are easily recognizable due to their distinct appearance. The tropical plant has leathery leaves that form a spiky skin around the fruit. Inside the pineapple, there is a hard, fibrous core that needs to be removed before consuming the yellow rings. Pineapples are used in a variety of savory and sweet recipes.
Papaya – Yellow Pawpaw (Carica papaya)
Yellow papaya, also known as yellow pawpaw, is an exotic tropical fruit with a sweet and musky fragrance. The fruit is characterized by its oblong to oval shape, with a tough skin protecting its sweet yellow flesh.
Inside, the center is filled with many black seeds. Yellow papaya fruits typically measure between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) in length and weigh from 1.1 to 2.2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kg).
Star Fruit (Averrhoa carambola)
The star fruit, also known as carambola, is a fascinating yellow fruit with a distinctive star-like shape when sliced. It has a unique taste that is a combination of pear, grape, apple, and sweet citrus flavors. The fruit is yellow when fully ripe and has a smooth, waxy skin with five or six distinct ridges running down its sides. The fruit is typically 2 to 6 inches (5 to 15 cm) long and has light yellow to darker yellow flesh, with several brown seeds in the center.
Durian (Durio)
Durian is a huge 12″ (300 mm) long spherical to oblong fruit with very spiky surface. Durian fruit’s yellow meat is only accessible when the yellowish-brown husk is opened. Durian fruit flesh is generally yellow, although there are occasional red strains.
The sweet, creamy flavor of this unusual fruit is complemented with hints of chives and garlic in the yellow flesh. Others feel the flesh has a cheesecake-like consistency that is both salty and sweet at the same time.
Uncommon Yellow Fruits (With Pictures)
Yuzu (Citrus junos)
Yuzu is a small, bitter citrus fruit that is yellow in color and resembles a grapefruit. It has flattened ends and a round shape. The scent of yuzu is similar to that of grapefruit with hints of mandarin orange. The fruit is typically 2.2 to 3 inches (5.5 to 7.5 cm) in diameter and has a yellowish-orange color. Yuzu zest and juice are commonly used in Japanese cuisine, similar to how lemons are used in other cuisines.
Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)
Loquat is an evergreen tree that produces small yellow fruit clusters. The skin of the fruit is either smooth or slightly hairy, and it has a round, pear-shaped form. The flesh is tangy and has a sweet citrus flavor with a lemon-yellow color. Loquat fruits are small, measuring 1 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm) long. They can be eaten fresh or used to make jams, chutneys, pies, and tarts.
Yellow Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
Red or pink flesh is the most common type of watermelon. However, there are also watermelons with yellow flesh. Yellow watermelons may not have lycopene, the red color antioxidant, but they are rich in beta-carotene, which gives them their yellow hue. They are believed to be sweeter than their red counterparts.
Golden raspberries
Golden raspberries are a rare kind of golden berry that is less prevalent than red types. Golden raspberries are pale golden-yellow to orange in color and have a sweeter flavor than red varieties.
Yellow fig
A yellow fig is a type of fig that has yellow-colored skin. Figs are a type of fruit that belongs to the mulberry family and are known for their sweet, slightly tangy flavor. They are often used in desserts and baked goods, and can also be eaten fresh or dried. The yellow fig variety is likely to have a similar taste and texture to other fig varieties, but with a slightly different color.
Yellow beetroot
Golden beets, also known as yellow beets, are a type of beetroot that has a distinct bright yellow color. This root vegetable is closely related to red beets and is famous for its earthy and sweet flavor. It is commonly used in salads and as an attractive addition to other dishes. Yellow beets can also be cooked and served as a side dish. Although the yellow beetroot may have a slightly different texture and flavor profile compared to the more common red beetroot, it is just as nutritious. It is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, folate, and vitamin C.
Yellow chilli
Yellow chili peppers are a type of chili pepper that has yellow-colored skin. Chili peppers are a type of spicy, edible fruit that belongs to the Capsicum family. They are commonly used in a variety of cuisines around the world to add heat and flavor to dishes. Yellow chili peppers are likely to have a similar level of spiciness as other chili pepper varieties, but they may have a slightly different flavor profile due to their unique color. As with all chili peppers, the level of spiciness can vary depending on the specific type of yellow chili pepper and where it is grown.
Yellow tomato
A yellow tomato is a type of tomato that has yellow-colored skin and flesh. Tomatoes are a type of fruit that belongs to the nightshade family and is known for its juicy, slightly acidic flavor. They are commonly used in a variety of dishes, including salads, soups, and sauces, and can also be eaten fresh. The yellow tomato variety is likely to have a similar taste and texture to other tomato varieties, but with a slightly different color. Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
pumpkin
A pumpkin is a large, round, orange-colored fruit that belongs to the gourd family. It is typically associated with the fall season and is often used in a variety of dishes, such as pies, soups, and breads. The inside of a pumpkin is made up of a soft, pulpy flesh that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Pumpkins are also a good source of fiber and can be roasted, steamed, or mashed as a side dish. In addition to their culinary uses, pumpkins are also often carved into decorative lanterns for Halloween.
Passion fruit
Passion fruit is a fruit that is round or oval in shape with a wrinkled and firm skin. It can be purple or yellow depending on the variety. The fruit is native to South America and is widely used in different dishes. It has a tangy and sweet taste with a hint of acidity. Passion fruit is highly nutritious and rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is commonly consumed fresh but is also used in various cooked dishes such as jams, jellies, and compotes. In addition, it is a natural sweetener in many recipes, making it a versatile and healthy ingredient in many cuisines.
Eggfruit
Eggfruit, also known as canistel, is a fruit that originated in Central America and Mexico. It is an oval-shaped fruit with a yellow-orange skin and a soft, yellow flesh. Eggfruit has a unique flavor that is nutty and slightly sweet, with a starchy texture. It is often used in desserts, smoothies, and baked goods. Eggfruit is a good source of essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron. The fruit is consumed either fresh or cooked and can be mashed and used as a natural sweetener in recipes.
Jackfruit
Jackfruit, an exotic tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia, has a green, spiky exterior and a soft, yellow interior. It is a popular fruit in Bangladesh and is widely grown in Asia, South America, and the Caribbean. Jackfruit is known for its sweet and fruity taste, and it can be consumed fresh or used in various dishes, including stews, curries, and desserts. The fruit’s flesh can be utilized as a meat alternative in vegetarian and vegan meals, and its seeds can be roasted and consumed. Jackfruit is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a healthy addition to one’s diet.
Yellow dragon fruit
Yellow dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that comes from the cactus family, and it’s a variation of the more common red dragon fruit. It has a yellow outer skin and a sweet, juicy yellow flesh that is dotted with small black seeds. Native to Central and South America, yellow dragon fruit has a unique flavor that is often described as a blend of sweet and sour. It’s also packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a healthy addition to any diet. The fruit is commonly eaten fresh or used in smoothies, salads, and desserts.
Yellow zucchini
Yellow zucchini is a type of summer squash that has a smooth, bright yellow skin and firm, mild-tasting flesh. It is commonly used in a variety of dishes, such as stir-fries, salads, and pasta dishes, and can also be roasted or grilled as a side dish. The yellow color of the zucchini comes from the presence of carotenoids, which are antioxidants that have been linked to various health benefits. Zucchini is a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, and magnesium. It is a versatile and nutritious vegetable that can be incorporated into a wide range of meals.