Hainan, an island in southern China, has a tropical moist monsoonal climate. The island's tropical climate makes it China's leading producer of tropical fruits and plants. It's the country's largest grower of pineapples and large exporter of coconuts, sisal, tropical fruits, sugar cane and coco.
 
There are many tropical fruits in Hainan. Some of them you may never see in other places, some of them smell very strange. Here are some recommended fruits to have a try during your stay on Hainan Island.
 
Mango:
 
 
It's the king of tropical fruits. Hainan Island is the biggest Mango production center for China. Best mangos available from March till June. Sometimes late harvest will last till September. Remember: Don't eat too much in a day, or you will suffer from sore throat the next morning.
 
Papaya:
 
 
The fruit is cool according to traditional Chinese medicine. So, eat some papaya if you have sore throat or suffer from constipation. A good papaya recipe is the soup Pork Steak Stewed with Papaya.
 
Lychee:
 
 
 
The best time to taste fresh lychee in Hainan Island is from May till August. It’s sweet, juicy, and a little crunchy like a grape and has its own fragrance. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the fruit is warm and can help improve the blood, relieve pain, shrink swollen glands and prevent the growth of cancer cells.
 
Banana:
 
 
 
 
Hainan Island is also the biggest production area of banana in China. Remember that the small and yellow ones are more tasty than the green or yellow big ones.
 
Carambola (Star Fruit):
 
 
 
Some sweet, some sour, try to get the ones with yellow colors. Autumn is a good time to taste the best carambolas. To have better taste, you could keep them in salty water for a few minutes.
 
Wax apple:
 
 
 
The best time to have wax apple is winter. The fruit has many health benefits, it can quench thirst, eliminate sputum and relieve cough.
 
Dragon fruit:
 
 
 
Dragon fruit tastes wonderful – sweet and crunchy, with a flavor that's like a cross between kiwi and pear. It is available all year around on Hainan Island. It would taste better if you keep them in the freezer. Moderate eating of the fruit is helpful for lowering blood glucose levels, improving digestion and reducing fat.
 
Rambutan:
 
 
It is a little smaller than the usual red variety and is colored yellow. The outer skin is peeled exposing the fleshy fruit inside which is then eaten. It is sweet, sour and slightly grape like to the taste.
 
Betelnut:
 
 
 
Actually it is becoming a light drug for local people. You will see old ladies selling them on local market. It is chewed with betel leaf and pepper salt. Local people get very excited. To be frank, it is good for detoxification and diminishing inflammation.
 
Coconut:
 
 
 
It’s the most popular fruit in Hainan. You can buy everywhere. Yellow ones taste better than green ones. It is said the taste of the coconut is best during noon time. The white fresh of coconut also tastes good.
 
Jackfruit:
 
 
It is one of the largest tree-borne fruits on Hainan Island. It tastes very sweat, sometimes too sweat. The local people also eat the seeds of jackfruit after boiling.
 
Chinese wampee:
 
 
 
The grapelike fruit tastes sweet, some are sour. For better sweat taste, get the bigger and brown-yellow ones.
 
Guava:
 
 
 
It's another popular tropical fruit on Hainan Island which is rich in crude fiber, protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, B, and C. Most local people like it with some pepper & salt. Fresh guavas are very tasty and good appetizer.
 
Mangosteen:
 
 
Mangosteen is regarded as the "Queen of fruits". The ball-shaped purple fruits are available everywhere on Hainan Island. The better ones are the soft ones with green leaves. Mangosteen is also very important ingredient in Chinese medicine.
 
Pineapple  
 
Pineapple is very delicious and popular tropical fruit. To have a better taste, please keep it in salt water for a few minutes. It is also very helpful for digestion, but remember not to eat on an empty stomach as it contains leaven.
 
Prickly pears
 
 
 
This is the cactus fruit, only few local restaurants in Sanya provides prickly pears juice to the customers.