What Fruits Pair Well Together?
Three main factors determine which fruits go together well and which ones don’t. The same principles apply whether you are serving fruits at a summer BBQ, putting them in a blender, making a syrup or just a green healthy smoothie.
Really any fruit pairing is your own or personal preference if your taste buds like it then it is all good. but this article is designed to give you some background and help in coming up with fruity combinations that work for you!
Basic food combinations guidelines recommend eating acidic foods together (such as citrus), sub-acids (like tomatoes), and sweet fruits (apples) separately, at different meals, and not necessarily with an empty stomach. You do this to stop bloating or discomfort in the stomach. In addition, you can eat a small amount of protein before a meal.
The best way to get your daily dose of vitamin C is through fresh fruit and vegetables.
We’ll be taking a closer look at each category of fruit separately below.
Fruits can be separated or divided into acid fruits then semi-acid fruits and finally alkaline fruits.
A distinction is often made by people interested in food combining and finding out which foods go well together for optimal health.
Are These Really fruit?
What’s important to note here is that some foods which most people would consider “vegetables” actually fall into the fruit category. For example, tomatoes and cucumbers are both considered by botanists to be fruits.
Simply because they are the ripened ovaries of flowering plants – the most basic definition of what a fruit is.
Also, many of the fruits here have the transforming power of berries which are often called superfood fruits. These superfood fruit pairs are very popular right now, blueberry and avocado.
Acid Fruits
If its pulp or juice has a pH of less than 7 then it is considered acidic. Often these are characterized by tart taste or flavor profile. Hence, the best way to consume them is to add them to your diet in small amounts and see how you feel after consuming them for some time.
The other type of fruit juices includes those with high sugar content which can be consumed as they are but if you want to get rid of their sweetness then try adding them to your diet in smaller portions. This will help you to reduce your intake of sugary drinks.
By combining acidic foods like citrus fruits with sweeter ones such as berries, apples, pears, peaches, etc., you’re likely going to end up with a nice and not sour drink.
Some common examples of acid fruits are
- Lemon
- Orange
- Lime
- Grapefruit
- Pineapple
- Pomegranate (see below for Pomegranate pairings)
- Strawberry (see below for strawberry flaovr pairings)
- Kumquat
- Kiwifriut
Pairing Acid Fruits – How To Do It Correctly
When pairing acid fruits consider how closely related are the style of fruits.
For example, a peach and an apple are very similar in style but have different flavors.
So if you want to pair two similar tasting fruit go for it!
But if you’re looking for something that will complement each other, then I recommend going with the more acidic fruit and a softer neutral fruit.
Pairing up different fruits together will usually result in a drink that tastes like one type of fruit mixed with another. For example, if you pair orange with pineapple, you’ll get an orangey pineapple cocktail. If you pair lemon with lime, you’ll get a lemony limeade. And so forth.
Here’s a quick list of acidic fruits for starters.
- Avocade makes the blended drink really creamy and paired wth Pineapple or Mango and pomegranate makes a really refreshing drink
- Also try Orange with Pears Pomegranate plus Apples and kiwifruit.
- Peach, cherry, plum, nectarine, apricot, mangos, oranges.
- Mango, apple grapefruit, pineapple, pomegrante, kiwifruit.
- Pineapple and kiwifruit – sweet and tarter adding in grapes, blue berries or strawberries plus orange for the overall flavor
Plus, you can add a few drops of your favorite food grade essential oils to make them extra special!
What Are Sweet Fruits
Sweet fruits are often referred to as fruit that are naturally sweeter than others. They include banana dates cherries, plums, etc.
While most people think of sweet fruits when talking about desserts, they are actually quite healthy. They contain fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.
These nutrients help boost energy levels, improve digestion, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and prevent cancer.
Sweet fruits are also beneficial for weight loss because they are low-calorie foods that fill up your stomach quickly when compared to candy or chips.
Some more examples of Sweet fruits
- Banana
- Plantain
- Dates
- Figs
- Grapes
- Papaya
I would also include dried fruits as sweet fruits as the drying process concentrates the sugars.
The other type of fruit juices including those with high sugar content such as juice from fresh fruits can be consumed as they is but if you want to remove their sweetness then try adding these into your diet in smaller amounts. This will help you reduce your intake of sugared drinks. By combining acidic foods like citrus with sweeter ones such a berry, apple, pear, peaches, etc.
- banana, blackberry or strawberry – then add papaya some blueberry and apple
- Figs and Pears go together well with some plum or papaya and finally a little banana
- Blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, grapefruit, orange, pineapple, peach, pear
- Persimmon with some Blueberries and fresh cranberries plus some avaocdo
- Figs with persimmon, lime, banana, papaya.
The Sub-acid Fruits
A subacid fruit style is a type of fruit which sits in the middle or between an acid or a sweet fruit. In addition to pairing well with the other categories, these factually make great ice cream flavors. They are not too strong and can also be delicious when eaten alone.
Sub acid type fruits can include:
- Apricot and Mango
- Peach and Nectarine
- Most varieties of grapes
- Apple plus a little peach. Then add pear for texture
- Mango and Banana are a classic and add dragon fruit for some excitement
- Strawberry plus Banana is again a classic but adds a little orange and mango to make it tropical.
- Dragon fruit and blackberries are good for weight loss with some star fruit [starfruit taste likes what] with a little banana.
Use Melons for Extra Flavor and Great Bases for Fruit Dishes
Examples of some melons
- Watermelon
- Honeydew
- Cantaloupe
Do Not Use Too Many Bitter Flavored Fruits
Bitter flavored fruits are those that have a sharp taste. Some examples of bitter fruits are:
- Rhubarb
- Choke Cherries
- Black Currants
- Sour Grapes
- Lime
- Tart Cherry
- Green Apple
- Kiwi
- Grapefruit
So let’s summarize on how to do fruit pairings.
- Pair some fruits that are similar and the overall flavor will be more subtle.
- To get some unique and exciting flavors to try pairing different fruits from acid, melons and then bring them together with a harmonizing fruit like passionfruit, banana or avocado.
- category and the same botanical characteristics when you’re not after a wild flavor. Do the opposite for a vaguer flavor profile.
- Use no more than 5 or 6 fruits otherwise, the flavor can get out of control and be confusing to the palette. If you are mixing a lot of fruits keep a notebook of the quantities that you put together because it’s very easy to forget and if you find a special flavor combination you like it’s much easier to repeat it again. Also, don’t forget to add some herbs like basil or mint because they can actually bring the whole fruit salad or smoothie alive.
Experiment With Fruit Pairings
Try experimenting with different combinations of fruits. For example, try using apples, pears, oranges, bananas, strawberries, kiwis, watermelons, cherries, plums, apricots, nectarines, peaches, and so forth. You may even experiment with different types of berries, such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and currants. Experimenting with different fruits gives you the opportunity to discover new tastes and textures.