Our world is a beautiful place full of amazing creatures, plants, flowers, and foods. Although some natural foods grow as you might expect, others are extremely unique and have found amazing ways of producing delicious food we know and love. 

Check out these 6 foods that grow in strange and unique ways!

1. Jackfruit

Jackfruits are some of the largest and most interesting fruits in the world. The Jackfruit tree is native to tropical Asia, where the fruit is eaten by many, and is considered a staple in some countries, such as Bangladesh.

The Jackfruit tree can grow up to about 70 feet tall. However, The most surprising fact of the Jackfruit is the astounding size of the fruit. The fruit itself can weigh up to 40 lbs! The Jackfruit trees show immense strength by bearing the weight of these large, heavy fruit.

2. Pineapple

Would you guess that pineapples grow on trees? Well, if you did, you’d be wrong! 

Although many fruits grow on trees, Pineapples actually grow on a plant close to the ground. This remarkable fruit is native to South America, but now it can be found all around the world!

Want to grow your own Pineapple? You can do it from anywhere! Check out this video for step-by-step instructions.

3. Dragon Fruit

If there are any foods on this list that look like they come from another world, the Dragon Fruit would be it! Other names for Dragon Fruit include Pitaya, Strawberry Pear, Cactus Fruit, Kaktus madu, Night-blooming cereus, and Belle of the night.

This amazing fruit grows from a cactus, but the contents of its fruit are anything but prickly. Dragon Fruit is a delicious fruit on its own and can often be found in salads, smoothies and more!

4. Asparagus

Asparagus is native to coastal European and Asian areas. According to history, it is believed that Asparagus was first cultivated as a food source by the Romans more than 2000 years ago. Eventually, It was brought to America in the 1700’s with some of the first settlers.

The spears of the asparagus shoot right out of the ground and are known for their succulence and tenderness.

Asparagus has amazing longevity and have been known to produce crops for up to 30 years!

5. Pistachios

Pistachios are one of the most popular nuts in the world. They come from trees that can grow more than 30 feet high. This unique high-desert tree was native to Western Asia, but has since spread and now the plant thrives on Australia and in other high-desert climates.

Most people confuse the pistachio as a nut, but in reality, it is considered a drupe, or a single seed enclosed in a layer of flesh

Unlike most other trees, the Pistachio tree is a bineriel bearer - meaning it produces a large crop of pistachios one year, and a smaller crop the following.

6. Cashews

Is that some kind of pepper? It definitely isn’t a cashew.. is it? Oh, but it is! 

This strange looking fruit is from a cashew tree! This extraordinary fruit/nut combo is native to Brazil, but is now known as a popular nut around the globe.

Picking cashews is a difficult and meticulous process. You first pick the whole thing from the branch, fruit and all. Then you pull off the nut, dry it, and steam it by hand. Finally, you remove the shell by freezing and boiling it. That’s a lot of work! But the delicious cashew it’s totally worth it! 

Surprised?

Once you’ve seen how these fruits and nuts grow, you’ll never see them the same again! These foods have developed amazing traits during their time on Earth, and we are forever grateful!

Comment below to tell us which food surprised you the most or share other weird and interesting foods that you know!

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/plant/jackfruit

https://www.treehugger.com/do-pineapples-grow-on-trees-4864128

https://www.bhg.com.au/growing-dragon-fruit

https://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/single_weed.php?id=2

https://www.pgai.com.au/growing-pistachios

https://www.thetreecenter.com/how-do-pistachios-grow/

https://www.livescience.com/46602-where-do-cashews-come-from.html

Image sources: 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/garden/72464797/yes-you-can-grow-pineapples-in-new-zealand