As a tropical country, the Philippines is home to a huge variety of fruits. Every month brings a new fruit into season. Eating right is important to keep your immune system going strong, especially right now. Here’s a list of this season’s choicest fruits if you want a treat that comes with some health benefits:
What’s in season?
Santol
In season from July to December
Santol—otherwise known as cotton fruit—is a little sweet, a little sour and good for your digestion. Santol is also known to be rich in vitamin C, which helps the immune system fight against diseases.
Mangosteen
In season from June to November
Mangosteen contains lots of antioxidants that can break down free radicals that cause cell damage. But make sure to take these in moderation if you have a history of lactic acid buildup because too much mangosteen can make it worse.
Durian
In season from August to October
Durian is a divisive fruit, to say the least. “Tastes like heaven, but smells like hell,” is a common saying associated with the fruit. One thing people can agree on, though, is that durian is packed with vitamins and nutrients like vitamin C, potassium and magnesium. Durian can also help with anemia, maintaining healthy bones and even digestion.
Rambutan
In season from August to October
Rambutan is another fruit that’s rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. The sweet, fleshy fruit is also known to aid in digestion, iron absorption and fighting infection—which is important in these times.
Guyabano
In season from August to November
Guyabano is another seasonal fruit with a lot of health benefits. It’s chock full of carbohydrates, vitamins C, B1 and B2. Diabetics can especially reap the benefits of this fruit when it comes to lowering their blood sugar.
Sampaloc
In season from October to December
Sampaloc is mostly associated with the national treasure that is sinigang, but the fruit can definitely hold its own. Sampaloc contains considerable amounts of vitamin B1, magnesium and potassium. Its health benefits include lowering blood pressure, inflammation and cholesterol.
Lanzones
In season from August to December
If you need some digestive aid, lanzones is another fruit you want to add to your growing seasonal basket. They’re rich in fiber, riboflavin (commonly known as vitamin B2) and antioxidants as well.
Atis
In season from September to December
Atis—also known as sugar apple in other parts of the world—is filled to the brim with digestive fibers, manganese and vitamins C and B6. Vitamin B6 has properties that aid in respiratory problems associated with inflammation. Regulating blood sugar, lowering blood pressure and anemia prevention are other benefits that come with having a serving of this fruit.
Dalanghita (Mandarin Orange)
In season from October to January
Dalanghita—more commonly known as the mandarin orange—is a usual suspect at dining tables around the country. They’re rich in vitamin C and fiber, and possess anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.
Where can I find them?
Since going to the palengke or picking up fruits from a local vendor is risky right now, your best option to get these seasonal fruits is through online grocers. A lot of vendors selling ethically-sourced, fresh produce have gone online since the pandemic struck, so you don’t need to travel for your fruit fix. Here are some of them:
Gising Gising
Gising Gising works with farmers in Quezon and Benguet to assemble curated boxes of fresh produce ready for delivery. They have a prutas box that includes staples like banana, papaya, mango, pineapple and other fruits depending on the season.
You can place your orders through their website
The Murang Gulay Shop
The Murang Gulay Shop changes their list of products depending on the harvest. Aside from seasonal fruits, they also have fresh produce available for delivery. They also have promos depending on the demand and availability of fruits and vegetables.
Session Groceries
Named after Baguio’s Session Road, Session Groceries brings down a wide array of fresh fruits and produce from Baguio for city dwellers to enjoy. They work directly with small farms and local farmers to help them grow and sustain their livelihood.
You can place your orders through their app on iOS and Android.
Header image by Angelo Esslinger on Pixabay
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Read more:
In-season fruits from July to September
9 online markets where you can get produce straight from the farmers
You can now buy fruits and vegetables in bulk from DA’s Kadiwa Online