Trying to name fruits that start with I is harder than it sounds. There are a few you might spot in international grocers, some that appear more often in jams and juices, and others that are mainly eaten close to where they grow.

This guide rounds up the most interesting I fruits, including their flavours, where they come from, how they are used, and a few practical buying and storage tips. It is especially useful if you are working through alphabet foods, planning a quiz, teaching children about fruit, or simply fancy discovering something new without wasting money.

Fruits That Start With I: Quick List

Here are some of the best-known and more unusual fruits beginning with the letter I:

• Indian gooseberry
• Ice apple
• Ilama
• Imbe
• Indian fig
• Indian jujube
• Indian almond fruit
• Illawarra plum
• Inga fruit
• Icaco
• Ita palm fruit
• Ichang papeda
• Indian sherbet berry
• Iboga fruit

Fruits Beginning With I: Complete Guide

1. Indian Gooseberry

Indian gooseberry, also known as amla, is one of the most widely recognised fruits that start with I. It is small, round, greenish-yellow and very sharp in flavour. If you bite into one fresh, expect a sour, astringent taste rather than a sweet snack.

Indian gooseberry is commonly used in chutneys, pickles, juices, sweets and powders. In the UK, you are more likely to find it in South Asian grocery shops, either fresh when in season, frozen, dried, candied or as amla powder.

Money-saving tip: if you only need it for chutney or a smoothie, check the frozen section. Frozen amla is often cheaper than fresh and there is less pressure to use it immediately.

2. Ice Apple

Ice apple is the translucent, jelly-like fruit of the palmyra palm. It is popular in parts of India and South East Asia, especially during hot weather because it is juicy and refreshing.

The texture is similar to a soft lychee or tender coconut flesh, while the flavour is delicate, mildly sweet and cooling. Ice apple is usually eaten fresh, sometimes with a squeeze of lime or mixed into drinks and desserts.

It is not a common supermarket fruit in the UK, but you may occasionally see it canned or jarred in specialist Asian food shops. If buying tinned ice apple, compare the price per 100g and check whether it is packed in syrup, as this can make it much sweeter.

3. Ilama

Ilama is a tropical fruit related to cherimoya, soursop and custard apple. It grows in parts of Central America and has a bumpy outer skin with soft, sweet flesh inside.

There are different types of ilama, with flesh that may be white, pink or reddish. The flavour is usually sweet and custardy, although some varieties are more fragrant than others. It is typically eaten fresh with a spoon when fully ripe.

You are unlikely to find ilama in an ordinary UK supermarket, but it is a useful fruit to know for alphabet food lists and tropical fruit guides.

4. Imbe

Imbe is a small orange fruit from Africa, sometimes called African mangosteen. Despite the name, it is not the same as the purple mangosteen you may see in Asian markets.

Imbe fruits are small, bright and tangy, with a sweet-sour flavour. They are usually eaten fresh where they grow, though they can also be used for drinks, jams and preserves.

Because imbe is delicate and not widely exported, it is rarely seen for sale in the UK. If you are researching unusual fruits beginning with I, though, it definitely deserves a place on the list.

5. Indian Fig

Indian fig is another name often used for the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, especially Opuntia ficus-indica. It is oval-shaped, with a thick skin and juicy flesh that can be red, orange, yellow or green depending on the variety.

The flavour is mildly sweet, a little like watermelon crossed with pear. The flesh contains small hard seeds, which are edible but not always loved by everyone.

Prickly pears sometimes appear in larger UK supermarkets, market stalls and Mediterranean grocers. Handle them carefully, as the tiny spines on the skin can irritate your hands. Many are sold cleaned, but it is still sensible to use tongs or gloves when preparing them.

How to use Indian fig:

• Peel and eat chilled as a fresh fruit.
• Blend the flesh and strain for a bright juice.
• Use in sorbet, cocktails, mocktails or fruit salads.
• Turn into a simple jam with sugar and lemon juice.

6. Indian Jujube

Indian jujube, also known as ber, is a small fruit that can be eaten fresh, dried or pickled. Fresh Indian jujubes can be crisp and apple-like when not fully ripe, becoming softer and sweeter as they mature.

The fruit may be green, yellowish or reddish-brown depending on ripeness. Dried jujubes are chewy and sweet, and they are often used in teas, snacks and traditional cooking.

In the UK, dried jujubes are easier to find than fresh ones, especially in Asian supermarkets. They last well in the cupboard, making them a useful low-waste option if you enjoy dried fruit.

7. Indian Almond Fruit

Indian almond fruit comes from the tropical almond tree, also called sea almond or country almond. The tree produces oval fruits with a fibrous outer layer and a seed inside.

The seed is the part most often compared with almonds, although it is not the same as the common almond sold in UK baking aisles. The outer fruit can be eaten in some places when ripe, but it is not a mainstream dessert fruit.

You may come across Indian almond in travel writing, tropical fruit lists or regional cooking references rather than on a typical shopping trip.

8. Illawarra Plum

Illawarra plum is an Australian native fruit with a deep purple-blue colour. It is not a true plum in the same sense as the plums sold in UK supermarkets, but it is used in similar ways.

The fruit has a sweet, piney, slightly tart flavour and is often made into sauces, jams, chutneys and desserts. In Australia, it is sometimes used with game meats or stirred into sweet bakes.

In the UK, Illawarra plum is more likely to be found as a specialist ingredient, such as a jam, sauce or freeze-dried powder, rather than fresh fruit.

9. Inga Fruit

Inga fruit grows in long pods on trees from Central and South America. It is often called ice cream bean because the fluffy white pulp around the seeds can taste sweet and vanilla-like.

The edible part is the soft pulp inside the pod. It is usually eaten fresh by opening the pod and sucking the pulp from around the seeds. The seeds themselves are not normally eaten raw, though they may be cooked in some local cuisines.

Fresh inga pods are rare in the UK because they do not travel as conveniently as tougher fruits. If you ever see them at a specialist market, choose pods that feel firm and heavy for their size.

10. Icaco

Icaco, also known as cocoplum, is a small fruit found in tropical regions including the Caribbean and parts of the Americas. The fruits can be pink, purple, white or reddish, with a mild sweet flavour.

Icaco can be eaten fresh, but it is also used for preserves and jellies. The texture is not as juicy as many common supermarket fruits, so it is often better cooked with sugar and a little acidity.

If you are searching for fruit names beginning with I, icaco is one of the shorter and more useful answers, especially for quizzes and word games.

11. Ita Palm Fruit

Ita palm fruit comes from the moriche palm, a tree native to parts of South America. The fruit has a reddish-brown scaly skin and orange flesh.

It is used locally in drinks, sweets, fermented beverages and desserts. The flavour is rich and tropical, though fresh ita palm fruit is not something you are likely to see in a UK greengrocer.

Products made from moriche or buriti fruit may occasionally appear in specialist shops, particularly as oils or powders, but they are niche ingredients.

12. Ichang Papeda

Ichang papeda is a hardy citrus fruit from East Asia. It is related to lemons, limes and other citrus fruits, but it is generally not eaten as a sweet fresh fruit because it can be bitter, sour and full of seeds.

Its value is often in breeding and gardening, as it has better cold tolerance than many citrus types. In food, it may be used for zest, marmalade-style preserves or as an aromatic souring ingredient.

For UK cooks, Ichang papeda is more of a specialist citrus than an everyday fruit, but it still belongs on a proper list of fruits starting with I.

13. Indian Sherbet Berry

Indian sherbet berry is the fruit of the phalsa plant. It is small, dark purple when ripe, and has a sweet-tart taste.

In South Asia, phalsa berries are often used to make cooling drinks, syrups and sherbets. The fruit is delicate and does not store for long, which is one reason it is not common in UK supermarkets.

If you find phalsa syrup or concentrate, it can be diluted with chilled water or sparkling water for a refreshing drink. As with all sweet syrups, check the label and use it sparingly if you are watching your sugar intake.

14. Iboga Fruit

Iboga fruit grows on a shrub native to Central Africa. The plant is better known for its roots, which have cultural and ceremonial significance in some regions, but it also produces small orange fruits.

The fruit itself is not a common commercial food and is not something you should expect to find in UK food shops. It is included here because it is a genuine fruit beginning with I, but it is best treated as a botanical curiosity rather than a shopping-list ingredient.

Easy Table of Fruits That Start With I

Which Fruits Starting With I Are Easiest to Find in the UK?

Some I fruits are much easier to buy than others. If you are shopping in the UK, these are the ones you are most likely to come across:

• Indian gooseberry: often available frozen, dried, powdered or pickled in South Asian grocers.
• Indian jujube: usually found dried in Asian supermarkets or online.
• Indian fig: sold as prickly pear in some larger supermarkets, markets and Mediterranean shops.
• Ice apple: occasionally available tinned or jarred in specialist Asian shops.

Fresh tropical fruits can be expensive in the UK, particularly if they have been imported in small quantities. If you are trying something for the first time, buy the smallest amount you can, or choose a preserved version such as jam, syrup or frozen fruit to reduce waste.

Money-Saving Tips for Trying Unusual I Fruits

Unusual fruit can be fun, but it is easy to overspend if you buy on impulse. Here are a few ways to keep costs down:

• Check frozen first: frozen amla, pulp and tropical fruit packs often work out cheaper than fresh.
• Visit independent grocers: South Asian, Caribbean, African and East Asian shops may stock ingredients you will not find in big supermarkets.
• Compare drained weight: for tinned fruit in syrup, the tin size does not always tell you how much fruit you are actually getting.
• Start with one new fruit: do not buy several unfamiliar fruits at once unless you have a clear plan for using them.
• Use sharp fruits in cooking: sour fruits such as Indian gooseberry can be turned into chutney, pickle or sauce rather than wasted.
• Share with friends: if you are ordering specialist fruit online, split the cost and quantity with someone else.

How to Use Fruits That Start With I

Not every fruit beginning with I is suited to the same sort of recipe. Some are best eaten fresh, while others make more sense cooked, preserved or blended.

For Fresh Snacking

• Ice apple
• Indian fig
• Ilama
• Indian jujube
• Inga fruit

For Chutneys, Pickles and Preserves

• Indian gooseberry
• Icaco
• Illawarra plum
• Indian jujube
• Indian fig

For Drinks and Desserts

• Ice apple
• Indian sherbet berry
• Ita palm fruit
• Indian fig
• Imbe

Food Safety and Storage Tips

As with any fruit, wash fresh produce before eating, unless it is a type where only the sealed inner flesh is eaten and the skin is removed. Store ripe fresh fruit in the fridge if you are not eating it straight away, and use cut fruit promptly.

For prickly pear or Indian fig, take care with the skin. Even when the larger spines have been removed, tiny hair-like prickles may remain. Use gloves, tongs or a clean tea towel when handling, then peel before eating.

With dried fruit, keep it sealed in a cool, dry cupboard. If it smells off, shows mould, or has changed texture in an unpleasant way, do not eat it. For tinned or jarred fruit, follow the storage instructions on the label and refrigerate leftovers once opened.

Best Fruits That Start With I for Alphabet Food Activities

If you are doing an alphabet food challenge, some I fruits are more practical than others. For a child-friendly tasting plate or school activity, try to choose fruits that are safe, easy to explain and reasonably obtainable.

• Best easy option: Indian fig, sold as prickly pear.
• Best dried option: Indian jujube.
• Best cooking option: Indian gooseberry chutney or pickle.
• Best unusual talking point: inga fruit, also called ice cream bean.
• Best citrus example: Ichang papeda.

For younger children, avoid fruits with hard seeds, prickly skins or unfamiliar preparation needs unless an adult prepares them fully first.

FAQs About Fruits That Start With I

What fruit starts with the letter I?

Fruits that start with I include Indian gooseberry, ice apple, ilama, imbe, Indian fig, Indian jujube, Illawarra plum, inga fruit, icaco, ita palm fruit, Ichang papeda and Indian sherbet berry.

What is the most common fruit beginning with I?

In the UK, Indian gooseberry is one of the more common I fruits, especially in South Asian shops where it may be sold fresh, frozen, dried, pickled or powdered. Indian fig, better known as prickly pear, is also fairly obtainable in some areas.

Is Indian gooseberry the same as amla?

Yes. Indian gooseberry is commonly called amla. It is a sharp, sour fruit used in pickles, chutneys, drinks, sweets and powders.

Is ice apple a real fruit?

Yes. Ice apple is the jelly-like fruit of the palmyra palm. It is eaten fresh in parts of Asia and may sometimes be found canned or jarred in specialist food shops.

What fruit starting with I tastes like ice cream?

Inga fruit is often called ice cream bean because the soft white pulp inside the pod can have a sweet, vanilla-like flavour. It is usually eaten fresh from the pod where it grows.

Can you buy fruits that start with I in UK supermarkets?

Some are possible to find, but not all. Prickly pear, also called Indian fig, appears in some larger supermarkets and markets. Indian gooseberry and Indian jujube are more commonly found in specialist Asian grocers or online.

Are all fruits beginning with I sweet?

No. Some are sweet, such as ilama and inga fruit, while others are sour or sharp, such as Indian gooseberry and Ichang papeda. Several are best used in chutneys, preserves or drinks rather than eaten like an apple.

What is a good I fruit for a food quiz?

Indian gooseberry is a strong answer because it is well known by two names: Indian gooseberry and amla. For a more unusual quiz answer, try ice apple, imbe, ilama or icaco.