Looking for fruits that start with N? You are in the right place. Some are easy to find in UK supermarkets, such as nectarines and navel oranges, while others are more likely to pop up in international food shops, farmers’ markets or on holiday menus.

This guide covers familiar favourites, tropical fruits, citrus varieties and a few lesser-known edible fruits beginning with N. You will also find practical tips on flavour, how to use them, and how to avoid wasting money when trying something new.

Quick List of Fruits That Start With N

Here is a quick look at some of the best-known fruits beginning with the letter N:

• Nectarine
• Nashi pear
• Navel orange
• Naartjie
• Nagami kumquat
• Nance
• Naranjilla
• Natal plum
• Noni
• Nutmeg fruit
• Neem fruit
• Nipa palm fruit
• Nannyberry
• Northern hackberry
• Nam Dok Mai mango
• Newtown Pippin apple
• Norfolk Royal apple
• Napoleon cherry
• Netted melon
• Nungu
• Nonda plum
• Native currant
• Nere fruit
• Nonda fruit
• Njangsa fruit

Fruits That Start With N: Full Guide

1. Nectarine

Nectarines are one of the easiest N fruits to find in the UK, especially during the warmer months. They are closely related to peaches but have smooth, glossy skin rather than fuzzy skin.

The flesh can be yellow or white, with a sweet, fragrant flavour when ripe. A ripe nectarine should give slightly when pressed near the stem and smell fruity, not sharp or fermented.

Best uses: eat fresh, slice into yoghurt, bake into crumbles, grill with a little honey, or add to salads with rocket and feta.

Money-saving tip: if nectarines are reduced because they are soft, chop and freeze them for smoothies or cook them down into a quick compote.

2. Nashi Pear

Nashi pears are also known as Asian pears, apple pears or Japanese pears. They look a little like round apples but have the crisp, juicy texture of a pear.

They are refreshing, lightly sweet and excellent served chilled. Unlike many European pears, nashi pears stay fairly crisp even when ripe.

Best uses: lunchboxes, fruit salads, slaws, cheese boards, or thinly sliced with peanut butter.

Buying tip: look for fruits that feel heavy for their size. Avoid ones with deep bruises, as the crisp flesh marks easily.

3. Navel Orange

Navel oranges are seedless, easy to peel and naturally sweet. They get their name from the small navel-like formation at one end of the fruit.

They are a popular eating orange rather than a juicing orange, although you can still squeeze them. The flavour is bright and sweet with a gentle tang.

Best uses: eat fresh, add segments to salads, use zest in cakes, or slice into fruit platters.

Reduced grub idea: if you have oranges past their best, zest them before juicing. Freeze the zest in a small tub for baking.

4. Naartjie

Naartjie is a South African name often used for small, easy-peeling citrus fruits such as mandarins or tangerines. You may see the term in South African shops or recipes.

They are sweet, fragrant and handy for packed lunches because they peel easily and usually separate into neat segments.

Best uses: snacking, citrus salads, marmalade, lunchboxes and desserts.

Storage tip: keep them in the fridge if you will not eat them within a couple of days, as small citrus fruits can soften quickly in a warm kitchen.

5. Nagami Kumquat

Nagami kumquats are small oval citrus fruits. Unlike oranges and lemons, the peel is usually eaten along with the flesh. The skin is sweet while the inside is tart, giving a sharp-sweet bite.

They are not as common as standard oranges in UK supermarkets, but you may find them in specialist greengrocers or Asian food shops.

Best uses: slice into salads, simmer into marmalade, use as a cocktail garnish, or cook with sugar to make candied kumquats.

Practical tip: roll them gently between your fingers before eating to release the oils in the peel and soften the fruit slightly.

6. Nance

Nance is a small yellow to orange fruit found in parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean. It has a strong aroma and a flavour that can be sweet, tart and slightly cheesy or fermented, depending on ripeness.

It is not a common fresh fruit in the UK, but preserved nance may appear in jars or syrups in Latin American shops.

Best uses: drinks, syrups, desserts, preserves and ice creams.

Try it if: you enjoy bold tropical flavours and do not mind fruit with a distinctive smell.

7. Naranjilla

Naranjilla means little orange in Spanish, but it is not actually an orange. It is a tropical fruit related to the tomato and aubergine family. The outside is orange, while the inside is greenish and juicy.

The flavour is tart, citrusy and tropical, often compared with a mix of lime, pineapple and rhubarb.

Best uses: juices, smoothies, sauces, sorbets and desserts.

UK availability: fresh naranjilla is rare here, but frozen pulp may be available from some Latin American suppliers.

8. Natal Plum

Natal plum is a red fruit from the shrub Carissa macrocarpa. It has a sweet-tart flavour and is often used in jams, jellies and sauces.

Although the ripe fruit is edible, other parts of the plant are not eaten. If you grow or forage any unusual fruit, accurate identification is essential.

Best uses: jam, chutney, compote and desserts.

Safety note: only eat ripe fruit from a plant you can confidently identify. Do not eat leaves, stems or unknown berries.

9. Noni

Noni is a tropical fruit from the tree Morinda citrifolia. It is pale green to yellowish when ripe and is famous for its very strong smell.

It has been used traditionally in parts of the Pacific and Southeast Asia, but its flavour is challenging. In the UK, you are more likely to see noni as a bottled juice than as a fresh fruit.

Best uses: juices and fermented drinks.

Practical advice: noni juice can be expensive. If you are buying it out of curiosity, choose a small bottle first rather than committing to a large one.

10. Nutmeg Fruit

Nutmeg is best known as a spice, but it comes from the seed of a fruit. The nutmeg fruit is yellowish and apricot-like in appearance. Inside, it contains the nutmeg seed and the red lacy covering known as mace.

The fleshy fruit is used in some countries to make jams, sweets and drinks. It is not a fruit you are likely to find fresh in a standard UK shop.

Best uses: preserves, drinks and sweets where available.

Interesting point: one fruit gives two well-known spices: nutmeg from the seed and mace from the aril around it.

11. Neem Fruit

Neem fruit grows on the neem tree and is small, oval and yellow when ripe. The flesh can be sweetish, but the seed is bitter.

Neem is better known for traditional uses and gardening products than as a mainstream eating fruit. It is not commonly sold fresh for eating in the UK.

Best uses: eaten locally in some regions when ripe, though it is not a common culinary fruit here.

Safety note: do not experiment with neem seeds, oils or extracts as food unless they are clearly sold for that purpose and used according to the label.

12. Nipa Palm Fruit

Nipa palm fruit comes from a palm that grows in coastal and mangrove areas of Southeast Asia. The fruit forms in a large cluster and contains translucent, jelly-like seeds.

The texture is often compared with young coconut or palm seed. It is sometimes sold preserved in syrup.

Best uses: shaved ice desserts, fruit cocktails, sweet drinks and puddings.

Where to look: try Southeast Asian shops, where it may be labelled as nipa palm seed or attap seed.

13. Nannyberry

Nannyberry is a wild fruit from a type of viburnum. The berries darken as they ripen and have a sweet, date-like flavour when fully mature.

They are better known in North America than in the UK. As with any wild berry, correct identification matters.

Best uses: jams, fruit leather, syrups and baked goods.

Foraging tip: never eat wild berries from a hedgerow or garden unless you are completely sure what they are.

14. Northern Hackberry

Northern hackberry produces small edible fruits with a thin sweet flesh around a hard seed. The flavour is mild and sweet, sometimes described as date-like.

It is not a supermarket fruit, but it is an interesting one for anyone learning about edible trees and unusual fruits.

Best uses: traditionally eaten fresh or dried, though the hard seed means there is not much flesh.

Good to know: this is more of a wild edible fruit than a practical everyday ingredient.

15. Nam Dok Mai Mango

Nam Dok Mai is a Thai mango variety prized for its fragrant, sweet flesh. It is often eaten ripe with sticky rice, but it can also be used in smoothies and desserts.

The skin is usually yellow when ripe, and the flesh is smooth rather than fibrous.

Best uses: mango sticky rice, smoothies, fruit salads, sorbet and puddings.

Buying tip: Asian supermarkets sometimes stock named mango varieties. They can cost more than standard mangoes, so buy one first to see if you like it.

16. Newtown Pippin Apple

Newtown Pippin is an old apple variety with a firm texture and a balanced sweet-sharp flavour. It is more likely to be found through specialist growers than in a regular supermarket multipack.

It stores well compared with many softer apples, which makes it useful for cooking and eating over time.

Best uses: pies, crumbles, apple sauce, lunchboxes and cheese boards.

Money-saving tip: when buying heritage apples, ask if the grower has cheaper marked fruit for cooking.

17. Norfolk Royal Apple

Norfolk Royal is a British apple variety with red-flushed skin and crisp flesh. It is another example of a fruit that starts with N because of its variety name.

It has a pleasant eating quality and can also be used in simple bakes.

Best uses: eating fresh, apple cakes, stewed apples and salads.

UK tip: look out for local apple days and farm shops in autumn if you want to try more British varieties without paying premium online prices.

18. Napoleon Cherry

Napoleon cherry, also known in some places as Royal Ann, is a sweet cherry variety with pale yellow to pinkish-red skin. It is often used for preserving and glacé cherries.

Fresh cherries can be expensive in the UK, so it is worth buying them in season when prices are better.

Best uses: eating fresh, jam, clafoutis, compote and preserving.

Waste-saving tip: freeze pitted cherries on a tray, then bag them up for smoothies and baking.

19. Netted Melon

Netted melon is a general term for melons with a rough, net-like skin. Cantaloupe and some muskmelons fall into this group.

The flesh is usually sweet, aromatic and orange or pale green, depending on the type.

Best uses: fruit salads, breakfast bowls, smoothies, sorbets and savoury salads with ham or feta.

Buying tip: a ripe melon often smells sweet at the stem end and feels heavy for its size.

20. Nungu

Nungu is a name used in parts of India for the tender fruit of the palmyra palm. The translucent jelly-like flesh is cooling, mild and refreshing.

It is similar in texture to some palm fruits used in Southeast Asian desserts. Fresh nungu is hard to find in the UK, but related palm seed products may be available preserved.

Best uses: chilled desserts, sweet drinks and fruit bowls.

Tip: if buying preserved palm fruit in syrup, use a little of the syrup to sweeten yoghurt or porridge so nothing is wasted.

21. Nonda Plum

Nonda plum is an Australian native fruit. Despite the name, it is not the same as the plums commonly sold in UK supermarkets. The fruit is edible when ripe and has been eaten by Indigenous Australians.

It is not something most UK shoppers will come across, but it belongs on a comprehensive list of fruits beginning with N.

Best uses: traditionally eaten fresh when ripe.

Good to know: some native fruits have very local uses and are not widely traded, so availability can be extremely limited.

22. Native Currant

Native currant can refer to several plants depending on the region, including Australian native species with small edible berries. The fruits are generally more of a bush food or wild food than a mainstream commercial fruit.

Best uses: jams, sauces and traditional local uses, depending on the exact species.

Safety note: common names can be confusing. Do not eat a berry based only on a shared name such as currant.

23. Nere Fruit

Nere, also known as African locust bean, produces pods containing seeds surrounded by a yellowish pulp. The seeds are often fermented to make a seasoning, while the pulp can also be eaten in some regions.

It is more important as a traditional food ingredient than as a sweet snack fruit.

Best uses: local drinks, pulp-based foods and fermented seed seasonings.

Where it fits: it is a good example of how the word fruit can include pods and edible pulps, not just juicy dessert fruits.

24. Nonda Fruit

Nonda fruit is sometimes used as another name connected with nonda plum. It is a hardy fruit from northern Australia and is usually discussed as a native edible rather than a cultivated supermarket fruit.

Best uses: eaten ripe in traditional settings.

Practical note: if you are researching unusual fruits for a school project, quiz or alphabet food list, nonda is a useful N fruit to remember.

25. Njangsa Fruit

Njangsa comes from the African tree Ricinodendron heudelotii. The seeds are used as a flavouring in parts of West and Central Africa. The fruit itself is not a common dessert fruit, but it is part of a food-producing tree.

Best uses: seeds used in soups, stews and sauces.

Good to know: this is one for serious food alphabet lists rather than a fruit bowl staple.

Handy Table of N Fruits

Best N Fruits for UK Shoppers

If you are shopping on a budget, some fruits beginning with N are far more practical than others. For everyday eating, these are the best choices:

• Nectarines: often available in punnets during summer and frequently reduced when ripe.
• Navel oranges: reliable, easy to peel and good value in nets.
• Nashi pears: more expensive than standard pears, but worth trying when on offer.
• Netted melons: good for stretching across breakfasts, snacks and puddings.
• Naartjies or mandarins: useful for lunchboxes and usually cheaper when bought in seasonal bags.

Money-Saving Tips When Buying Unusual Fruits

Trying unusual fruit can be fun, but it can also get pricey. A few simple habits help keep costs down:

• Buy one first. If you have never tried naranjilla pulp, noni juice or kumquats, start small.
• Check the reduced section. Soft nectarines, oranges and melons can often be rescued for smoothies, sauces and baking.
• Use every edible part. Citrus zest can be frozen, melon seeds can sometimes be roasted depending on the melon, and overripe fruit can be cooked.
• Shop seasonally. Nectarines and cherries are usually better value in their natural season.
• Visit international shops. Specialist shops may stock frozen fruit pulp, preserved palm fruits or named mango varieties at better prices than premium online retailers.
• Freeze leftovers. Chopped mango, nectarine, orange segments and melon can all be frozen for smoothies.

Simple Ways to Use Fruits Beginning With N

If you have bought a fruit starting with N and are not sure what to do with it, try one of these easy ideas:

• Nectarine crumble: use chopped ripe nectarines instead of apples or mix both together.
• Navel orange salad: combine orange segments with red onion, olives and a drizzle of olive oil.
• Nashi pear slaw: grate or slice nashi pear into cabbage slaw for crunch and sweetness.
• Kumquat marmalade: slice kumquats thinly and simmer with sugar to make a small-batch preserve.
• Melon breakfast bowl: serve netted melon with yoghurt, oats and a handful of seeds.
• Mango pudding: use Nam Dok Mai mango in rice pudding, chia pudding or homemade ice lollies.

Food Safety Notes for Unusual N Fruits

Most familiar fruits such as nectarines, navel oranges and nashi pears are straightforward: wash them, store them sensibly and discard anything mouldy or rotten. With unusual fruits, wild berries or plants from gardens, be more cautious.

• Only eat fruit that has been correctly identified.
• Do not assume every part of a fruiting plant is edible.
• Wash fresh fruit before eating or cutting.
• Keep cut fruit covered in the fridge and eat it within a couple of days.
• Follow the label on bottled juices, preserved fruit and imported products.
• If you are pregnant, immunocompromised or managing a medical condition, be cautious with unfamiliar juices, extracts or supplements.

FAQs About Fruits That Start With N

What is a common fruit that starts with N?

Nectarine is one of the most common fruits that starts with N. Navel oranges are another easy one to find in UK supermarkets.

What tropical fruits start with N?

Tropical fruits beginning with N include noni, naranjilla, nipa palm fruit, nutmeg fruit and Nam Dok Mai mango.

Is a nashi pear an apple or a pear?

A nashi pear is a type of pear, although it looks round like an apple and has a crisp texture. It is often called an Asian pear or apple pear.

Are nectarines and peaches the same fruit?

They are very closely related, but they are not exactly the same. Nectarines have smooth skin, while peaches have fuzzy skin. Their flavour and uses are similar.

Which N fruits are best for lunchboxes?

Navel oranges, naartjies, nectarines and nashi pears are all good lunchbox fruits. For younger children, cut fruit into suitable pieces and remove stones or seeds where needed.

Can you eat kumquat peel?

Yes, kumquat peel is usually eaten. In fact, the peel is the sweeter part, while the flesh inside is sharper and more tart.

What fruit that starts with N is best for smoothies?

Nectarines, navel oranges, nashi pears, netted melon and Nam Dok Mai mango all work well in smoothies. Frozen chopped fruit is useful for a thicker texture.

Are there any British fruits that start with N?

There are British fruit varieties that start with N, such as Norfolk Royal apple. You may also find heritage apple varieties and local cultivars with names beginning with N at orchards and farm shops.

What is the strangest fruit that starts with N?

Noni is often considered one of the strangest because of its strong smell and unusual flavour. Nipa palm fruit is also interesting because of its translucent, jelly-like texture.

What is the cheapest fruit beginning with N?

In the UK, navel oranges and nectarines are usually among the cheapest N fruits when bought in season or on offer. Reduced nectarines can be especially good value if you use them quickly or freeze them.