Looking for fruits that start with S? This handy alphabet foods guide covers the everyday favourites you will spot in UK supermarkets, plus a few unusual fruits you may find in world food shops, markets or specialist greengrocers.

Some are sweet and familiar, like strawberries and satsumas. Others, such as salak, soursop and sapodilla, are a little more adventurous. You will also find practical tips on how to buy them, store them, use them up and avoid wasting money.

Fruits That Start With S: Quick List

Here is a quick A-Z style list of fruit beginning with S before we dig into the details.

• Strawberry
• Satsuma
• Sultana
• Sweet cherry
• Sour cherry
• Sloe
• Starfruit
• Sharon fruit
• Sugar apple
• Sweetsop
• Soursop
• Sapodilla
• Salak
• Snake fruit
• Santol
• Star apple
• Strawberry guava
• Surinam cherry
• Serviceberry
• Sea buckthorn berry
• Salmonberry
• Strawberry tree fruit
• Safou
• Soncoya
• Spanish lime
• Sweet lime
• Seville orange
• Shaddock
• Sand pear
• Silverberry

Common Fruits That Start With S

These are the S fruits you are most likely to see in UK supermarkets, discount shops, farm shops and freezer aisles.

Strawberry

Strawberries are probably the best-known fruit that starts with S. They are juicy, fragrant and at their best during the British summer, though you can buy them year-round.

They work in puddings, smoothies, lunchboxes, salads, porridge, jam and simple snacks. If you are trying to keep costs down, buy them when they are in season, look for yellow-sticker punnets, or use frozen strawberries for cooking and blending.

Money-saving tip: soft strawberries can be chopped and frozen for smoothies, stirred into overnight oats, or simmered with a little sugar to make a quick sauce for pancakes or yoghurt.

Satsuma

Satsumas are small, easy-peel citrus fruits with a sweet, bright flavour. They are especially popular in the colder months and are ideal for packed lunches because they are tidy, portable and child-friendly.

They are usually seedless or nearly seedless, making them easier to eat than some other citrus fruits. The peel can also be used to add fragrance to homemade marmalade, mulled drinks or citrus sugar.

Sultana

A sultana is a dried grape, usually pale, sweet and softer than many raisins. It is not fresh fruit in the way an apple or plum is, but it still belongs on a list of fruits beginning with S because it comes from grapes.

Sultanas are useful for budget baking because a small handful adds sweetness to flapjacks, fruit cakes, rock buns, bread pudding and porridge. They are shelf-stable too, which helps cut down on waste.

Sweet Cherry

Sweet cherries are glossy, juicy stone fruits with a rich summer flavour. In the UK they can be pricey when out of season, so they are often best treated as a seasonal treat.

Fresh sweet cherries are lovely eaten as they are, but they also work in crumbles, compotes and chocolate desserts. Frozen cherries are often better value for baking and smoothies.

Food safety note: cherry stones should not be chewed or swallowed deliberately. Remove stones before serving cherries to young children.

Sour Cherry

Sour cherries, also called tart cherries, are sharper than sweet cherries and are often used for cooking. They are brilliant in pies, jams, sauces and compotes because their acidity balances sugar well.

You may find them dried, frozen, jarred or tinned rather than fresh. They are a useful cupboard ingredient for quick desserts, especially with yoghurt, rice pudding or pancakes.

Seville Orange

Seville oranges are bitter oranges, famous for marmalade. They are not usually eaten raw because they are very sharp and bitter, but their flavour is excellent once cooked with sugar.

In the UK, Seville oranges are usually available for a short season in winter. If you spot them reduced, they can be frozen whole or sliced, ready for marmalade-making later.

Sweet Lime

Sweet lime is a mild citrus fruit with gentle acidity. It is more common in South Asian shops than standard UK supermarkets and is often juiced.

Its flavour is softer than lemon or regular lime, so it is refreshing rather than sharp. Try it in drinks, fruit salads or squeezed over spicy snacks.

Sharon Fruit

Sharon fruit is a type of persimmon. It has smooth orange skin, sweet flesh and no large central stone. Unlike some persimmons, Sharon fruit can usually be eaten while still firm.

Slice it into salads, eat it like an apple, add it to yoghurt, or roast wedges with a little honey and cinnamon. It often appears in supermarkets during autumn and winter.

More Unusual Fruits Beginning With S

If you enjoy trying something different, these S fruits are worth looking for in international food shops, specialist markets or when travelling.

Starfruit

Starfruit, also called carambola, is a crisp, juicy tropical fruit. When sliced across, it forms little star shapes, which makes it popular for decorating fruit platters and drinks.

The flavour can range from lightly sweet to quite tangy. Choose yellow fruit with only a little green if you want a sweeter taste.

Important note: starfruit is not suitable for everyone, particularly people with kidney disease. Anyone with kidney problems should avoid it unless advised otherwise by a medical professional.

Sugar Apple

Sugar apple is a tropical fruit with knobbly green skin and creamy, sweet flesh. It is related to custard apple and cherimoya, and the texture is soft and pudding-like when ripe.

To eat it, pull the fruit apart and scoop out the flesh, avoiding the hard black seeds. It is best eaten fresh and chilled.

Sweetsop

Sweetsop is another name often used for sugar apple, though naming can vary by region. It is fragrant, sweet and custardy, with segments of soft flesh around shiny black seeds.

If you buy one, let it ripen at room temperature until it gives slightly when pressed. Once ripe, eat it soon, as it does not keep for long.

Soursop

Soursop is a large green tropical fruit with soft, white, fibrous flesh. Its flavour is often described as a mix of citrus, pineapple and strawberry, with a creamy texture.

It is commonly used in juices, smoothies, ice creams and desserts. Fresh soursop can be hard to find in the UK, but frozen pulp may be available in some Caribbean, African, Asian or Latin American food shops.

Sapodilla

Sapodilla is a brown-skinned tropical fruit with grainy, very sweet flesh. Its flavour is often compared to caramel, brown sugar or pear.

It should be eaten when soft. An unripe sapodilla can be unpleasantly astringent, so give it time to ripen on the counter. Cut it open and remove the seeds before eating.

Salak

Salak is also known as snake fruit because of its reddish-brown scaly skin. Inside, the pale segments are crisp and can taste sweet, sharp and slightly nutty.

It is popular in parts of Southeast Asia and sometimes appears in specialist shops. Peel away the skin and remove any hard seeds before eating.

Snake Fruit

Snake fruit is the common English name for salak, but it is worth listing separately because many people know it by this name. The skin looks dramatic, yet it peels away more easily than you might expect.

It is a good fruit to try if you like crisp textures and sweet-sour flavours rather than very soft tropical fruits.

Santol

Santol is a tropical fruit grown in Southeast Asia. It has a thick skin and juicy segments inside, with a flavour that can be sweet, sour or somewhere in between.

It is often eaten fresh, cooked into preserves or used in savoury dishes in countries where it grows. The seeds should not be swallowed.

Star Apple

Star apple is a tropical fruit with smooth skin and soft, sweet flesh. When cut open, the seed pattern can look star-like, which gives the fruit its name.

The flesh can be purple or pale depending on the variety. It is usually eaten fresh with a spoon. Avoid the skin and seeds.

Strawberry Guava

Strawberry guava is a small round fruit with a red or yellow skin, depending on the type. It has a sweet, aromatic flavour with hints of strawberry and tropical guava.

It can be eaten fresh, blended into drinks, or cooked into jams and jellies. Like many guavas, it may contain small hard seeds.

Surinam Cherry

Surinam cherry is a small ribbed fruit that turns red to deep purple when ripe. It has a bold flavour that can be sweet, tart and resinous.

Some people love it fresh, while others prefer it cooked into jams, sauces or syrups. The seeds are not eaten.

Spanish Lime

Spanish lime, also called mamoncillo or genip, is a small green fruit with a thin skin and juicy flesh around a large seed. Despite the name, it is not a true lime.

The flavour is sweet-tart and refreshing. It is usually eaten by cracking the skin and sucking the pulp from the seed. Take care with the large seed, especially around children.

Soncoya

Soncoya is a tropical fruit related to soursop and sugar apple. It has a rough skin and aromatic orange-yellow flesh.

It is not common in the UK, but it belongs on a comprehensive list of fruits that start with S. In places where it grows, it may be eaten fresh or used in drinks.

Safou

Safou is sometimes called the African pear, though it is not the same as the pears commonly sold in UK shops. It is a fatty fruit that is often softened by heating before eating.

Rather than being sugary-sweet, safou has a rich, savoury quality. It is usually boiled, roasted or warmed and served with starchy foods.

Shaddock

Shaddock is an old name for pomelo, one of the largest citrus fruits. It has thick peel and juicy segments that can be sweet, floral or mildly bitter.

Pomelo is lovely in fruit salads, Asian-style salads and desserts. The thick peel means you pay for a fair bit of waste, so compare prices before buying.

Wild, Garden and Foraged S Fruits

Some fruits beginning with S grow in gardens, hedgerows or cooler climates. Only forage if you are completely confident about identification, and avoid picking from polluted roadsides or sprayed areas.

Sloe

Sloes are the small blue-black fruits of the blackthorn bush. They are very sharp and tannic raw, so they are normally used to make sloe gin, jellies, syrups or sauces.

They are usually picked in autumn. Many people freeze them before using, which helps split the skins and makes them easier to infuse or cook.

Serviceberry

Serviceberries are small purple-red fruits from Amelanchier trees and shrubs. They are also known as juneberries in some places.

When ripe, they can taste a little like blueberry, almond and cherry. They may be eaten fresh, baked into pies or made into jam, but correct identification is essential if foraging.

Sea Buckthorn Berry

Sea buckthorn berries are small, bright orange and very sharp. They grow on thorny shrubs and are used in juices, syrups, curds, sauces and preserves.

Because they are so tart, they usually need sweetening. They can be messy to harvest, so gloves are sensible if picking from your own garden or an approved area.

Salmonberry

Salmonberries are related to raspberries and blackberries. They range from yellow-orange to red and have a mild, juicy flavour.

They are native to parts of North America and are not a standard UK supermarket fruit, but they are edible and sometimes grown ornamentally.

Strawberry Tree Fruit

The strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, produces round red fruits that look a little like bobbly strawberries. The flavour is mild and can be slightly grainy.

They can be eaten when fully ripe, though many people prefer them cooked into jams or liqueurs. As with all garden fruits, only eat them if you are certain of the plant.

Sand Pear

Sand pear is a name sometimes used for Asian pear types with crisp, juicy flesh. These pears are rounder and crunchier than many European pears.

They are refreshing eaten raw and work well in slaws, salads and lunchboxes. They can be more expensive than standard pears, so buy when on offer.

Silverberry

Silverberry refers to fruits from some Elaeagnus plants. The small berries can be edible when ripe, with a sweet-tart taste, though quality varies.

This is one for knowledgeable growers and foragers rather than casual snacking. Do not eat unknown berries from ornamental shrubs without proper identification.

Fruits That Start With S: At-a-Glance Table

How to Save Money on S Fruits

Fruit prices can jump around, especially with imported and out-of-season produce. A few simple habits make a big difference.

• Buy British strawberries in season: they are usually better value and better tasting in summer.
• Use frozen fruit: frozen strawberries, cherries and smoothie mixes are often cheaper than fresh and reduce waste.
• Check world food shops: for fruits such as soursop pulp, sweet lime, sapodilla or guava products.
• Compare loose and packaged prices: satsumas and citrus nets can be good value, but loose fruit may be cheaper if you only need a few.
• Use the reduced shelf wisely: soft fruit with a short date is perfect for compote, jam, smoothies and baking.
• Store fruit properly: berries spoil quickly if left damp, while citrus generally lasts longer in a cool place or fridge drawer.
• Do not overbuy exotic fruit: try one or two pieces first, especially if the fruit is unfamiliar or expensive.

Easy Ways to Use Up Fruits Beginning With S

If you have fruit to use before it turns, do not let it sit sadly in the fruit bowl. Most S fruits can be turned into something quick.

• Strawberries: make a quick sauce with sugar and lemon juice, or freeze for smoothies.
• Satsumas: add segments to salads, jelly, fruit bowls or homemade ice lollies.
• Sultanas: soak in tea or orange juice before adding to cakes and buns.
• Sweet cherries: roast with a little sugar and serve with yoghurt or ice cream.
• Sour cherries: simmer into a sharp compote for porridge or pancakes.
• Sharon fruit: slice into winter salads with nuts and cheese.
• Starfruit: use thin slices to brighten up a fruit platter.
• Sloes: freeze until you have enough for sloe gin or jelly.

Simple Storage Advice

Good storage helps fruit last longer, which is one of the easiest ways to save money.

• Berries: keep strawberries dry and refrigerated. Wash just before eating, not before storing.
• Citrus: satsumas, sweet limes and Seville oranges keep well in a cool place, but last longer in the fridge.
• Dried fruit: keep sultanas in an airtight container in a cool cupboard.
• Cherries: refrigerate and eat within a few days. Wash just before use.
• Tropical fruit: ripen fruits such as sapodilla, sugar apple and Sharon fruit at room temperature, then chill once ripe if needed.
• Prepared fruit: once cut, store fruit covered in the fridge and eat promptly.

Which S Fruits Are Best for Children?

For children, the easiest fruits that start with S are usually strawberries, satsumas, sultanas and sweet cherries with the stones removed. Sharon fruit can also be a good option because it is sweet, soft and easy to slice.

Take care with small round fruits, large seeds and stones, especially for younger children. Cut fruit into age-appropriate pieces and remove inedible seeds or stones where needed.

S Fruits to Treat with Caution

Most common S fruits are straightforward, but a few need care.

• Starfruit: avoid if you have kidney disease unless a medical professional says otherwise.
• Sloes: very unpleasant raw and usually cooked or infused.
• Cherries: do not chew the stones; remove stones for young children.
• Foraged berries: only eat wild fruit if you are completely sure what it is.
• Unknown ornamental berries: many garden berries are not edible, even if they look tempting.

FAQs About Fruits That Start With S

What is the most common fruit that starts with S?

Strawberry is probably the most common and recognisable fruit that starts with S, especially in the UK. Satsumas are another very common choice, particularly in winter.

What citrus fruits start with S?

Citrus fruits beginning with S include satsuma, Seville orange, sweet lime and shaddock, which is an old name for pomelo.

Is a sultana a fruit?

A sultana is a dried grape, so it comes from a fruit. It is usually treated as dried fruit and is commonly used in baking, cereals and snacks.

What exotic fruits start with S?

Exotic fruits that start with S include soursop, sapodilla, salak, santol, star apple, sugar apple, soncoya, safou and Spanish lime.

Are strawberries technically berries?

Botanically, strawberries are not true berries. In everyday cooking and shopping, though, they are treated as berries and are absolutely fine to include in a fruit list.

Can you eat sloes raw?

Sloes are edible, but they are extremely sharp and tannic when raw, so most people do not enjoy them straight from the bush. They are usually used for sloe gin, jellies, syrups and cooked preserves.

Which fruits that start with S are good for baking?

Strawberries, sultanas, sweet cherries, sour cherries and Sharon fruit are all useful for baking. Sultanas are especially handy because they are cheap, long-lasting and easy to keep in the cupboard.

What is the best budget-friendly S fruit?

Satsumas are often good value when in season, while sultanas are one of the cheapest store cupboard fruits for baking. For strawberries and cherries, frozen versions are usually better value outside peak season.

What fruit starting with S is best for a school lunchbox?

Satsumas are ideal because they are easy to peel and travel well. Strawberries, sultanas and sliced Sharon fruit can also work nicely, depending on how the lunchbox is packed.

What should I do with overripe strawberries?

Overripe strawberries can be frozen, blended into smoothies, cooked into compote, stirred through yoghurt, added to pancake batter or turned into a quick jam-style sauce.