What are some fruits that start with the letter ‘e’? There are some really great fruits beginning with E, and the first might be a surprise to most!
In this post, we will look at all the fruits that start with E, (the letter E), as well as their health benefits, where they might come from, what they look or taste like, and how to eat them, including some recipes.
We also have a post on Vegetables that Start with E and Fruits and Vegetables that Start with E. (You can also find more fruits at List of Fruits from A-Z or more fruit lists by letters of the alphabet at the end of the post.)
Let’s look at the fruits that start with E!
(By the way, these are great foods for a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet or WFPBNO diet.)
Fruits that Start with E
Here’s a quick video of some of the fruits found in this post.
Eggplant
The first of the foods that start with E, is probably a surprise to most. That’s because most people might think that an Eggplant is actually a vegetable. But as mentioned in Vegetables Beginning with the Letter E, eggplants are actually fruits and not vegetables!
Eggplants are known as aubergines and belong to the nightshade plant family. Eggplants can be red, green, or black, but the most common you have probably seen is deep purple.
Eggplant Benefits
- Eggplants are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber.
- They are also high in antioxidants, which are very good for us and can even help fight chronic diseases.
- The purple color of eggplants comes from the anthocyanins, a pigment that’s an antioxidant.
- Eggplants have been found to possibly improve the heart by lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in animals.
- Eggplants might help with weight loss since they are low in calories and high in fiber, which helps us to feel fuller.
- Eggplants have a compound called SRG that is found in nightshade plants, which might help to fight cancer.
See more: Eggplant health benefits
How to Eat Eggplant
- Eggplant can be cut into round pieces or strips and baked.
- They can be added to curries.
- It can be cooked and then mashed into a dip. Baba Ghanoush uses mashed eggplant.
- They can be roasted in the oven with olive oil on top.
- Eggplant can be used in place of noodles in lasagna.
- It can be stir-fried.
- Eggplant can be placed on pizza.
Eggplant Recipes
- Baba Ghanoush
- Eggplant Parmesan
- Ratatouille
Elderberry
Another on the list of fruits beginning with the letter E, one you may not have heard of, is elderberry. Elderberry is several different variants of the Sambucus tree. It’s a plant flowering plant in the Adoxaceae family.
The berries are very tart and need to be cooked to be eaten. The flowers of the elderberry are also edible and good for the health.
Elderberry is a medicinal plant, and one of the most used in the world. In history, it was used by the Egyptians for their skin and to heal burns.
Native Americans also used it to treat infections. In modern times it’s used to treat cold and flu symptoms.
Health Benefits of Elderberry
- High in nutrients. 100 grams of berries give 60% RDI of Vitamin C
- High in antioxidants. One study looking at 15 different types of berries and another study looking at different wines, found elderberry to be one of the most effective antioxidants. One study found that one hour after drinking elderberry juice, participants had higher antioxidant levels. Bear in mind that the processing of elderberries into juices or heating may reduce antioxidant levels.
- Reduce inflammation. A study in rats found elderberry reduced inflammation and oxidative tissue damage.
- Help with cold and flu symptoms. Elderberry extract has been shown to reduce the length of influenza and colds and to reduce symptoms.
- May improve heart health. Studies have shown elderberry juice to decrease fat in the blood and reduce cholesterol. Other studies have shown a positive effect on blood sugar levels.
- Have phenolic acids. These are powerful antioxidants.
- Has flavanols. They contain the antioxidant flavanols quercetin, isorhamnetin and kaempferol. The flowers contain up to 10 times more flavanols than the berries.
- High in anthocyanins. This is the antioxidant that gives the elderberries their dark purple color.
- Fights cancer. Test tube studies have shown some elderberries to have cancer-fighting properties.
- May improve symptoms of sinusitis and bronchitis. Elderberries have been shown to prevent bacteria growth.
- Might help with depression. Rats given elderberry extract showed increased performance and mood indicators.
- Improve the immune system. Elderberry polyphenols increased the number of white blood cells in rats.
Ways to Eat Elderberry
You can’t usually find elderberries in supermarkets, since demand is very low. You might be lucky to find some growing in the wild, but be cautious and smart and consult with an expert before consuming anything you find.
Some species are toxic before they are ripe. Only pick them after they are dark-colored, plump, and soft. Here are some ways to eat elderberry.
- Elderberry Pie
- Elderberry Jam and Jelly
- Elderberry Syrup
- Elderberry Wine
- The elderberry flowers can be eaten raw or put into teas.
Elderberry Recipes
Here’s a recipe for Homemade Elderberry Syrup. Should you happen to have some elderberries to use.
Evergreen Huckleberry
The next on the list of fruits that start with E is the Evergreen Huckleberry. The Evergreen Huckleberry is s plant with berries and leaves that can be eaten. It looks very similar to the previous elderberry fruit.
They are found in the Northwest United States and were historically consumed by Native American tribes. The berries are a deep blue or purple color. Evergreen Huckleberries are very good and people would often travel great distances for them.
The Evergreen Huckleberry fruit is usually eaten by itself, made into jam, or cooked with.
Evergreen Huckleberry Benefits
- Both the Evergreen Huckleberry fruit and leaves are high in Vitamin A, B and C
- The leaves lower blood sugar levels. Huckleberry leaf tea may be good for diabetes as it decreases blood sugar levels.
- The leaves contain quinic acid which helps inhibit uric acid formation and is good for gout
- Evergreen Huckleberry tea helps with glycosuria and hyperglycemia
- High in antioxidants
- Help with blood circulation
- Have antiseptic and astringent properties that might help urinary problems
How to Eat Evergreen Huckleberry
The Evergreen Huckleberry berries are sweet and tasty and can be eaten by themselves. They can also be used in making jams, preserves, or pies. The leaves are used in making tea.
Evergreen Huckleberry Recipes
You can find some Huckleberry Pie recipes below
Here are some other Evergreen Huckleberry recipes:
Egg Fruit
The Egg Fruit is the common term used for Canistels, which are native to Southern Mexico. Egg fruits are fruits found in subtropical or tropical climates.
They are an orange-yellow color and a bulb-like shape. They are called Egg Fruit because their outside is yellow colored like an egg yolk and their inside texture resembles that of a hard-boiled egg yolk.
They are grown mainly in Central America, Southern Mexico and the Caribbean.
Benefits of Egg Fruit
- Helps vision and the immune system. Egg fruits are high in Vitamin A from the pigment in the flesh.
- Helps bone strength. They are high in calcium and phosphorous.
- Contains iron
How to Eat Egg Fruit
Egg fruits can be eaten by themselves as a fruit, or with salt or lemon juice added. They can be put on salads or spread on toast.
The Egg Fruit can be used in dishes as a sugar substitute, due to its sweet nature. It can also be blended with almond milk or oak milk to make a plant-based smoothie.
Entawak
The final fruit that starts with E, the Entawak fruit is also called the mentawa. The Entawak grows in tropical climates such as Indonesia. It is distantly related to the jack fruit.
Entawak is a yellow or brown round fruit, usually about 3-4 inches. The taste of the inside is sweet in flavor and tastes like squash or pumpkin. Also, just like a pumpkin, the seeds can be roasted and eaten.
Entawak Benefits
- Contains vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber
- Entawak seeds are high in riboflavin and thiamin
- May have anticancer benefits
- Detoxifies the body
How to Eat Entawak
Entawak is usually eaten raw. The seeds can be roasted and then eaten.
Read more about the Mentawa or Entawak fruit.
Emu Apple
Another of the fruits that start with E, is the Emu Apple. The Emu Apple fruit is found in Australia in the Outback woodlands.
The tree that bears the fruit is a small to medium-sized tree that can grow 3-10 meters high. The tree produces a small and edible ball-shaped fruit of only about 2-4 cm, about the size of a golf ball or nectarine, with a large seed in the center.
The color of the Emu Apple is a reddish-purple with lighter specks.
How to Eat Emu Apple
Emu Apple is usually eaten raw and can be also cooked. The taste is like that of a sour plum. The best thing to do is to allow it to ripen for a couple of days after it falls from the tree. Some people even recommend burying it for a couple of days.
Benefits of Emu Apple
- High in Vitamin C
Elephant Apple
A much lesser-known fruit beginning with E is the Elephant Apple. The Elephant Apple is a common name for the Chalta, which grows mostly in Southeast Asia and India.
It’s called the Elephant Apple since in the wild it is commonly consumed by elephants, as well as other wildlife.
The collection of the Elephant Apple from the main areas of the forest is not allowed, since it is food for the animals. Its sale commercially is also not allowed in order to prevent the harvesting of the fruit from the animals.
The fruit is large, roundish and a green-yellow color.
How to Eat Elephant Apple
Elephant Apple fruit is commonly used to flavor foods and cuisines. It’s also made into jams, curries, pickled, and put in juices. Some consume them raw.
It has a sour taste like a green apple and a pleasant smell. It’s also said to have a flavor like garlic or onion to it as well. The Elephant Apple is also mixed with spices and coconut to make chutneys.
Benefits of Elephant Apple
- High in vitamin B, C, E and potassium.
- Contains antioxidants
- Anticancer properties
- Antibacterial
- High in phytochemicals and flavonoids
- Mood and memory enhancing
- Detoxifies the body
- Good for the kidneys. Ancient Indian researchers touted it as being a medicine for kidney problems.
- Tannin helps with stomach issues.
- Potassium helps to lower blood pressure.
- Vitamin A helps with eyesight.
Emu Berry
Much like the Emu Apple, the Emu Berry is also native to Australia. The Emu Berry is a tiny berry, two-lobed berry with a sweet taste.
It grows on a shrub that is between 1-3 meters tall.
How to Eat Emu Berry
The emu berry has a nice taste. It can be boiled to make drinks. The entire plant is boiled by the natives and used for medicinal purposes.
Benefits of Emu Berry
Emu Berry is used in many ways by the natives dating back many years.
- High in Calcium
- High in Iron
- High in Fiber
- Contains some Vitamin C
- Eating the entire plant is known to help with diarrhea, scabies, fatigue, headache and boils.
- The entire plant is boiled in order to help with colds
- Antiulcer properties
- Helps with pain
Related Questions
What are foods that start with the letter E?
Some foods that start with the letter E are eggplant, endive, and earth nuts.
You can find a list of all the healthy and plant-based foods beginning with the letter E at Healthy Foods that Start with the Letter E.
What is a vegetable starting with E?
A vegetable starting with E is endive. Endive is a leafy green vegetable with a slightly bitter taste.
You can find a complete list of vegetables that start with E at Vegetables Beginning with the Letter E.
Is an eggplant a fruit?
Eggplant is actually a fruit. Although most people think that eggplant is a vegetable, it is not a vegetable but is actually a fruit instead!
What are the fruits that start with E?
All the fruits that start with E are:
- Eggplant
- Elderberry
- Evergreen Huckleberry
- Egg Fruit
- Entawak
- Emu Apple
- Elephant Apple
- Emu Berry
- List of Fruits from A-Z (in Alphabetical Order)
- Fruits that Start with A
- Fruits That Start with B
- Fruits that Start with C
- Fruits that Start with D
- Fruits that Start With E
- Fruits that Start with F
- Fruits that Start with G
- Fruits that Start with I
- Fruits that Start with M
- Fruits that Start with R
- Fruits that Start with S
- Fruits that Start with W
- Fruits that Start with X
- Fruits that Start with Y
- Fruits that Start with Z
- 100 Fruit Names (Most Popular Fruits in the World)
- Top 50 Fruits Names List
- Top 20 Fruit Names
- Fruits Lists A-Z
- List of Berries A-Z
- Berries Lists A-Z
Finals Thoughts on Fruits that Start with E
Hopefully, you found some interesting fruits that start with E! There was a lot to learn.
Are there any other fruits that start with E that were missed? Or do you like to eat any of these fruits that start with E? Comment below!
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Lance has been passionate about the plant-based diet and we have been following a whole food plant-based diet for over 5 years. We focus on health, natural healing, weight management, animal rights, and the health of the planet and environment by focusing on whole plant-based foods and sustainable practices.
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