calamondin / kalamansi

these grape sized, cross between a kumquat and mandarin are tart with a sweet skin. found at 99 ranch market irvine ca. photo by chris mathews

ca

yellow strawberry guava

these guys were highly fragrant with a mildly sweet guava flavor. found on the tree in mission viejo ca. photo by chris mathews.

pithecellobium dulce / manila tamarind / guamuchil

chestnut / coconut type texture with a hint of sweet and hint of savory flavor. they get sweeter when slightly toasted. found on the tree mission viejo ca. photo by chris mathews

mamey sapote

this fruit is delicious, they taste like pumpkin pie with a hint of rootbeer with a custard flesh. found at northgate market santa ana ca. photo by chris mathews

blue agave

uncooked agave is similar to jicama once its cooked it is sweet as sugar with a melting stringy flesh . found at the jose cuervo factory tequila, mexico. photos by chris mathews

tejocote

these guys smelled great(fruity bubblegum) but tasted like a flavorless crab apple. they are used mainly in a mexican drink called ponche. found at northgate market santa ana ca. photo by chris mathews

xoconostle

these are like the sour cousins of the prickly pear pronounced (cho-co-noh-s-tle) too bitter to eat fresh they are mainly used in salsa, soups, jellies, and traditional candies. found at northgate market santa ana ca. photo by chris mathews.

water caltrop

aquatic fruit nut type thing. underneath the hard bull horn shell they have a dry crumbly white flesh. after being boiled they tasted like dried powdered oysters- found at 99 ranch market photo by chris mathews

cherum

this new variety cherry /plum hybrid has a sweet pluot type flavor. found at gelsons irvine ca. photo by chris mathews

persimmon (hachiya)

delicious sweet spiced flavor with a slimy juicy stringy flesh, this varity must be extremely soft to eat. found at zion market irvine ca. photo by chris mathews