Kiwi-Like Fruits - The Definitive Guide

Kiwis are quite unique, but there are some lookalikes and some fruits that taste very similar to kiwis. If you’ve found a fruit that reminds you of kiwi or are looking for a flavorful substitute, this article will guide you.

What are some fruits similar to kiwi?

Kiwi berries (berry-sized versions) and golden kiwis are very similar to kiwis, and are part of the same family. Feijoas and sapodilla fruits also have a strong resemblance, although they are not related. When it comes to flavor, the closest comparisons are dragon fruit, strawberries, and passion fruit.

In the following article, we will give you a brief description of each kiwi-like fruit to guide you through the world of weird and delicious fruits.

What is a kiwi?

The kiwi is actually a berry, albeit larger than expected, about the size of an egg.

Kiwis, or simply kiwis, are the berries of a woody vine called Actinidia.

They are native to China, although they spread to New Zealand at the beginning of the 20th century. As the fruit gained popularity, they were exported all over the world.

The vines grow in most temperate climates, so you can now find locally grown varieties in California, British Columbia, Italy, France, Greece, Chile, and many Asian countries.

What does a kiwi look like?

There are other members of the kiwi family, though the most common is the hairy kiwi. They are called furry because their rough, brown skin is covered in scratchy fuzz.

Although the skin is edible, most people avoid it because of its unappealing texture.

Kiwi flesh is bright green and very juicy. The center has a white core surrounded by small black seeds that create a radial pattern outward from the core. All parts of the kiwi are edible.

What does the kiwi taste like?

Kiwis have a unique flavor and texture, thanks to the tiny seeds. Its flavor is often described as a combination of strawberry and banana, with a bit of pineapple and citrus.

Kiwifruit can be anything from tart and sour when the fruit is not quite ripe, to richly sweet and juicy when ripe.

Like most fruits, it is eaten raw and rarely cooked.

kiwi berries

Kiwi berries resemble grapes, with a smooth, thin green skin.

The skin has a powdery appearance, similar to that of plums, but with a papery brown crown at the top of the berry where it joins the branch, like that of a hairy kiwi.

However, if you cut it up, you’ll see that the inside of a kiwi berry is almost identical to that of a furry kiwi.

The white core is thinner and longer, matching the shape of the grape, but the tiny black seeds and radial pattern are the same.

Kiwi berries taste almost identical to their older cousins, though sometimes sweeter and somewhat more complex. Most notably, they don’t have the rough, papery skin that influences your taste buds.

golden kiwi

Gold kiwis, not surprisingly, look like golden versions of their green relatives.

This less common kiwi is usually slightly smaller than conventional brown-skinned varieties.

However, the skin of this golden kiwi is smooth and lint-free. The flesh inside varies from bright yellow to greenish-yellow, with some varieties having a red ring around the core, although these are rare.

The seeds are also a lighter color, dark brown instead of black. The core is also usually finer in golden kiwis.

The golden varieties tend to be sweeter and more tropical in flavor and aroma compared to the hairy green kiwi.

The sweetness and lack of lint make golden kiwis more desirable on the commercial market, even though they remain less common.

Fruits that look like kiwi

There are two fruits that are strikingly similar to kiwi, although they do not taste the same.

If you’re trying to figure out what kind of exotic fruit you’ve found at your local market, inspect it for any of the following signs.

feijoas

Feijoas are about the same size and shape as kiwis, but their skin is bright green and is smooth rather than downy.

They also resemble limes or furry kiwi berries.

When split open, the flesh inside is creamy yellow in color and more like a pear than a kiwi in texture. The entire fruit is edible, including the skin and the gelatinous seeds found in the center of the fruit.

Feijoas have a flavor that may remind you of kiwis, as there are notes of banana and pineapple, but they are more sour than sweet, like a sour grape.

sapodilla fruit

Sapodilla fruits are about the same size as hairy kiwis, although they are more almond-shaped.

They have fuzzy, light brown skin, much like that of the kiwi, although this skin is inedible.

When you cut into a sapote, the flesh is golden, smooth, and quite juicy, although it doesn’t have the texture of kiwi. Instead of having many tiny black seeds, the sapodilla has 3 to 6 smooth, flat brown seeds that are inedible.

The texture and flavor of the sapote is a cross between a pear and a perfectly ripe mango.

Kiwi flavored fruits

The above fruits look quite similar to kiwi, but don’t taste anything like it.

However, there are some fruits that are very comparable in taste to kiwi, so if you are looking for a flavor substitute, consider one of the following options.

Dragon fruit (Pitaya)

Dragon fruit, or pitaya, looks nothing like kiwis at first glance, but these exotic, alien-looking fruits have some similarities to kiwis under the surface.

There are three main types of dragon fruit: red, white, and yellow. All of these fruits are oblong and tapering at one end, with fleshy scales that resemble the petals of an artichoke.

Instead of being the fruit of a thistle, dragon fruit is the fruit of a type of cactus that looks more like a strange alien willow tree.

Red dragon fruit has vibrant magenta skin and deep purple flesh. White dragon fruit has a similar magenta outer covering, but the inner flesh is snow white and dotted with black seeds.

A rare variety to find in North America, yellow dragon fruit has bright yellow skin with white flesh.

What they have in common with the kiwi are the tiny black seeds that are scattered throughout the flesh. This makes the fruit very similar in texture and consistency to kiwi, and the flavor is also similar, although much milder.

Dragon fruit is sweeter than kiwi and has little to no acidity, although they have a similar tropical flavor.

Strawberries

Kiwi has notes very similar to those of strawberries, so they go together well and can sometimes substitute for each other.

For both kiwis and strawberries, it’s hard to separate texture from flavor.

Both are very juicy fruits that provide a mouthful of tiny seeds in every bite. Both berries become sweeter as they ripen and have a stronger sour flavor when young.

Kiwi tastes more like tropical fruit than strawberries, while strawberries have a more obvious berry flavor, but the balance between sweet and sour is similar, as is their high water content.

Fruit of the passion

Depending on the variety of kiwi, they are usually a combination of sweet and sour at the same time.

Passion fruit is very similar, although it is like a sweet and sour orange, while kiwi is more like a sweet but tart lime.

The passion fruit also has a very juicy pulp, although it is more pulpy than the kiwi.

Each bite will also include seeds, although those of the passion fruit are larger and will have a more noticeable presence, more similar to the seeds of a pomegranate or watermelon.

The experience is different from eating a kiwi, though similar enough to note the comparison.

Related questions

Do kiwis need to be refrigerated?

Whole kiwis do not need refrigeration, but should be kept out of direct sunlight and any exposure to heat.

Once they are perfectly ripe, moving the kiwi to the fridge will slow down the ripening process, keeping them fresh for longer.

If you want more tips to extend the life of your fruit, see our related post on how to preserve kiwi.

Can dogs eat kiwi?

Kiwis are generally considered safe for dogs to eat, but they are high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber that your pet may not be used to.

You should avoid feeding your pet too much fruit at one time to avoid possible digestive upset from the new diet.

It’s also a good idea to give your dog only small amounts of peeled kiwi. The shell is not toxic or inherently dangerous, but it may pose a choking hazard.