Lulo — The "Little Orange" That Tastes Nothing Like One

The name lulo (also called naranjilla, "little orange") is the first misdirection — it looks like a small orange from the outside, but crack it open and everything about it is different. The skin starts covered in fine, soft fuzz that rubs off easily as the fruit ripens and turns from green to a bright orange-yellow, which doubles as a handy readiness cue: a mostly smooth, glossy skin means it's good to go. Inside, the flesh is green and intensely tangy, often described as somewhere between citrus, pineapple, and rhubarb — sharp enough that most people in Colombia and Ecuador, where it's a genuine staple, drink it as fresh juice rather than eat it out of hand. That said, it's perfectly fine eaten raw: halve it and either squeeze the juice straight into your mouth or scoop the pulp with a spoon, seeds and all — they're edible and add a pleasant, subtle crunch.