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A Tropical Feast

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Tropical Foods Tropical lands are home to a multitude of foods and spices. Some are familiar to us, some are not. We invite you to sample these exotic treasures as you learn about them. All of the items in the list below are available at supermarkets or ethnic food markets.

The plants pictured here all can be found growing in the Tropics. Some are native to the Tropics or Subtropics and grow only there. Others originated in the Tropics, but now are grown in many regions of the world. Still others originated in subtropical areas, but are adapted to growing in rain forests.

As you become acquainted with these plants, you will want to learn more about them and the Tropics. A good place to start is with the encyclopedia or any of the books listed in the bibliography.

Download a printable booklet.

FRUITS

Avocado
Banana
Citrus
Guava
Jackfruit
Lychee
Mango
Papaya
Passion Fruit
Pineapple
Plantain

VEGETABLES

Bamboo
Eggplant
Pepper, Hot or Sweet
Tomato
Winged Bean

STARCHES & ROOTS

Cassava
Rice
Sweet Potato
Taro
Water Chestnut
Yam

Allspice
Black Pepper
Cacao
Cardamom
Cinnamon
Cloves
Coffee
Ginger
Kola or Cola
Nutmeg and Mace
Sugar Cane
Tamarind
Turmeric
Vanilla

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bacon, Josephine. Exotic Fruits A–Z. Topshelo, Massachusetts: Salem House Publishers, 1988.

Buishand, Tjerk, Harn P. Houwing, and Kees Jansen. The Complete Book of Vegetables. Gallery Books, 1986.

Mulherin, Jennifer. Spices and Natural Flavorings. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1988.

Pijpers, Dick, Jac. G. Constant, and Kees Jansen. The Complete Book of Fruit. Gallery Books, 1986.

Rosengarten, Jr., Frederic. The Book of Edible Nuts. New York: Walker Publishing Company, Inc., 1984.

Schneider, Elizabeth. Uncommon Fruits & Vegetables, A Commonsense Guide. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1986.

Simpson, Beryl Brintall, and Molly Conner-Ogorzaly. (1986) Economic Botany, Plants in Our World. New York: McGraw Hill Book Company, 1986.

Smartt, J., and N. W. Simmonds, eds. Evolution of Crop Plants. 2nd ed. Essex, England: Conxxx Scientific and Technical, 1995.

CREDITS

A Tropical Feast was prepared by Glenn Kopp, Instructional Coordinator for Adult Programs, Helena Williams, Education–Special Projects, and Sarah Coppersmith, Education Consultant; Missouri Botanical Garden, 1989, revised 1992. Photographs by Glenn Kopp. E-mail Glenn Kopp.
Copyright © 1992 Missouri Botanical Garden