Your ultimate list of black colour fruits. Including pictures, fun facts, & names, ranging from blackberries to fruits often eaten as vegetables! 🖤
Quick Disclaimer
There will be some fruits in the list that are very dark in colour, but not completely black. This also includes fruits that have “black” in their names, but do not necessarily look black.
I’m just including them all in the list to ensure that this is the most comprehensive list on the internet!
6 Black Stone Fruits
1. Black Cherries
Fun fact(s): Black cherries are native to North America!
Uses: Commonly used in pies, jams, and sauces, and they pair well with savory meat (or plant-based meat) dishes. Basically the same way you would use regular cherries!
2. Black Ruby Plums
Fun fact(s): This Japanese black plum variety has dark red skin and orange flesh inside!
Uses: Black ruby plums are delicious in crisps, jams, or simply eaten fresh for a juicy snack.
3. Sugar Plums
Fun fact(s): Nope, these plums are not the same as those sugar-coated sugarplum candies that are popular around Christmas. These are real fruits! And some varieties are some of the oldest cultivated plums, as Speciality Produce explains.
Uses: Similar to most plums, they’re great for eating fresh, making jams, or using in desserts like tarts, pies, and crumbles.
4. Java Plums / Jamun
Fun fact(s): Although this fruit has “Java” in its name, they do not originate from, nor are they popular in Java (an Indonesian island, which is also where I’m from!).
Uses: Used in juices, jams, desserts, drinks, and could even be made into wine!
5. Prunes
Fun fact(s): Prunes are dried plums, primarily from the European plum variety.
Uses: Often eaten as a snack, added to baked goods, or used to sweeten sauces and stews.
6. Black Dates
Fun fact(s): There are many many types of black dates! From the black medjool dates above to ajwa and mazafati dates, to name a few!
Uses: Black dates are popular to break fast during Ramadan, which is very nostalgic to me since I grew up in Indonesia which is the largest Muslim-majority country.
However, like the regular brown dates, they’re great as a natural sweetener in smoothies, desserts, nut butter/bread spread (like in my healthy vegan Nutella) or simply stuffed with nuts!
4 Black ‘Vegetables’ That Are Actually Fruits
Since they are most often considered vegetables, they also appear in my list of 33 black veggies!
1. Black Olives
Fun fact(s): Black olives are fully ripened green olives, so they’re the same fruit, just at a different stage of ripeness!
Uses: Great in salads, pasta dishes, pizza topping, or even in soups like in my olive soup as they add umami to the dish.
2. Black Eggplant
Fun fact(s): Although the variety you see above that has black skin is either the Italian or American globe eggplant, eggplants are actually native to Asia!
Uses: These black eggplants are commonly roasted (like in my harissa eggplant), grilled, used in stews like ratatouille, or as a meat substitute (like in my teriyaki eggplant) as they soak up flavors well.
3. Black Tomatoes
Fun fact(s): Black tomatoes are usually heirloom tomatoes, meaning that they are grown from seeds that have been passed down for generations!
Uses: Ideal for salads, sauces, and sandwiches, black tomatoes add a rich, slightly smoky flavor to dishes. I recommend serving them raw to preserve their rich color, like in a hummus bagel, avocado sandwich, tomato carpaccio, or vegan finger sandwich for some exquisite tea party!
4. Black Cherry Tomatoes
Fun fact(s): Black cherry tomatoes are heirloom varieties known for their deep, rich color and complex flavor, often described as slightly smoky or sweet.
Uses: Often used in salads, roasted, in pasta/noodles (like in my tandoori pasta or gochujang noodles), sandwiches (like in my vegan tea sandwiches), or eaten fresh as a snack, they add a burst of flavor and color to dishes.
11 Other ‘Regular’ Black Fruits
1. Black Grapes
Fun fact(s): Black grapes are high in antioxidants, which protect against cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s (source: WebMD).
Uses: Perfect for snacking (either raw or dipped in chocolate like these chocolate-covered grapes), making jams, or fermenting into wine and vinegar.
2. Black Avocados
Fun fact(s): Avocados are technically considered berries, despite them not looking like the typical berries at all!
Uses: Used in guacamole, salads, sandwiches (like this avocado bagel sandwich), sushi (like this peanut avocado sushi and AAC sushi roll) or as a spread, they add creaminess to savory dishes and smoothies.
3. Black Diamond Watermelon
Fun fact(s): Black Diamond watermelon is a large, thick-rinded variety with a deep green, almost black, skin and bright red flesh.
Uses: Enjoyed fresh as a refreshing summer treat, or used in fruit salads, drinks, and desserts.
4. Black Diamond Apple
Fun fact(s): The Black Diamond apple is a rare variety grown in the high-altitude regions of Tibet, with a dark purple, almost black skin.
Uses: Eat them fresh to really highlight their sweet taste!
5. Black Mission Fig
Fun fact(s): The Black Mission fig variety dates back to the 1700s and was introduced to California by Spanish missionaries.
Uses: Eaten fresh, dried, or used in jams, baked goods, and savory dishes like fig and goat cheese salads!
6. Mangosteen
Fun fact(s): Known as the “queen of fruits,” mangosteen has a sweet and tangy flavor!
Uses: Enjoyed fresh or used in desserts, smoothies, or salads for a burst of tropical sweetness.
7. Black Passionfruit
Fun fact(s): The passionfruit’s name comes from the passion flower, which is linked to Christian symbolism. It has a white and dark pink rind, which is why it’s included
Uses: Often used in juices, desserts, and sauces, its tart flavor pairs well with both sweet and savory dishes!
8. Black Worcester Pear
Fun fact(s): The Black Worcester pear is one of the oldest cultivated pear varieties in the UK, which is thought to be brought by the Romans.
Uses: This pear variety is often used in poaching or baking due to its firm texture. It also works well in pies, tarts, or paired with (vegan) cheese!
9. Black Lemons or Limes
Fun fact(s): Black lemons are actually dried limes, used in Middle Eastern cuisine, particularly in Persian cooking.
Uses: Used whole or ground into a powder, they’re often added to stews and soups for a distinct, characteristic flavor.
10. Black Sapote
Fun fact(s): Black sapote is often called the “chocolate pudding fruit” because of its rich, creamy texture and cocoa-like taste when fully ripe. Yums!
Uses: Best eaten fresh or used in smoothies, desserts, or even as a chocolate alternative in baking!
11. Black Coffee Beans
Fun fact(s): While coffee beans themselves are not black, they become dark through roasting, with black coffee beans indicating a dark roast.
Uses: Black coffee beans are brewed for a bold, rich cup of coffee, but they can also be ground and used in desserts like tiramisu.
9 Types of Black Berries
1. Blackberry
Fun fact(s): Blackberries are botanically not really classified as berries. Each fruit is actually an aggregate of tiny fruits called drupelets.
Uses: Popular in jams, pies, smoothies, and as a topping for desserts or salads.
2. Black Raspberries
Fun fact(s): Black raspberries are related to red raspberries, and they look very similar to blackberries. To differentiate, black raspberries are hollow on the inside (as seen in the bottom left part of the picture above) while blackberries remain solid with a white/yellow core inside.
Uses: Similar to blackberries, they are often used in jams, sauces, and desserts, or eaten fresh for their tart, slightly sweet flavor.
3. Black Gooseberries
Fun fact(s): Black gooseberries have a tart, tangy taste, and are less popular than the more common green gooseberries variety.
Uses: Gooseberries are often used in jams, jellies, pies, or chutneys.
4. Black Mulberries
Fun fact(s): Black mulberries are native to western Asia, but have been increasingly popular globally!
Uses: Eaten fresh or dried, used in jams, or incorporated into baked goods like muffins and tarts. I love the dried version as it becomes crunchy and sweet!
5. Black Goji Berries (Wolfberries)
Fun fact(s): Black goji berries are rarer than red goji berries and contain even more antioxidants.
Uses: Commonly dried and added to teas or used as a natural food coloring.
6. Black Elderberries
Fun fact(s): Black elderberries are becoming more well-known as a “superfruit” as it has many health benefits such as fighting colds, lowering cholesterol, and reducing cancer risks, as explained in this WebMD article. They are also rich in vitamins A, C, and B6!
Uses: Turn them into syrups, jams, and herbal teas for medicinal purposes!
7. Black Currant
Fun fact(s): Black currants were banned in the U.S. for most of the 20th century due to their role in spreading a disease harmful to white pine trees. You can also check out the white version in this white fruits list!
Uses: Use them in jams, jellies, and sauces, and as a flavoring for drinks like liqueurs.
8. Chokeberries (Aronia Berries)
Fun fact(s): Chokeberries get their name from their astringent, mouth-puckering taste when eaten fresh, which can be off-putting to some. So definitely start with a small amount when you first try them!
Uses: Similar to most berries, they are often used in jams, juices, and smoothies.
9. Privet Fruit
Fun fact(s): Privet fruits are small black berries that grow on privet shrubs, often used as ornamental plants.
Uses: Privet fruits are not typically consumed in cooking since they are toxic to humans.
FAQ
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🤎 31 Brown Fruits list, or my 35 Brown Vegetables List
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Got some black lemons the other day because of this post. Excited to try it soon!