The world of fruits and vegetables is large and can easily be sorted alphabetically. 13 types of fruits and vegetables whose name begins with a "U" are presented in this article.

In a nutshell

  • there are many tropical fruits with "U" as the first letter
  • the number of native plants is significantly lower
  • Vegetable names also often start with a “U”.

Fruit with "U"

Uapaca

Source: Steven Haw, Uapaca kirkiana 1, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0
  • Synonym: mahobohobo, sugar plum
  • is mostly Uapaca kirkiana
  • Origin: southern Africa
  • forms small, edible fruits
  • Diameter: 2cm to 4cm
  • Colour: green to yellow-brown
  • Flesh: yellow, firm to the bite
  • Aroma: sweet, reminiscent of plums or pears
  • Use: fresh consumption, fruit wine, desserts, savory dishes (rarely)

Tip: Dry the fruit. The taste changes significantly to a pleasant toffee aroma.

Uarutuma

Source: João Medeiros, Flickr - João de Deus Medeiros - Cheiloclinium cognatum (1), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0
  • Cheiloclinium cognatum
  • Synonym: Saputa
  • Origin: South America, Central America
  • Diameter: about 3.5 cm to 6 cm
  • Color yellow
  • surrounded by a leather shell
  • seed coat: yellow, gelatinous
  • Flesh: juicy
  • Aroma: sweet, delicate
  • Use: fresh consumption
  • is mostly collected, rarely cultivated

Ugli

  • Citrus reticulata paradisi
  • belongs to the Tangelo Group
  • Origin: Jamaica
  • closely related to the Minneola
  • Diameter: 10cm to 15cm
  • Colour: yellow-orange
  • Shell: leathery, rough surface, easy to peel
  • Flesh: juicy, orange, divided into 12 parts
  • Aroma: sweet, rarely sour
  • Use: Fresh consumption, beverages such as tangerines

Umari

  • Poraqueiba sericea
  • Origin: Northern South America
  • forms edible drupes
  • is commonly cultivated in home gardens
  • Fruits contain oil (up to 12%)
  • Length: 6cm to 10cm
  • Color: yellow, orange, dark purple
  • Shell is bare and smooth
  • Aroma: unique, takes getting used to
  • Use: fresh consumption, butter, pastes, dishes, oil
  • is often used together with cassava flour

ume

Source: Manseok Kim, Prunus mume fruits 2, edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
  • Prunus mume
  • Synonyms: Japanese plum, winter cherry
  • Origin: Japan, Korea, China
  • forms edible drupes
  • Diameter: 2 cm to 3.5 centimeters
  • Shell slightly hairy
  • Color: yellow, green
  • Flesh: soft, very juicy
  • Core: large, adheres to the pulp
  • Flavor: bitter, sour
  • Usage: alcohol, vinegar, syrup, extracts are pickled

uvaria

Source: Marco Schmidt [1], Uvaria chamae MS4186, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.5
  • Origin: Old World tropics
  • Genus forms edible fruit
  • most commonly used species Uvaria grandiflora
  • Size depends on species
  • Colour: orange-yellow to orange, red
  • Aroma: sweet, sweet-sour, intense
  • Use: fresh consumption
  • the species Uvaria chamae is used against malaria

Edible plant parts with "U"

Ube

  • Dioscorea alata
  • belongs to the yams
  • Origin: East Asia, Southeast Asia, Okinawa
  • Tuber length varies widely
  • 3 tubers are formed annually
  • Weight: 5kg to 10kg
  • Colour: bright lilac-violet to lavender, cream, white
  • Synonyms such as Violet Yam indicate the color of the tubers
  • Aroma: pleasantly sweet, nutty, earthy
  • color dishes purple due to the anthocyanins they contain
  • Use: desserts, pastries, ice cream, savory dishes
  • Contains toxins: saponins
  • Boil root bulbs before using
  • is rarely confused with taro (Colocasia esculenta)

Udo

  • Aralia cordata
  • Origin: Japan, Korea, China
  • sprouts, roots, leaves are used
  • is often used as an ornamental plant
  • Fruits are not edible as they are poisonous
  • Length of the rungs: 50 cm to 90 cm
  • Leaf length: 7 cm to 16 cm
  • Leaf width: 5 cm to 10 cm
  • Aroma of sprouts and roots: fresh, faint citrus aroma, reminiscent of fennel
  • Aroma similar to the leaves
  • Types of preparation of the sprouts and roots: boiling, fermenting, pickling, blanching
  • Types of preparation of the leaves: blanch
  • Used in numerous dishes, e.g. miso soups, namul

Ulluco

  • Ullucus tuberosus
  • Synonym: Olluco
  • Origin: South America
  • popular tuber vegetable
  • belongs with potatoes and sweet potatoes to the most important tubers in South America
  • Size: 3cm to 15cm
  • Color: white, yellow, pink, green, orange
  • Tubers often mottled with red
  • Flesh: silky, does not fall apart, crisp
  • Aroma: reminiscent of a mix of potatoes and beets
  • leaves edible
  • Use: salads, regional dishes, roasted, boiled

Notice: If you are looking for an alternative to potatoes in your dishes, you can use the ulluco in the same way as the potatoes.

Vegetables with "U"

ufo pumpkin

Cucurbita, patisson squash
  • Cucurbita pepo 'Patisson'
  • Synonym: Patisson
  • are harvested before ripening
  • Post-ripening important for the aroma
  • Diameter: 10cm to 25cm
  • Color: white, yellow, green, striped
  • Flesh: tender
  • Flavor: neutral, improves with preparation
  • Use: Braised vegetables, stuffed, boiled, steamed
  • Flowers can be eaten as a fried leafy vegetable

Urbohne

  • Vigna mungo
  • Origin: Indian subcontinent
  • has been cultivated since the Bronze Age
  • important legume
  • high in protein (25 percent)
  • Synonym: lentil bean
  • Diameter: about 4mm
  • Color: green, dark green, black
  • Aroma: strong, spicy, earthy
  • Use: dried, cooked in dishes and desserts

primeval corn

  • Zea mays subsp. mexicana
  • Synonym: teosinte
  • Origin: Mexico, Central America
  • probable wild form of Zea mays (not confirmed)
  • Infructescences significantly smaller
  • about 12 misshapen seeds per infructescence
  • Colour: brownish
  • Aroma: like corn
  • significantly harder than Zea mays
  • Use: Grains in dishes, for oil production, sweetener

primal carrot

  • Daucus carota ssp. sativus 'Purple Haze'
  • The variety is commercially available as a primal carrot
  • The reason is the dark color
  • Colour: deep purple
  • Length: 15cm to 25cm
  • Flesh: firm, crisp
  • Aroma: very sweet
  • ideal for juicing

frequently asked Questions

Which plant is behind the name "Uvilla"?

When you come across the term "uvilla", it can refer to different plants. In Germany, what is meant above all is the Physalis peruviana, better known under the name Cape Gooseberry or Physalis, which is cultivated for its fruits. It can also be Ribes magellanicum, which is used in a similar way to domestic gooseberries. Another species is Pourouma cecropiifolia, whose grape-like fruits are enjoyed fresh or processed in South America.

What is it about the Uhudler grapes?

The Uhudler grapes do not denote a specific grape variety whose name begins with a "U". Instead, it is a whole range of grape varieties that are used for the Austrian Uhudler Cuvée. Varieties such as 'Delaware', 'Noah' or 'Elvira' are mainly used for the wine, which provide the earthy-sweet aroma (fox tone) of the Uhudler.

What are the most popular vegetables and fruits that start with a "U"?

Compared to the species, there are numerous varieties whose names use the "U" at the beginning. For potatoes, the 'Hungarian Lange' is available, while for tomatoes you have the small 'Utenok'. Among the apples, the well-known 'Usterapfel' can be found from the large selection. Even pears ('Uta') and cherries ('Uhlhorns Wunderkirsche') are part of it. This is just a small selection of the varieties available.

Category:

Garden plants