What is 'Puke Fruit'? What Noni Fruit Tastes Like

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The noni fruit has been around 2,000 years, and it’s undoubtedly one of the most underappreciated fruits. This fruit, also known as ‘puke fruit,’ has made a name for itself due to its powerful antioxidant capabilities and has been used by the natives in the Pacific Islands of Hawaii Polynesia to cure various illnesses. Islanders used to turn to this fruit as a miracle drug that did wonders for those that had diabetes or for women who had just given birth.

What Is Noni Fruit?

Having such a long-standing tradition also means the fruit acquired a couple of more denominations along the road and can also be found as ‘Forbidden Fruit,’ ‘Awl Tree,’ ‘Cheese Fruit,’ ‘Grand Morinda,’ ‘Hog Apple,’ ‘East Indian Mulberry’ and ‘Brimstone Tree.’ The fruit is easily recognizable since it could be more aesthetically pleasing. So what is noni fruit? The noni fruit is just like a small potato, except its surface, a greenish-yellow bumpy flesh.

You’ll find this fruit growing on a small tree around 3-10 m in height and thrives in alkaline and acidic soils. Islanders from Tahiti and Hawaii still use this great fruit to cure various ailments thanks to its naturally potent healing properties.

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Why Is It the Noni Berry Also Called the ‘Puke Fruit’?

The answer to this is straightforward, and it has to do with the fact that, when ripe, the noni berry has a pretty intense and robust taste that many won’t like. This strong and quite unpleasant taste gave the noni berry the name ‘puke fruit’ or ‘cheese fruit,’ a taste that’s peculiar enough to deter many people from giving it a fair chance.

This is why many people will avoid eating it raw and prefer incorporating it into a smoothie with other ingredients that may soften the pungent taste and allow all the nutrients to shine through. However, juicing the noni berry is the most preferred way of consuming this fruit.

There have been many attempts to describe how noni fruit tastes, and some people describe the puke fruit, when raw, as resembling a mix of spicy and grassy, with hints of parmesan and horseradish. When it’s ripe, it’s been told to resemble lemon and sharp cheese. Be sure that the noni smell matches this incredible taste, making the noni fruit one of the most easily distinguishable fruits in the world – one of nature’s most unconventional creations.

Reader’s Noni Berry favorites:

What Is the Nutritional Value of the Noni Berry?

As mentioned above, the noni berry is known for its healing effects on the human body, and this is because it’s home to a wide variety of powerful nutrients that make it a truly impressive antioxidant fruit.

When eating 100 g of noni berry, you can also expect to benefit from the following nutrients:

Water – So much of the noni berry is represented by water (95.67 g), which means that regularly eating this fruit will keep you hydrated. This, in turn, will support the body and mind healthy functioning.

Protein – Tissue health across the entire human body is always supported by the protein we assimilate. A protein-rich diet will also be the support behind skin, cartilage, bones, and muscles.

Dietary fiber – Whenever the body needs to lower blood sugar and bad cholesterol levels, it will resort to the dietary fiber it has in stock. Dietary fiber will also give you much-needed satiety, stopping any impulsive eating cravings you may get now and then.

Sucrose – This is the nutrient our body uses to get the energy it needs so much for daily activities. The body later metabolizes sucrose into glucose and fructose.

Maltose – This is another nutrient the body needs to replenish its energy levels when it needs it the most.

Beta carotene – This antioxidant holds tremendous health benefits for the human body since it is later transformed into vitamin A, which is essential for good eyesight. Antioxidants, beta carotene included, are great at fighting oxidative stress in the body. This means the natural cellular aging process will be slowed down when on an antioxidant-rich diet.

Calcium is one of the essential minerals in the human body, as it is responsible for bone health. Nerves will actually also benefit from a regular calcium intake. Pair calcium with vitamin D, and you’ll also get a powerful combination that may effectively prevent diabetes, certain cancers, and high blood pressure.

Vitamin E is essential to the human body, as it is responsible for appropriate skin care. Enough vitamin E in your diet ensures troublesome skin complexions will be smoothed over, and your skin will generally feel and look more moisturized.

Vitamin C – Vitamin C plays a crucial part in maintaining the health of all the tissues in your body – restoring and maintaining them. Vitamin C also plays a leading part in properly healing wounds and restoring collagen in the body. Vitamin C is also responsible for the healthy development of teeth and bones. By having both calcium and vitamin C in its composition, the noni berry is one powerful aid in developing and maintaining a healthy bone system.

Retinol – This nutrient has retinoids as compounds, an alternative vitamin A form. The cosmetic industry has certainly advanced retinol a lot during these past years as a powerful anti-aging aid. In addition, retinoids are great at reducing wrinkles, stimulating collagen, and fighting acne.

Dextrose – This nutrient actively combats dehydration and successfully deals with low sugar levels in the body while also curbing the unpleasant effects such levels may have.

Fructose

Lactose

What Are the Health Benefits That ‘Puke Fruit’ Has?

It’s no wonder that ‘puke fruit’ has been used for so long by islanders in curing specific ailments. The noni berry is a powerful antioxidant fruit due to its potent combination of nutrients that benefit the human immune system. So let’s take a closer look at how this fruit can help boost your health if you decide to include it in your regular diet:

Your Skin Will Be Healthier

That’s right; it’s only a matter of time until we start finding more cosmetic products with noni berry extract on the market. By consuming an adequate amount of noni berry, you’ll soon find that your skin may feel more moisturized and smoothed.

Your Bone System Will Be Supported

The calcium and vitamin C in its composition make the ‘puke fruit’ a terrific fruit to include in your daily diet if you want to develop and maintain a healthy bone system. But, of course, this will also include your teeth – a part of our body that needs our utmost care and protection.

Your Body Will Be Better Protected Against Aging

The antioxidant composition in noni berry is quite significant, making it one of the most notable antioxidant fruits available.

In today’s environment riddled with pollution, free radicals are simply wreaking havoc on the human body. In addition, stress, smoking, and regular alcohol consumption also profoundly enhance the toxic effects of free radicals on the body. Fortunately, this is where antioxidants come in – they actively fight all these toxic free radicals while also slowing down the natural cellular aging process.

In other words, regularly eating the ‘puke fruit’ may help you look and feel younger for longer. In this respect, these fruit and antioxidant fruits are generally better than any other miracle solutions suggested by the media – they are natural, powerful, and highly effective.

It’s also well-known that antioxidants have important anti-inflammatory properties, which will help you prevent certain unpleasant ailments down the line. One study, The Potential Health Benefits of Noni Juice: A Review of Human Intervention Studies, shows that these anti-inflammatory effects may show themselves, especially in the case of diabetes, abscess, angina, abdominal fibromas, and scorpionfish stings.

It’s also been reported that in other parts of French Polynesia, the noni fruit has been vital in treating burns, skin allergies, burns, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, joint problems, and backache, among others.

Noni berry juice consumption has also been shown to reduce pain, improve sleep and digestion, reduce asthma symptoms and increase energy.

Making the Best of the Noni Berry

Since it was discovered that noni berry is extremely beneficial for the human body, people have found creative ways to incorporate this fruit into their lives.

‘Puke Fruit Juice

The most popular way to use this fruit is to drink it in its juiced form.

Noni berry juice is already quite famous and is the preferred way to consume this particular fruit. However, it’s better to remember that the juicing process is quite scientific and cannot simply be performed casually, just as it would be when it comes to other fruits. The noni berry juice is very acidic, so it’s not recommended to drink it like that. A purification process helps remove this acidity so the juice can become drinkable and safe.

You’ll find that processed noni berry juice may have some instructions on the package – these need to be followed for you to benefit the most from what this fruit offers.

If you’re wondering just how much ‘puke fruit’ juice you can drink at once, this study A double-blind clinical safety study of noni fruit juice is a good indication of the recommended intake. In this case, 750 ml or 25 ounces of noni berry daily is safe enough for the human body.

However, it seems that vomit fruit has not only received a poor reputation due to its unpleasant taste but also due to its high-potassium content. Therefore, people suffering from kidney failure or chronic kidney disease should avoid ingesting noni-berry juice.

Since it’s an edging controversy, noni-berry juice may be risky for specific demographics. This is why it’s best to consult your physician before actually allotting this important fruit room into your daily diet – they should be able to tell you if this fruit suits your particular health requirements.

Be mindful that noni berries can change the color of your urine and add a pink or reddish hue. This is perfectly normal and natural, so keep in mind there’s no reason to panic.

It’s also recommended that you avoid storing noni-berry juice in plastic containers. Due to its high acidity, some chemical reactions may eventually cause microplastic to seep into the drink.

Eating Raw Noni Berry

For many, noni berry has a taste that makes eating it a non-negotiable proposition. If it’s the case with you as well, make sure you’re mixing this fruit with yogurt or adding it to your oatmeal – this way, the taste will be less pungent, while you’ll still be able to benefit from the many nutrients this fruit has.

Regardless of how you choose to eat raw noni berry, remember that most of its nutrients are in its pulp.

Cooking the Noni Berry

As surprising as it may sound, the noni berry can also quickly be cooked. Cooking the noni fruit is best recommended at low heat settings – you can also add spices such as cinnamon, star anise, or ginger to improve the flavor and make it tasty.

You can also stir fry the noni berry with coconut milk and curry spices – you’ll notice it will soon become tender and ready to be enjoyed. Add any other vegetables you may like, combine with rice, and you’ll have a complete nutritious meal to benefit from while also testing the unusual taste brought on by the noni berry.

Noni Berry In Supplement and Powdered Forms

You’ll find the noni berry is subject to many pharmaceutical products you can find both in brick-and-mortar locations and online – this is because they’re very nutritious, which makes them the perfect top-up to an already healthy and satisfying daily diet.

Reader’s Noni Berry favorites:

How Do You Store Noni Berries?

Noni berries can be used for another 15-20 days after harvesting. If still unripe, you can safely let them out on the counter for another couple of days, where they can ripen. If they’re ripe, the refrigerator will do just fine for a few days.

Conclusion

Noni berry is one of the most peculiar antioxidant fruits out there. With a taste that rivals no other, a smell that gets your attention, a creative texture, and a powerful combo of nutrients, the ‘puke fruit’ is one of nature’s most fulfilled creations. Yet, this fruit is still underrated by many or perhaps pushed to the side due to its unconventional taste.

Have you had any experience with the noni berry so far? If so, how are you getting along with the taste? What other health benefits have you discovered for it? Share below in a comment, so other fruit lovers can ultimately discover what this particular fruit has to bring to the table.

Jenny Dean

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