Can You Eat This DANGEROUS Fruit? | Monstera Deliciosa (Fruit Salad Plant) Tasting

[@6-V-6s]

when I was about 9 I made a small "shack" out of sticks and stones near my school. in an attempt to make the roof waterproof I wandered around looking for big leaves......found one of these funny looking plants and tried to yank the leaves off, failing that I decided it would be best to try and chew through the stem.......a few moments later I was running around a nearby apartment block, knocking on random doors tryin to find an adult to take me to the hospital as my mouth was on fire and i was sure the plant was deadly poisonous.....20 years later I now know what that plant was.....I never used much of what I learnt in math but this would have been a good thing to know ha!

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Haha what a crack up story! Poor you. Glad you made it out alive haha. Maybe we should be taught more useful things like that at school then!

[@abadodo8468]

This happened to me as a kid as well!! I did the same thing as you, tried to bite a leaf stem off... My memories consist of kneeling by a hose spout, vigorously spraying water into my mouth. It was unpleasant to say the least. Awesome to know what the plant is finally.

[@minalove6582]

Wow, I'm glad you're okay!

[@CrypticBore]

That would of been freaky as kid

[@TheAce736]

See this is why I recommend claw rather than tooth for your sudden ooga booga brained decisions. There is a place and time for them.

[@johnwilliams2711]

Big like! Excellent public service announcement on the dangers of unripened Monstera fruit 😁. Ate it a lot in my childhood and encountered the 'prickles' more than once when I got too enthusiastic. It did dampen my enthusiasm a bit, but I learned to wait for the 'scales' to drop off. 👍👍

[@alessandromariani3015]

I lived for 19 years in my house with a garden that has a gigantic 10+ m tall monstera with many fruits every year. I finally tried it ^^ ... how i lived for so much time near it without knowing . Dude i bought pineapples for no reasons. I live in italy anyway.

[@AB-vb2mm]

Sicilly?

[@alessandromariani3015]

@@AB-vb2mm no It's Campania, near Naples

[@brndto]

@@alessandromariani3015 put the pineapples on a pizza hehe

[@alessandromariani3015]

@@brndto good idea, monstera fruit pizza

[@minalove6582]

@@alessandromariani3015 ohhh how unique that would be.

[@kazorikumo9765]

That is one tasty looking green Pinecone. I only heard of their defense mechanism with the tiny needles in the sap, didn't know they had tasty fruit too.

[@shanghaimuts]

My wife noticed this plant in the neighbor's garden, so I asked if I could propagate it. He said to go for it. It used to be a house plant but then he chucked it out and it has just multiplied. I haven't helped myself yet but I will very soon. My wife wants some house plants. Thanks for the interesting video.

[@gordiebrooks]

They smell great and my nan used to put it in fruit salad !! Brings back memories.

[@Xorthis]

Calcium oxalate is the problem with this fruit, and is actually present in many fruits such as kiwi and pineapple (where it makes the bromide even more aggressive). It forms microscopic needle structures which pierce your soft tissue and don't break down easily, irritating your internal tissues for days. You can end up with sore mouth, throat and an upset stomach for weeks. The trick to know when this fruit is ready is waiting for the scales to easily fall off when lightly brushed. If you need to force the scales, it's not ready.

[@Spirit_Monkey]

Awesome video! I love this fruit. Live in Brisbane, Australia and they grow everywhere as ornamentals for street planting so I just pick them when walking around the city. Throw them in a paper bag to ripen quickly and they are delicious! Highly recommend

[@TheKiwiGrower]

So cool being able to forage for them! :)

[@redtobertshateshandles]

I'm an Aussie and yeah these things are everywhere but strangely I've never met anyone who's tried eating them. We used to throw them at each other.

[@nerissarowan8119]

@@redtobertshateshandleswhat a waste! My family has always eaten them from the backyard plants (also in Brisbane) and I now have huge plants at home so I supply friends and family with them.

[@melodieappadoo6930]

"fruity, tropical type of fruit, rather than banana" 😂

[@juli9950]

Legit

[@rdizzy1]

Depending on where you live, the bananas you get in the grocery store are almost entirely tasteless, not tropical tasting whatsoever, just bland generalized sweetness.

[@melodieappadoo6930]

I live on a small tropical island where banana trees grow everywhere! I'm sure that's why I found it funny 😊

[@rdizzy1]

@@melodieappadoo6930 Yeah, I think he means "tropical" as a generalized flavor profile.

[@MyBusanEscape]

@@rdizzy1 I've never eaten a 'ripe' bland banana. Guess I live in the right place.

[@earthprotected1157]

You can never be to careful around plants , they know who you are when you care that much about them. When you walk bye , they are screaming for attention, Don’t forget to give them a hug an a kiss

[@alyssa4952]

I didn't know they have fruits! I have this plant but it's dying 😢Well, there goes my chance to taste the fruit 😂 Very informative video! Great job!

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Thanks Alyssa, hope your plant recovers

[@minalove6582]

Ahh yes I can relate 😂 as of now I don't have a green thumb but I hope to have a gorgeous garden one day 😊

[@alisonchase3615]

Hi, we have been eating this fruit since the 70s in Noosa Australia. We always wrap the fruit in newspaper. The flavour is amazing. Grows really easy off a cutting. I have one that I grew 9ff a cutting and is roughly 18 years old and still going strong. Thanks for the video

[@redrocket9861]

I do the same thing with newspaper

[@phoebejones5604]

Does it grow fruit indoors?

[@fruitreviewer4748]

I just got one of these fruits! I tried eating it but apparently it wasn't fully ripe because it made me feel like I took a bite out of fiberglass insulation or something. I thought it was ripe because the scales had peeled off from a portion of it on their own, and I only tried the part where the scales had fallen off already! Just gotta be extra careful wtih this fruit!

[@minalove6582]

This is why I'm concerned lol. But would be worth the try some time for sure.

[@juanarellano8353]

Yeah it might start to do it and peel off slowly at first, I eat two scales above the ones that fall off easily because the ones that kind of fall off with some help are usually still ripening underneath

[@StarMisura]

Just to be safe make sure you wait a week even if it already fell off

[@nerissarowan8119]

The bits that have fallen off naturally are safe, but use a fork to reduce the black bits; they’ll still be there, just not as much.

[@morrisl7]

Found some growing on big island Hawaii. Amazing tropical aroma. The feeling of needles in mouth/throat killed the incredible flavor experience however.... definitely a plant for cultivators to work on for the future exotic tropical fruit market.

[@dfernandes1433]

I'm visiting Auckland from Goa and i just found out these were edible yesterday and picked up one on my walks. Can't wait for the scales to fall off and taste it. Hoping to find some seeds in it. Wish I could meet you in person and take a look at your garden!

[@bvazdiniz]

Fun fact, this is a Brazilian endemic fruit and it was the favorite fruit of the Brazilian Imperial Princess, Isabel de Bragança, daughter of the last Brazilian Emperor, Pedro II.

[@marygracelimpin5461]

It never came to mind it’s edible, we used to destroy those during my younger years cause of it’s sweet smell it attracts insects 😂

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Haha yea I never knew it was edible growing up either!

[@sandrastreifel6452]

I never knew they produced flowers and fruit, because they’re only houseplants here in Canada. I would love to try one, they might flower in a greenhouse, here.

[@xianseah4847]

Insects are the bottom of the food chain, as part of the foundation of ecosystems. I think that people who destroy insects really do not derserve to be on this planet.

[@TheKegtwo]

My auntie used to have a plant at her South Queensland house. We used to love visiting to taste the fruit again. The needles were a risk but we always look for the fruit with the armour falling way. One of the best fruits I have ever tasted.

[@coleenwessels6214]

I have alot of these plants, never in my life would I thought they could be eaten!😮 Wow Tx

[@ddexter8723]

We had a good size one of these plants beside our house in Mt Eden when I was a child. I remember that the fruit looked really cool and I had been told that you can eat the fruit. But luckily I never did because I would have done it all wrong, thanks for sharing this knowledge.

[@letsgrowtogether5398]

I watch this people having this fruit in ytshorts and TikTok..but you explained really very nice.. informative video 👍

[@cristiaolson7327]

Now I'm looking at my 3 potted monsteras, wondering if they will be large enough to fruit before they hit the ceiling, or if I'm going to need to build a greenhouse...

[@Berkeloid0]

I'm no expert but I have read that many plants will just keep growing greenery if their soil has plenty of nitrogen available, and it's not until the plant starts to get a bit stressed that it decides maybe it should grow some fruit to keep the species going should the worst happen. So maybe you need to change to a fertiliser with less nitrogen in it to promote flower/fruit growth?

[@barry7608]

I grow and eat these fruit up on the Central Coast of NSW. They are delicious for sure, I just have to beat the possums to them as they also love them. Pro tip, once you have flicked off the loose outer covering back to the 'fixed' ones get a sharp knife and slice/remove all expoed fruit into a small glass bowl then with a fork mash the flesh into a juicy pulp and eat with a dash of fresh cream. Don't worry about the little black bits, if its ripe and mashed you won't notice them....delicious!!

[@clairehartney7525]

Didn't know they had fruit. I have one in my living room. This must be why they are called Deliciosa because they have the delicious fruit.

[@bernardocoto8519]

There was one of these plants in my backyard when I was a kid, once I ate a ripe fruit but I got stung by the needles, they made my throat ache terribly, I never tried it again ever since. I live in Costa Rica, C. A., by the way...

[@chrisliddellhidalgo]

mae no sabía que se podía comer esa vara

[@Carlymday]

This was so good! I remember trying this years ago and it was delicious! But I never knew about the dangers - don't think I'd be game to risk it now! I even learned some shit! :D

[@luvlyxcliviqq1244]

The cat in the back at 2:48-2:51😂😂😂

[@PeaceYin]

2:44 cat in background!!

[@stateofemilia_]

Great video! Easy to watch, straight to the points. Loved it! Our plant has just started to ripen up, can't wait to try.

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Hey Emily, thanks for the comment! Hope you like the fruit :)

[@kirinlarsen8625]

I've been eating these since I was a young child they so yummy I'm so glad I still have a plant in my yard

[@Dakinekine]

I like how your genuine my man. Great vid. Most yourubers nowadays act weird like there trying to get followers or something if you know what I mean. This is genuine

[@SnaxxNZGaming]

We used to have 4 or 5 of these plants in the garden. The smell was amazing when they fruit was on them. I still regret never eating one.

[@soovy2903]

Hey man! I always really loved your cool videos! I have a suggestion, may you try to grow mango, papaya, jackfruit, durian, cherry, pomegranates, lemons? Btw I love ur videos!

[@daleboxsell2805]

My previous neighbour had them growing she hated them so she gave them to us and they are delicious they taste like a fruit salad just avoid the the black spikes they sting your tongue.

[@agungkacaribu]

mmm intresting. This channel should have 1 million subscribers soon.👌

[@rustylong3518]

KIWI KIWI KIWI KIWI

[@lilanisi]

I ate these as a kid in Tonga, never knew others didn't eat them🤔

[@AshleySmith-lh6hk]

Iv been eating these for 42 years and this is the bestest tasting fruit in the world I have many many plants I live in Brisbane Queensland Australia

[@afreolon]

Growing in a small farm in the countryside of Brazil, I was was surrounded by a very similar plant. Here the flesh of this fruit is yellow, and the seeds are white and smaller. It is delicious, but I couldn't eat as much as I wanted, because it's too sweet, seems like it's made of pure sugar 🥴

[@mimi-oz7wr]

Whereabouts in NZ did you find them? I might have to have a hunt for them the next time I go on a bush walk :)

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Just on a little residential bush area in Tauranga. They’re everywhere in northland too :)

[@conceptrat]

They are everywhere up in Auckland. Typically on concrete walls. There's a few large ones on Stokes Rd Mt Eden just near the path onto the mountain. Also plenty hanging around front yards around Mt Eden streets and over on shore in Birkdale, Birkenhead and Northcote.

[@topramen5884]

I think they are actually not that rare. I live in Southern California and there are quite a few

[@VanessaReguengos]

I tasted that in Madeira Island, Portugal, last December. Its very hard to describe, but I think you covered it. I'd add that's a little spicy kinda... Possibly from those raphides.

[@VanessaReguengos]

I also love the visual aspect, it's like dragon scales or something ahah

[@FreshMelonWater]

Fruit: I'll evolve so that eating me sends tiny needles into the animals' mouths. It'll hurt like hell. Humans: Let's eat it

[@Heheheheh181]

2:43 the cat 😂😂

[@danyawood589]

I have a few plants in Rotorua NZ they are 25 to 30 years old, they grow in the open with full sun. Great plant

[@sockmon1]

High quality research and information my g, I'm going to subscribe after writing this.

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Thanks man!

[@sulkoma]

lol a guy I worked with brought this in to work around 2012 & told me about it, said he never knew about it & had it in his parents yard his whole life I ate it & it was surprisingly amazing, kinda like pineapple from memory It turned out my parents have these plants too & they fruit a lot at their house too, I grew up with this stuff & never had a clue I told my parents about it too & they didn't know either

[@dakotabyer3191]

Man, I really love this channel!

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Thanks heaps! :)

[@joshuarichards8065]

I think the holes in the leaves are for rain water. I grew elephant ears plants with MASSIVE leaves and when it rained the leaves kept the soil around the plant very dry.

[@imrankayani1000]

Love yr uploads keep up the good work

[@successfulengineer]

How cool is that! Love your videos mate, keep em coming.

[@Shelaine61]

I was able to rinse the black flecks off by putting the fruit into a strainer and running it under the cold tap. I find them very peppery, making the fruit taste sweet and spicy. I thought it was just the raphides but found out I also have a medical condition with my tongue which sometimes makes non-spiced foods feel like I'm eating jalepino peppers.

[@htgar8201]

Dangerous fruit??? WHAT?? We used to have in our backyard (Northern NSW, Australia). Must eat when ripe or its prickly. It tastes like a fruit salad, very sweet, fantastic

[@Coolclimatetropicalfruits]

Awesome vid, I want one now 👍🏻

[@janetnazario-cruz6985]

Oh my goodness...thank you. I had three of them in my yard and they fell. I thought thy where flowers. But when i picked it up. It smelled like pineapples. So it intrigued my intrest. I found you. Good looking out!!!

[@mrbeanooo7597]

First ate this fruit a while ago, did it completely wrong and hated it. Genuinely was convinced that the name was an ironic joke

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Haha you'll have to give it another go! ;)

[@iba6056]

I've in my garden but I dnt know that it's good for eating i plant them in the pot as a flower so now I know it i will tried it to eat . Thank for your vedio it's give me a good information love from Shillong India

[@hannahtezza706]

HI, WHEN I WAS A CHILD, WE HAD THIS PLANT GROWING IN A ROCKERY. WE ENJOYED THE FRUIT ALSO. MY MOTHER ALWAYS PUT THE FRUIT SEPARATELY IN BROWN PAPER BAGS IN A DARK CUPBOARD TO RIPEN. THIS I THOUGHT MIGHT BE HANDY FOR YOU TO KNOW. ENJOY, LOVE AND BLESSINGS FROM ANNETTE QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA.

[@irenkotarsis527]

You need to try the custard apple, soursop, and this fruit that grows from a tree called cajiniqüil. something like that is very tasty too.

[@TheKiwiGrower]

We can get cherimoya over here - I've got a few trees growing. And a few other Annona species too. Never heard of cajiniqüil- sounds interesting. And soursop would be cool too - quite tropical though for over here

[@frasercoastfoodforest3092]

Amazing video mate.

[@jessicamichel313]

Nice video! I'm wondering where are the seeds of this monstera deliciosa in the fruit?

[@ithinksustainable]

Amazing I can’t wait to try it! I grew up in Spain 🇪🇸 with this plant 🌱 !!!!

[@Ryanrulesok]

In the flesh like a pineapple

[@SustainableHolly]

Got given a bunch of cuttings that I’m propagating atm but mainly because I like the plant and the fruit is a weird bonus haha.

[@peterrasmussen6775]

I FUCKING LOVE THIS GUY AND HIS CONTENT. thank you, i never knew that plants were so cool

[@NickHammer99]

1:30 he holdin it like its his dingalaing

[@cheriekarley2479]

Thank you so very much for sharing this I have heaps of these in my backyard I tried a bit just because it smelled so good didn’t know how you could eat it. To me tasted like pineapple with the texture of banana I bit starchy. Really nice I think it would be lovely cooled in the fridge for summer. Mine fruit and ripen all year round and I’m in NSW Sydney. Cheers cherieK 🐿🌈🦋🇦🇺

[@TheKiwiGrower]

That's cool, lucky you! Hope you like them

[@cheriekarley2479]

@@TheKiwiGrower I have about 6 of them I’m just waiting for them to ripen. I saw in comments people put them in fruit salad and regular salads I can’t wait to try it that way too. Cheers cherieK 🦋🌈🐿🇦🇺

[@loolver5209]

I came across these at a nursery here near Carlsbad California and suspect that they may be the same as my houseplants which, are much smaller though. The nursery carries exotic plants and trees seeded by a traveler whom collected seeds everywhere he went and his friend allowed him to plant them on his land. The nursery places the ripe fruits out on a table for visitors to sample. I tasted these and did taste pineapple banana. I found it very interesting and thought about planting one of my houseplants in the ground so, it could bare fruit. But, I live in a complex and would have to abandon it if I moved out :( Thanks for the vid !

[@richardboyer4411]

Hello. What is the name of the nursery ?

[@Ardlings]

Yummmm!!!! I enjoy these when they are in fruit and ripe 🤤

[@simonbrown5210]

Great vid. Cheers!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Every old Post Office had these at the back door. Unloading mail trucks late at night alone was creepy. Light shining through the holes in the leaves produced some weird experiences.

[@maka1685]

We have one growing in the garden so came here to check how to eat it!

[@serendipitynz]

Cool video, I have eaten them and they’re great....

[@envirojay]

I have this stuff all over outside in my yard and never knew you could eat those green things. I will have to try it out.

[@BrianBellia]

I'm surprised to see these growing in New Zealand.

[@AraceaeFanatics]

For those not knowing, these fruits only appear after the female flowers have been pollinated. Every inflorescence doesn't get pollinated. If your Monstera only produces one inflorescence at a time, they cannot self pollinate because the male flowers don't produce pollen until after the female flowers have stopped attracting pollinators. So two inflorescence are needed, unless there is human interference and pollen was collected and stored for hand pollination. I mention this so that unsuspecting newbies don't eat an unpollinated inflorescence and get hurt.

[@TruthIsTheNewHate84]

I would have guessed it was to maximize airflow near the stem to prevent molds.

[@greenriver5665]

Thanks for this video! :) Currently traveling around Guatemala and I found a whole bunch of these and wanted to try them but definitely not ripe so thanks for the heads up to not eat this fruit unripe haha

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Glad I could help to prevent you having a mouthful of needles! haha

[@ChristopherWallbank-di9hj]

I got a heap of wild monstera at my home, but wild animals always get them while their still small, figured id pick a few and stick em on the bench. I never was game to eat em, i prefer my bananas, peaches and nectarines and blueberries, but i suppose i should try now, got nothing to lose the way the worlds going now 😂, i always wanted to try a jackfruit too and saw one in a fruit shop but they said it would cost around $100 due to weight, peace from northern NSW Australia. In the bush

[@julialude8568]

May u try to do lemon, papaya, pineapple, apple, orange, jackfruit, mango? Love ur videos I hope u see my comment

[@dianapulido1807]

We have a neighbor down the block that has one of these plants in their front yard, I'm tempted to knock on their door and ask them if I can pick some of the fruit from their plant.

[@noahbarkelew6093]

I didn't believe it was good until you said it was honestly good.

[@deadpoolstrikesagain3914]

Love this ..it tastes like a cocktail of many fruits

[@earthprotected1157]

Good to know, thank you for sharing, are all monsteras editable, the only friends I have are the plants , when you help them they will always return the favor!

[@ericcampbell3831]

I think only deliciosa is edible

[@tom66909]

This has to be my favorite fruit - tastes just like banana pineapple. I get super excited finding these plants here in Florida.

[@landynhigh]

honestly one of the best youtube channels

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Thank you! :)

[@rustylong3518]

ALL HAIL KIWIGROWER!!

[@ric_dk-9520]

They also grow wild here on Madeira island (likely imported invasive plant) BUT they are nicknamed "banana-nas" .. cus they kinda looks like a green Banana but taste more like Annanas. If you come here as a Turist it's one of the fruits the very charming turist-trapping-sellers in the farmers market in Funchal will offer you to try... and then charge you horrible prices regardless what you buy.. There are a few legit vendors at the market, where we locals buy.

[@AnoujRajput]

What market do locals go to ? I'd love to save it for my future trip.

[@chefevilee9377]

Well, I’m so depressed about this fruit. I was gonna grow it out front of my house in Florida. But now that I found out about the whole little needle danger problem I think I’m going to pass. So thanks for making the video because I would have never known this

[@Alphoric]

Looks abit like an ice cream with a green cone

[@BL2024-d2k]

So jealous, you are living my dream! Thank you for your insightful videos! - New subscriber from freezing Dunedin-

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Thanks for the comment, must be cold down there! 🥶🥶

[@robingw2615]

I like that fruit it is 1 of my fav. Fruits to eat. I ate it in Madeira island

[@sunenielsen2686]

Hi, I live in Denmark, so I suppose that I can only grow them indoors - and many people do here. Now, I wonder how long I have to wait until this plant will give me a fruit? How old must it be? And is it possible to get fruit from a houseplant?

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Honestly I don't think you would grow them in Denmark. They seem to have a long growing season even in temperate Australia.

[@koma-k]

At a guess you'd need somewhere in your house which is subtropical year round. The fruit apparently takes a full year to mature. I've never tried to grow it myself, and only tried the fruit once, on Madeira where I stumbled upon it while driving around the island - there were stands/tables along the road loaded with all kinds of fruits I had never seen before, including this one. Didn't know about the risks of the unripe fruit back then. This was back in 1995, so it's been a few years. I've only seen it once since, on Gran Canaria IIRC.

[@sunenielsen2686]

@@koma-k Yes, it is a very common houseplant here in Denmark. And sometimes you see specimens for sale that are very old - and big - but so far, I have not heard of anyone growing a fruit. So I wonder if they have to grow very old before they set any fruit, or maybe the conditions are simply not right. Actually, I once bought plants from a nursery on Gran Canaria, not Monstera though.

[@bangonpuangjampa7031]

Wow that good good to know hope you have more video of other.😊

[@twinrantau454]

Verry delicious, Verry sweet

[@shaneyule3484]

great video

[@BonklaBro]

Wow, spechless

[@Eid0lonic]

2:44 cat in the background, did anyone else notice?

[@goldshotsilvershot]

Thank you for the video My uncle found this fruit by chance, and you saved us

[@gordiebrooks]

Texture of banana and the taste of pineapple/banana 😋😋

[@SysterYster]

If it wasn't for the fear of eating a needle death, I'd love to try them. :P But no thank you.

[@susanhanstock6879]

Same here.😱

[@sincerelyJc.]

Bro eating a devil fruit lmao💀

[@salvatorebarbaro5862]

I have been growing this plant for years, the fruits must be collected and stored in the dark, wrapped in plasticized paper until they turn yellow on the outside, only then is it safe to eat them

[@timbre1304]

Hiya.. do you eat it a bit each day as it gradually ripens? If so how do you store it while this is happening? In the fridge or on the counter? Covered or uncovered? Good channel thanks

[@Vicarra]

My father in law just leaves them uncovered in a dish on the counter, and picks the ripe bits off as he feels like. No need to refrigerate :)

[@sarahhayes9906]

I was wondering the same thing!

[@59kicki]

Im curious about the black stuff growing around every piece. Why some have more than others. It taste so good. Pineapple, mango, banana flavor imo.