This may be the least worthy question ever asked on this forum, but here goes anyway. Last week the Wall Street Journal ran a story about some of the exotic fruits that have made their way to the U.S. market. This story covered everything from star fruit to passion fruit, etc.

In reading this story, I was reminded of a fruit that I enjoyed often 7 years ago when I spent 5 weeks in Taiwan. I have NEVER been able to find the name of this fruit nor have I found anyone in the U.S. who can tell me the name of this fruit. The fruit is eaten out of hand as an apple and has a red exterior similar to an apple, but with a much thinner skin. The inside of the fruit is pure white and almost resembles a radish although it is not as dense as a radish.

Does anyone have a clue of the name for this fruit? Our travel group enjoyed them but none of us ever thought to get the name. Can a wise Fodorite help out here?

The Chinese name is "lian wu" - I have no idea what the English name is. It has a slight bell shape to it with a crunchy texture, right?

Is it a nashi?

I think you are describing a Mangostine.

http://www.stadlerphotography.de/balibig-03.htm

Dave

Don't think it's nashi. Nashi are speckled gold colored outside, strong skin, and have slightly golden, crisp, juicy flesh. Taste is almost a mix of apple and a bartlett pear...but unique. The best ones are crisp...if they aren't fresh, they get soft and nasty tasting.

I think the English for the fruit RandyK is referring to is water apple or bell fruit. It's fairly common in SE Asia. http://ezgo.coa.gov.tw/ezgo_eng/local.php?route=08 The bottom of this page has pictures of some. It shows lighter colored ones, but really, the fruits range in color from almost white to bright red.

I've seen it called "rose apple" in Thailand.

It's available in Hawaii as a "mountain apple."

We lived in Taipei for five years and called them water apples. I've never seen them here, though. My kids loved them.