Benin’s markets, coastal gardens and inland farms reflect a long history of trade and a mix of climates that shape what people eat every season. From bustling street stalls to village orchards, fruit plays a central role in daily meals and local economies.
There are 39 Fruits of Benin, ranging from African bush mango (Dika) to Watermelon. For each, you’ll find below Scientific name,Local name(s),Season (months). You’ll find the full list below.
When is the best time to buy these fruits in Benin?
Seasonality varies by species, so check the Season (months) column for exact timing; broadly, many tree fruits peak in the rainy season (roughly June–September) while some melons and tropical gourds are more common in drier months. Buy in the morning at local markets for the freshest pick and better prices during peak months.
Are any of the listed fruits endemic or legally protected?
Some entries are native or regionally important and conservation status differs by species; use the Scientific name from the list to look up IUCN or national protection status before harvesting wild plants, and prefer cultivated sources when possible.
Fruits of Benin
| Name | Scientific name | Local name(s) | Season (months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mango | Mangifera indica | Fon: mangue, Yoruba: mango, Bariba: mango, French: mangue | May–Aug |
| African bush mango (Dika) | Irvingia gabonensis | Fon: dika, Yoruba: ogbono/dika, Bariba: dika, French: bush mango | Aug–Nov |
| Baobab fruit | Adansonia digitata | Fon: moné, Yoruba: igbo-ose, Bariba: bouba, French: fruit de baobab | Dec–Mar |
| Safou (African pear) | Dacryodes edulis | Fon: safou, Yoruba: eje, Bariba: safou, French: safou/prune africaine | Oct–Feb |
| Cashew apple | Anacardium occidentale | Fon: pomme de cajou, Yoruba: kasu, Bariba: cajou, French: pomme de cajou | Feb–May |
| Papaya (Pawpaw) | Carica papaya | Fon: papaye, Yoruba: pawpaw, Bariba: papaye, French: papaye | Year-round |
| Banana | Musa spp. | Fon: banane, Yoruba: ogede, Bariba: banane, French: banane | Year-round |
| Plantain | Musa paradisiaca | Fon: plantain, Yoruba: ogede, Bariba: plantain, French: plantain | Year-round |
| Pineapple | Ananas comosus | Fon: ananas, Yoruba: painaple, Bariba: ananas, French: ananas | Mar–Aug |
| Coconut | Cocos nucifera | Fon: noix de coco, Yoruba: agbon, Bariba: coco, French: noix de coco | Year-round |
| Orange (Sweet) | Citrus sinensis | Fon: orange, Yoruba: osàn, Bariba: orange, French: orange | Nov–Mar |
| Tangerine/Mandarin | Citrus reticulata | Fon: mandarine, Yoruba: osàn, Bariba: mandarine, French: mandarine | Nov–Feb |
| Lemon/Lime | Citrus limon/aurantiifolia | Fon: citron, Yoruba: ose, Bariba: citron, French: citron/fruit de lime | Year-round |
| Guava | Psidium guajava | Fon: goyave, Yoruba: goyave, Bariba: goyave, French: goyave | Sep–Dec |
| Watermelon | Citrullus lanatus | Fon: pastèque, Yoruba: dandogo, Bariba: pastèque, French: pastèque | Mar–Jul |
| Cantaloupe (Melon) | Cucumis melo | Fon: melon, Yoruba: elegede, Bariba: melon, French: melon | Feb–Jun |
| Soursop (Graviola) | Annona muricata | Fon: corossol, Yoruba: sàsùró, Bariba: corossol, French: corossol | Jul–Oct |
| Sugar-apple (Sweetsop) | Annona squamosa | Fon: corossol a peau, Yoruba: seede, Bariba: corossol, French: sucre pomme | Jul–Oct |
| Custard apple (Cherimoya-type) | Annona reticulata | Fon: atemoya, Yoruba: atawe, Bariba: anone, French: pomme cannelle | Jul–Oct |
| African star apple | Chrysophyllum albidum | Fon: akon, Yoruba: agbalumo/udara, Bariba: alibum, French: pomme de rose | Sep–Nov |
| Jujube (Ber)/Ziziphus | Ziziphus mauritiana | Fon: jujube, Yoruba: igbale, Bariba: jujube, French: jujube | Feb–Apr |
| Tamarind | Tamarindus indica | Fon: tamarin, Yoruba: sántán, Bariba: tamarin, French: tamarin | Nov–Mar |
| Parkia (Néré) fruit | Parkia biglobosa | Fon: néré, Yoruba: irú, Bariba: kiki, French: néré/locust bean | Jul–Nov |
| Kola nut | Cola nitida | Fon: kola, Yoruba: kola, Bariba: kola, French: noix de kola | Year-round |
| Bitter kola | Garcinia kola | Fon: garcinia, Yoruba: oba kola, Bariba: kola amer, French: graine de bitter kola | Year-round |
| Marula | Sclerocarya birrea | Fon: marula, Yoruba: marula, Bariba: marula, French: marula | Feb–May |
| Spondias mombin (Hog plum) | Spondias mombin | Fon: ambé, Yoruba: ijebu, Bariba: spondias, French: prunier sauvage | Aug–Oct |
| Spondias dulcis (Ambarella) | Spondias dulcis | Fon: pomme cythère, Yoruba: ambarella, Bariba: pomme cythère, French: ambarella | Jul–Oct |
| Cocoa fruit (cacao pulp) | Theobroma cacao | Fon: cacao, Yoruba: kakaw, Bariba: cacao, French: cabosse de cacao | Oct–Jan |
| Guinea melon (egusi melon) | Citrullus colocynthis/Cucumeropsis manni | Fon: egusi, Yoruba: egusi, Bariba: egusi, French: melon à graines | Aug–Nov |
| Water apple/Ambarella variant | Syzygium jambos | Fon: jambos, Yoruba: jambos, Bariba: jambos, French: jambosier | Jul–Oct |
| Dates (wild/local) | Phoenix reclinata/Phoenix dactylifera | Fon: date, Yoruba: dadabe, Bariba: date, French: datte | Feb–Apr |
| Cranberry hibiscus (sobolo source) | Hibiscus sabdariffa (calyx) | Hibiscus: bissap, Yoruba: zobo, Bariba: bissap, French: bissap | Nov–Mar |
| African medlar (locally eaten) | Vangueria infausta | Fon: medlar, Yoruba: medlar, Bariba: medlar, French: medlar africain | Aug–Oct |
| Tropical almond (Terminalia) | Terminalia catappa | Fon: amande tropicale, Yoruba: akia, Bariba: amande, French: badamier | Sep–Nov |
| Annatto (Achiote) fruit | Bixa orellana | Fon: roucou, Yoruba: roucou, Bariba: roucou, French: rocou | Year-round |
| Breadnut (seed/pulp) | Artocarpus camansi | Fon: fruit bread, Yoruba: breadnut, Bariba: breadnut, French: pain de noix | Jun–Sep |
| Loofah/gourd fruit (edible varieties) | Luffa aegyptiaca | Fon: loofah, Yoruba: isapa, Bariba: loofah, French: luffa | Jul–Oct |
| Bael/wood apple (locally grown) | Aegle marmelos | Fon: bael, Yoruba: bael, Bariba: bael, French: bael | Dec–Feb |
Images and Descriptions
Mango
Sweet, juicy tropical fruit found across southern and central Benin; sold fresh in markets, dried or made into juices and chutneys. Peak season in the rainy onset, with many local cultivars and street vendors widespread.
African bush mango (Dika)
Wild and semi-cultivated tree fruit from southern forests; flesh eaten fresh, pulp fermented, seeds dried for oil and the famous ogbono soup thickener. Marketed fresh and as processed kernels.
Baobab fruit
Dry-season fruit from savannah trees—tart, powdery pulp used for drinks, porridge, and snacks. Collected by foragers and sold in markets; prized for vitamin C and as a natural thickener.
Safou (African pear)
Oily purple-green fruit common in southern Benin markets; usually roasted or boiled and eaten with corn or plantain. Popular street food rich in fat and flavor.
Cashew apple
Bright, juicy accessory fruit of the cashew tree found in southern plantations; eaten fresh, pressed for juice or fermented; cashew nut processed separately and widely exported.
Papaya (Pawpaw)
Common backyard and market fruit across Benin; soft, sweet flesh eaten fresh or in smoothies and salads. Fruit and unripe slices used locally in ripening and cooking.
Banana
Widely grown in southern Benin and sold in markets; small dessert bananas eaten fresh, used in porridges, snacks and street vending. Many cultivars available year-round.
Plantain
Staple cooking fruit in markets and home gardens; fried, boiled or roasted as accompaniment to stews. Peak production varies by region but supply is steady year-round.
Pineapple
Juicy tropical fruit grown commercially and in home gardens in southern Benin; eaten fresh, juiced, canned locally and sold on roadsides. Fragrant and sweet with year-round availability peaks.
Coconut
Found along coastal areas and markets; water drunk from young nuts, flesh eaten raw or used in cooking and desserts. Widely used for oil and traditional dishes.
Orange (Sweet)
Cultivated and sold in markets, especially in cooler months; eaten fresh, juiced, or sold as street fruit. Coastal and central orchards supply domestic markets during dry season.
Tangerine/Mandarin
Smaller citrus with easy-to-peel segments; popular snack fruit sold in markets and by street vendors during the cool dry season. Aromatic and sweet.
Lemon/Lime
Used widely as seasoning, in drinks and preserves; small-scale cultivation and market availability year-round with local limes used in sauces and beverages.
Guava
Garden and market fruit eaten fresh or in jams and juices; fragrant, seedy flesh. Found in southern and central Benin with harvest peaks in the late rainy and early dry seasons.
Watermelon
Common market fruit in the hotter months; large, refreshing fruit eaten fresh, sold by roadside vendors and popular at festivals and markets during the hot season.
Cantaloupe (Melon)
Sweet-fleshed melon grown in gardens and fields; sold fresh in markets and eaten as cooling snack during hot months, especially in central Benin.
Soursop (Graviola)
Aromatic, custardy fruit found in home gardens and markets; eaten fresh or used for juice and smoothies. Grows well in moist southern zones with a mid-year season.
Sugar-apple (Sweetsop)
Segmented sweet fruit with creamy flesh sold in local markets and backyard gardens. Eaten fresh and appreciated for its dessert-like texture in southern Benin.
Custard apple (Cherimoya-type)
Less common Annona grown in households; fragrant, soft flesh eaten fresh. Found mainly in wetter southern areas and sold occasionally in markets.
African star apple
Forest and farm-fruit with sweet-tart pulp and edible seeds; eaten fresh or sold in local markets. Seasonal in the late rainy to early dry period.
Jujube (Ber)/Ziziphus
Drought-tolerant tree fruit common in northern Benin; sweet to tart when ripe, eaten fresh, dried or used in local snacks and teas.
Tamarind
Brown pod with tangy-sweet pulp widely sold, used for sauces, drinks and traditional medicines. Common in urban markets and roadside trees across Benin.
Parkia (Néré) fruit
Pods and pulp harvested in savannah zones; seeds fermented into dawa-dawa/iru seasoning used in many stews. Fruit pulp occasionally eaten and sold locally.
Kola nut
Cultural stimulant chewed or used in ceremonies across Benin; seeds are traded in markets and valued socially and economically in many communities.
Bitter kola
Chewed as a stimulant and traditional remedy; sold in markets and roadside stalls. Native to West African forests and collected or cultivated locally.
Marula
Savannah fruit with tart-sweet flesh used for fresh eating, fermented drinks and oils. Found in northern and central woodlands and sold seasonally in local markets.
Spondias mombin (Hog plum)
Small yellow plum-like fruit from roadside trees; eaten fresh, made into jams or local beverages. Common in villages and small markets across Benin.
Spondias dulcis (Ambarella)
Acidic, crunchy fruit often eaten with salt or pepper; grown in coastal and urban gardens and sold in markets during mid-year seasons.
Cocoa fruit (cacao pulp)
Pods harvested in southern plantations; the sweet, mucilaginous pulp around beans is eaten fresh or fermented to make chocolate; pods opened and sold at farms and markets.
Guinea melon (egusi melon)
Fleshy melons and their seeds are cultivated for oil and soups; flesh sometimes eaten but seeds (egusi) are the primary edible portion used in stews across Benin.
Water apple/Ambarella variant
Fragrant, apple-like fruit grown in gardens; eaten fresh and occasionally sold in markets. Preferred for its aromatic flavor in southern towns and villages.
Dates (wild/local)
Wild and small-scale cultivated dates appear in northern markets; sweet fruit eaten fresh or dried and sometimes used in ceremonies. Less common than other fruits but locally valued.
Cranberry hibiscus (sobolo source)
Though the edible part is the calyx rather than a true fruit, bissap is collected and sold widely for tart hibiscus drinks. Popular in markets for juice and remedies.
African medlar (locally eaten)
Understory savannah fruit with small sweet berries gathered by foragers; eaten fresh and occasionally sold in rural markets during late rainy season.
Tropical almond (Terminalia)
Edible nut-like fruit flesh around the seed is eaten fresh or the seed roasted; trees common along coasts and in towns, fruits sold seasonally in markets.
Annatto (Achiote) fruit
Spineless capsules contain seeds used as food coloring and spice rather than eaten raw; grown and sold by smallholders and spice vendors in Beninese markets.
Breadnut (seed/pulp)
Cultivated in some home gardens; starchy seeds roasted or boiled, sometimes sold locally. Less widespread than jackfruit but present in southern domestic orchards.
Loofah/gourd fruit (edible varieties)
Young fruit of some gourds eaten when tender; grown in gardens and sold at markets. Mostly consumed cooked; mature fruit used as sponges rather than food.
Bael/wood apple (locally grown)
Occasionally cultivated in gardens; aromatic, hard-shelled fruit with fibrous pulp eaten or used medicinally. Available in niche markets and home orchards.
