We collected a list of six-letter foods from all over the world – from fruits and vegetables to drinks and meals, and everything in between.
The List: 43 Six-Letter Foods
Almond
This tree originated in Iran and its neighboring countries, but it is now grown all over the world. Almonds have a drupe fruit that consists of an outer hull and a hard shell; shelling almonds means removing the shell to get to the seed. This six-letter food is frequently consumed raw or toasted, and a common addition to breakfast muesli or oatmeal.
Banana
Bananas are descended from several species of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus Musa, which is native to tropical countries such as Indomalaya and Australia and was most likely domesticated in Papua New Guinea. In America and Europe, banana refers to soft, sweet, dessert bananas, whereas plantain refers to a variety of banana that is cooked before eating. Plantain is used in a variety of stews and curries, and it can also be cooked, baked, or mashed like a potato, as in pazham pachadi, a Kerala-style dish.
Bukayo
This next six-letter food is Bukayo, sweetened coconut strips that are commonly part of the Filipino dessert. It is traditionally made by simmering young, gelatinous coconut strips in water with sinuklob, or chewy caramel-like muscovado sugar. Bukayo can be eaten alone, rolled into small balls, and can also be used as garnish and filling to pan de coco and sinudlan empanada.
Butter
A semi-solid emulsion at room temperature which consists of 80% butterfat of milk or cream is called Butter. This six-letter food refers to a spreadable dairy product. Butter has different forms which you can find at the market, such as cultured butter, butter made from fermented cream, sweet cream butter or a butter made from pasteurized fresh cream. When fresh or cultured cream is unpasteurized, it is called raw cream butter.
Celery
Celery has edible leaves (hypocotyl) that can also be eaten and used in cooking, as well as seeds that can be used as a spice and extracts that can be used as herbal medicine. This six-letter vegetable is consumed worldwide and is typically used as a flavoring in soups and stews or as a dried herb. It is also combined with onions and bell peppers to form the “holy trinity” of Louisiana Creole and Cajun cuisine, while celery, onions, and carrots comprise the French mirepoix, which is frequently used as a base for sauces and soups.
Coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks consumed by humans, this six-letter drink is made from roasted coffee beans and is typically served hot, but it can also be enjoyed chilled, and in cake, or sweet desserts. The first credible evidence of coffee drinking was found in Yemen in the 15th century, its popularity then spread to the Middle East and North America in the 16th century, and finally to Europe.
Daikon
Daikon, also known as mooli, is a type of winter radish with a mild flavor, fast-growing leaves, and a long, white turnip like shape that originated in continental East Asia but is now harvested and consumed in South Asia as well as internationally. Daikon is used in a variety of dishes around the world, including takuan and bettarazuke in Japan, turnip cake and chai tow kway in China, sabzi and stuffed parathas in North India.
Damson
Damson is an edible drupaceous fruit that is a subspecies of the plum tree, its name is derived from Middle English damascene, damesene, and Latin (prunum) damascenum or “Damascus plum.” The fruit is used in cooking and is commercially sold as jam and other fruit preserves. It can also be used to make drinks such as Damson gin and Damson wine.
Durian
This six-letter fruit is native to Borneo and Sumatra and is known as the “king of fruits” in some areas. It has a distinctive large size, strong odor, and thorn-covered rind. Durian has an unpleasant odor that some have described as smelling like rotten onions and raw sewage, however, in the nineteenth century, British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace described the flesh as “a rich custard highly flavored with almonds.” In Southeast Asian cuisines, durian flesh can be eaten raw or used as a savory sweet dessert.
Endive
Endive is a type of leafy vegetable that is frequently used in salads. Cichorium endivia, comes in two varieties, the curly endive or frisée, sometimes referred to as chicory, and Escarole, or broad-leaved endive. Endive is especially high in vitamins and minerals like folate, vitamin A and K and fiber.
Fennel
This six-letter herb is highly aromatic and flavorful, with a taste like anise or liquorice. Its bulb foliage and fruits are commonly used in cooking around the world. It is native to the Mediterranean coasts, but it is now widely cultivated in many parts of the world. Fennel is one of the three main ingredients in the preparation of absinthe, a drink that originated as a medicinal elixir in Europe before becoming a popular alcoholic beverage in France and other countries in the nineteenth century.
Garlic
Garlic is a common ingredient in most countries, a close relative of the onion, shallot, leek, and chive it is used as a fragrant food flavoring in many dishes. Garlic has been eaten for several thousand years and is native to Central Asia and northeastern Iran. The ancient Egyptians also used garlic for food flavor and in traditional medicines. China produces more than 75% of the world’s supply, nearly 30 million tons per year.
Ginger
The following six-letter food comes from the turmeric, cardamom, and galangal family, and originated in Southeast Asia, though ancient domestication evidence has been found among Austronesian people. Ginger is a spice that was exported from Asia and traded in Europe, it was also used by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Ginger has long been used to flavor food and medicine, from vegetables and candy to soda and alcoholic beverages.
Hotdog
This food is made of grilled or steamed sausages placed in between a sliced bun or can refer to simply the sausage itself. Over the years the hotdog has had many nicknames such as frankfurter, frank, wiener, weenie, coney and red hot. The world’s longest hotdog was 60 meters rested in a 60.3-meter bun and the most expensive hotdog holding the Guinness world record was worth $145.49.
Hummus
A six-letter food with a savory flavor made from cooked, mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice and garlic, it is a common Middle eastern dish usually served with pita bread. It is also served as part of a meze or as an accompaniment to falafel, grilled meats, and vegetables. Israel and Lebanon have both competed for, and won, the Guinness world record for the of largest dish of hummus in the past few years, the largest weighing just over 23,000 lb.
Injera
Injera is a sour fermented flatbread which is traditionally made from teff flour in Ethiopian, Eritrean and some Somali cuisine. It is considered central to the dining process and the most fundamental component of the overall meal. Injera is eaten by tearing small pieces and using them to pick up the other food. Due to its size when the entire “tablecloth” of injera is finished, so is the meal.
Jícama
Also known as Mexican yam bean or turnip, singkamas, bang kuang, kuzu-imo this six-letter food originated in Mexico and central America. Jícama has a sweet and starchy taste that reminds some of apples or raw green beans and is usually eaten raw and seasoned with salt, lemon, lime juice, cilantro, and chili powder. It is widely used in a range of culinary dishes such as soups, stir-fry, and salads.
Kiping
A traditional Filipino wafer snack that is shaped like a leaf and made from glutinous rice. Originating in Lucban, Quezon it is annually celebrated at the Pahiyas Festival. Kiping can be eaten grilled, fried, and dipped in sugar, vinegar, or various other sauces.
Kiwano
A spiked melon Kiwano is a member of both the melon and cucumber family. Native to Sub- Saharan Africa and it is now cultivated in the United States, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. The fruit can be eaten at any stage of maturation but once it overripens, it will burst forcefully releasing its seeds. The taste can be compared to a mix of banana and passionfruit or a combination of banana, cucumber, and lime.
Lentil
Lentils are one of the staple foods of the Indian subcontinent, used in making dal which is often cooked with curry and eaten with rice or rotis. Most of the the world’s total production of Lentils comes from Canada and India. Lentils are versatile, they can be soaked, germinated, fried, baked, and boiled, and take on the flavors they are cooked with. They are the main ingredient in dishes like Adas polo in Iran, Khichdi in India, and Kushari in Egypt.
Lychee
The sweet flesh fruit of a tropical tree that originated in the 11th century in the southeastern Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Fujian. Primarily produced in China, it is typically sold fresh in markets, but it can also be purchased canned or dried. When it is sold dried with the rind intact the flesh will appear darker than when it is fresh.
Muesli
An oatmeal-based breakfast food made up of rolled oats, grains, nuts, seeds, and fresh or dried fruit that is mixed with water, milk, plant milks, yogurt, or fruit juice and allowed to soften before eating. Traditionally it was eaten as a supper dish in Switzerland as Birchermüesli complet (muesli with yogurt and fruit) with Café complet (milk coffee) and accompanied by Butterbrot (buttered bread) and jam.
Muffin
An American muffin is an individually served product baked in a muffin tin, whilst an English muffin is a yeasted flatbread cooked on a griddle. The American muffin can be sweet or savory with an endless variety of flavors from fruits and chocolate to corn and cheese, their English counterparts tend to only be savory.
Noodle
Unleavened dough that is rolled flat, cut into long strips or strings makes a noodle. They can be refrigerated for short periods of time or eaten right away. This six-letter food can be prepared in a variety of ways, including boiling, stir-frying, deep-frying they can also be added to stews and soups. A staple food in many cultures, including China, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, and Italy.
Orange
A hybrid of a pomelo and a mandarin it originated in Southern China, Northeast India, and Myanmar. The orange is a staple at the breakfast table whether as a sweet juice or as marmalade. Orange zest is popular in cooking because it contains oils and has a strong flavor like orange pulp.
Oyster
This six-letter food is considered a delicacy in some areas. It is commonly eaten raw but can also be smoked, boiled, baked, fried, roasted, stewed, canned, and pickled. High in iron, calcium, selenium, vitamin A, and B12, oysters also contain amino acids that can increase levels of sex hormones and zinc, which aids testosterone production which may explain their reputation for being an aphrodisiac.
Paella
This delectable Spanish rice dish hails from Valencia and is one of the dishes Spain is most well known for. Paella, which means “frying pan” in Valencian, has ancient roots, but the modern form can be traced back to the mid-nineteenth century in Albufera lagoon. Made with round grain rice, beans, peas, rabbit, chicken, or seafood cooked in olive oil and chicken broth. Traditionally it is seasoned with rosemary and saffron.
Pandan
Pandan is a fragrant leaf that is widely used for flavoring in Southeast and South Asian cuisines; it can also be used in place of vanilla essence. This six-letter food adds a pleasant aroma and a hint of green color to traditional Indonesian cakes including bite-sized street-food treats which come in many different forms.
Pickle
The common term used in United States and Canada for a pickled cucumber while it is called gherkin in countries such as Britain, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. This six-letter food is a cucumber pickled using brine, vinegar and spices and eaten with cold meats and cheeses. A pickle is often used as a condiment on hamburgers, sandwiches or on a hotdog in a chopped form.
Pomelo
This is the largest Asian citrus fruit. Shaped like a teardrop with thick rind, the taste is like grapefruit but sweeter and it is an excellent source of Vitamin C. It can grow to the size of a cantaloupe or larger. Famously used to create a recipe called Thai Pomelo Salad with ingredients such as shrimp, chili flakes, roasted peanuts, and lime juice.
Quince
This six-letter pear-shaped food is a candidate for the “forbidden fruit” mentioned in the Bible due to its origin in the ancient Middle East. The tough and spongy flesh coupled with an astringent and tart flavor makes it inedible when uncooked. However, it softens, and has a tempting citrusy aroma when cooked. Quince is used to make jams, marmalade, jellies, pies and even cakes!
Quinoa
Often used as a grain substitute for rice due to its higher amount of protein and fiber, making it an excellent choice for those who want to stay fit. Naturally gluten-free, quinoa is popularly known as a nutritional powerhouse because it contains all nine essential amino acids and essential vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and copper.
Radish
Radish is a root vegetable which originated in China, there are many varieties and their use in cookery is common the world over. This six-letter food is an excellent source of antioxidants and vitamin C. Dishes such as radish kimchi and radish salad, are staples in Korean cuisine.
Raisin
An excellent source of energy and fiber is made by drying out grapes for three weeks. Raisins are abundant in California, where the first California raisin crop was discovered after the grapes dried due to a massive heat wave in the 18th century. At present, raisins continue to be a part of our diet as toppings on salads, and yogurts, and added to cereal and oatmeal.
Salami
Salami is a versatile food made by air-drying salted meat. This six-letter food has an important place in history due to its popularity with European peasants as meat supply because it can be stored for a long time. This savory cured sausage, is rich in vitamin B, sodium, and fat, making it a great addition to salads, omelets, and pasta dishes.
Samosa
This six-letter word food is usually served as an entrée or snack. Commonly made and eaten in India the fillings, vegetables, and meats, are carefully wrapped in a thin dough and deep-fried which produces crispy triangular shaped samosas. Malaysia and Singapore have their own version of samosas which are called ‘karipap’ and ‘epok-epok’ respectively.
Sorbet
Served as a dessert or palate cleanser between courses sorbet is made from only a few ingredients. It is similar to ice cream, due to its temperature and texture; however, it does not contain any dairy. It is primarily made from water and sugar syrup with added flavors like fruits or honey, which are blended in an ice cream machine to freeze the mixture.
Tamale
A six-letter food which is also a complete meal. The corn dough is filled with various meats, vegetables, cheese, and beans and wrapped in a banana leaf or corn husk. Cooked by baking or steaming the tamale can also be prepared, wrapped, and then later cooked.
Toffee
Toffee is a common word for kids around the world and a desired sweet for all ages. Made primarily from butter and sugar it is available in many different flavors ranging from fruit to chocolate and with the option of many tasty additions such as nuts and dried fruit.
Waffle
A leavened batter that is cooked between two plates. There are numerous variations depending on the waffle iron and recipe used. Waffles are popular all over the world, particularly in Belgium, each country has its own special spin on the classic waffle recipe, sweet or savory there is something for everyone.
Wasabi
Wasabi is a plant in the Brassicaceae family, which includes horseradish and mustard. Ground to a paste, it is used as a pungent condiment for sushi and other foods. It is a different heat to that of chili pepper, more like mustard.
Wonton
Common in Chinese cuisine, the wonton is a type of dumpling filled with meat, vegetables, and spices, boiled, and served in soup or fried as a side dish. In American Chinese cuisine fried wontons are a common appetizer whilst in the Philippines, they are commonly referred to as pinseques fritos.
Yogurt
Whilst Cow’s milk is the most used milk in the production of yogurt, it can also be made from the milk of other animals as well as plant-based alternatives like coconut and soy. Icelandic style yogurt and Greek yoghurt tend to be popular options currently as they more protein than your average yogurt.