What to buy in April ... when you live in Nairobi/Kenya ~ for FruitsAndVeggiesMonday

Some of you may have noticed that I post one article a month for #fruitsandveggiesmonday (initiated by @lenasveganliving) dedicated to a sustainable way of buying foods. I try to introduce fruits and vegetables that are in season and regional in the middle of Germany. Usually I do this in the beginning of every month but in the beginning of April I was on a special vacation. A very close friend of mine - actually he is like my little brother - a kenian with indian roots married the love of his life in Nairobi and we were invited to celebrate this wonderful event with them. 

That's why I was in Kenya in the end of march and the beginning of April and wasn't able to check on the fresh stuff on my local green market. But - I spent some time in a really pretty greengrocer's downtown Nairobi shopping fruits and veggies with the camera of my IPhone 6s. I didn't want to use my other camera because I wanted to keep it inconspicuous - I guess that didn't work out well. I stood out by just being there anyway ... 😆

I have no idea if all these things were locally grown and in season in East Africa at this time of the year but it was very interesting to watch. Some of the vegetables or fruits looked simply the way like those I would buy just around the corner of my house - like the carrots, beetroots, potatoes, cabbage... Some things looked different but familiar - like these very sweet and delicious mini bananas or these supercute tiny eggplants - and some things I have never seen before in my life. Even by reading the names of the vegetables I didn't know what they are nor what to cook from them. Maybe some of you know a few of the for me unknown vegetables and fruits so you can tell me how to use them ... But now enjoy my fruits and veggies safari ... 

What an inviting presentation of all the goods: the customers seemed to like it there.

Karela - a pimply cucumber? 😜

Mini eggplants and okras

Aren't they adorable?

Lemons, tree tomatoes (😃???) and passion fruits

The pineapples on the daily breakfast buffet were so sweet and juicy every day 

I have nowhere had better mangos like in Kenya

Papayas and Cherimoyas - I am jealous right now!

Tomatoes

My favorite bananas, sweet and small:

This looks like vegetable shelves just like ours:

Where coconuts are as usual as onions! 😃

Very green but familiar:

It's getting hot in here ... 🌶🌶

Legumes

Onions

Bell peppers

A kind of melon?

This reminds me of a sort of cucumber I had for breakfast in my omani mixed pickles last year during our arabic road trip ... Is it a cucumber?

Turiya - never heard of ...

Turnips and beetroots

Rhubarb right next to lemongrass ... but when I think about it - could be a delicious combination, worth a try! This visit was very inspiring!

More hot stuff ...

Chori - a sort of green bean? I don't know!

A mix of familiar and (for me) exotic vegetables...

Kiwano?

The End

Wasn't this interesting?! I am eagerly waiting to hear your experiences with some of these beautiful ingredients. 

Everyone who would love to join in this wonderful contest should read @lenasveganliving's post with the rules. Have fun! ☀️