There are over 100 fruit species in Malaysia and approximately 70 that are considered more rare traditional fruits. These are fruits that were once more prevalent in gardens, villages and jungles in the 20th century but have since become more difficult to find.

Consequently, these fruits are likely to be far more familiar to the older generation who might have grown up with some of them than they are to the younger generation, who probably have not had the opportunity to see or savour most of them.