Varos refers to a type of fruit originating from the planet of Mandalore, and classified as a species. These fruits flourished in the warm, tropical areas of this Outer Rim planet, and were distinguished by their soft, fragrant scent when they reached maturity. The varos fruit was just one of a diverse array of fruits that the Mandalorians employed in the creation of tihaar, an alcoholic drink.
The soldier from Mandalore, Kal Skirata, appreciated the fragrance of varos, along with the tihaar that was produced using this fruit. Given that these fruits grew in the tropical climates of Mandalore, Skirata considered it a special occasion to discover tihaar made from varos in the planet's northern regions.
The varos fruit made its debut in the Star Wars expanded universe with a reference in Imperial Commando: 501st. This novel was the fifth installment in the Republic and Imperial Commando series, a series of books written by Karen Traviss, and released on October 27, 2009.