Hello!
Today we will introduce you to the largest edible fruit that grows on a tree.
The fruits are so huge that the branches of the tree cannot bear them and they ripen right
on the trunk.
We are talking about a plant with a beautiful name jackfruit, which is also called Indian
breadfruit.
And rightly so, because it is indeed a close relative of the breadfruit tree.
The dimensions distinguish the fruit from the general background of tropical exotics.
However, due to the external similarity, tourists sometimes confuse jackfruit and durian.
But these are separate species.
The peel of both fruits has an unpleasant odor, but the jackfruit has a weaker odor.
The jackfruit has been proudly named the national fruit of Bangladesh.
The fruits are rightfully considered the largest edible fruits that grow on trees, because
their length can reach a length of 90 centimeters, and they can weigh up to 40 kilograms.
A resident of the city of Vembayam from the Indian state of Kerala grew a jackfruit weighing
68.5 kg and a length of one meter on his plot.
The fruit pulls on a world record for the Guinness Book of Records.
It is not given to everyone to taste the jackfruit the first time, but then everyone loves it.
The fruits are used in their entirety, including the peel.
It is very thick in fruits, before ripening it is green, then as it grows it becomes yellow-green
or yellow with a hint of brown.
Candied or pickled peel is considered a food item.
Rough fresh peel is used as animal feed.
Seeds rich in carbohydrates are eaten roasted.
Jackfruit is an easily accessible everyday food for the poor, which is why it is often
referred to as "the bread of the poor."
In Thailand, residents plant the plant near their homes because they believe that breadfruit
protects the owners of the hut from harm and gunshot wounds.
The fruit is a talisman and amulet.
It is believed that it attracts good luck and provides support to the whole family.
Jackfruit is an evergreen plant that belongs to the mulberry family.
The exotic fruit is native to India and Bangladesh.
Today it is also cultivated in Asia, East Africa, the Americas, the Philippines and
the islands of Oceania.
Varieties from Southeast Asia or the Philippines are considered the highest quality: they are
denser and more fragrant.
The tree itself is very tall, it reaches a height of 22-25 meters, and its leaves never
fall.
They are leathery, densely colored, more than 20 cm long.
At the moment when the jackfruit tree blooms, very large flowers grow directly on the trunk,
and smaller ones grow on the branches.
It can take up to 8 months from flowering to the final ripening of the fruits, and they
grow on a wide part of the branches closer to the trunk, because due to their large size,
the fruits can break thin branches.
Both male and female flowers are on the same plant.
Female flowers are larger and are located directly on the trunk, male flowers are smaller
and are located on thin branches.
The flowers are inconspicuous in appearance.
Male inflorescences are hidden in the crown of the tree.
Pollinated by wind and insects, often hand-pollinated on farms.
Jackfruit fruits are tied from female flowers on a tree trunk.
Such large fruits could not hold on to thin branches.
Therefore, fruits are formed where the trunk is strong enough.
In a tropical climate, there is no seasonal ripening of fruits, they are tied and ripen
all the time, you can try it absolutely at any time of the year.
But still in Asia there is a peak harvest.
So, depending on the climatic region, fruit picking lasts from March to September, and
for off-season varieties - from September to December.
The yield ranges from 150 large fruits to 500 medium-sized fruits from one tree per
year.
At this time, jackfruit fruits are harvested en masse.
Farmers pack the fruits in nets and send them to local markets.
All markets are littered with fruits.
It is important here that the fruits are not overripe, their age must be sufficient for
natural ripening.
Overripe fruits have a strong aroma.
To choose a ripe, good fruit, you need to look so that the peel is undamaged and has
a yellow-green color.
It should have a slight scent.
In addition, you should pay attention to the distance between the spikes of the jackfruit.
If the spikes are large and evenly spaced, they are tasty fruits.
You should definitely avoid choosing fruits with sharp thorns.
These are young and unripe fruits.
In Vietnam, jackfruit is sold at a price of 25,000 Vietnamese dong (our 83 rubles) per
kilogram, if you buy a whole fruit.
Cut fruits are more expensive.
There are several varieties of exotic plants.
Varieties are divided into dense and soft.
There are trees with seedless fruits, with tender or dry flesh.
Each variety of fruit has its own flavor notes, so it is not easy to describe them all.
Locals recommend trying several varieties of fruit in order to have a complete picture
of its taste.
The structure of the pulp, depending on the variety or degree of maturity, is viscous,
crispy or soft.
Jackfruit also oxidizes very quickly!
At first, the fruit is pure white inside, and then it starts to turn brown.
This is the main reason why young jackfruit cannot be exported abroad.
The peel of the fruit is thick, dense, smooth, pimply or with small spines.
Color and structure are determined by the variety and maturity of the fruit.
Fibrous sweet pulp with shades of yellow or delicate orange, consists of pronounced fibers.
In different varieties, it is soft, crispy or viscous.
It consists of several large lobules with a large bone inside.
The smooth pits of the jackfruit are like large beans, reaching up to 4-6 cm in size.
They are light brown in color, wrapped in a white membrane and contained in each segment.
Their total number in one fruit can reach from 300 to 500 pieces.
Inside the seeds are white and crispy.
Unripe and ripe fruits taste and smell differently.
Ripe fruits make an empty sound when tapped.
What jackfruit tastes like, everyone defines it in their own way, but everyone agrees that
the fruit is sweet.
Some taste berries, chocolate, caramel or chewing gum.
Ripe jackfruit smells like pineapple and banana at once.
Connoisseurs catch ephemeral "acetone" notes.
You can appreciate the aroma of the pulp only by cleaning the fruit.
And peeling fruit is very easy.
Before cleaning, you need to remove the stalk.
In this case, it is better to wear kitchen gloves or grease your hands with vegetable
oil.
So the skin of the hands is protected from latex.
It is contained in the peel and washed with difficulty.
Then cut the fruit in half lengthwise or into several pieces.
Cut the core and remove it, do not eat it, then press on the peel - so the pulp, divided
into slices, will easily fall apart.
Using a sharp knife, you need to carefully remove this pulp and remove the pits of the
jackfruit.
In the refrigerator in this form, it can be stored for no more than 5 days, so it is best
to clean the fruit immediately before use.
If the fruit is frozen, its pulp can be stored for up to 2 months.
Jackfruit wood is considered one of the best for making furniture.
It is most valuable at the age of about 25 years.
The wood of the tree is golden yellow or reddish in color and has a beautiful range of shades.
It is valued for its resistance to pests, fungi, bacteria and moisture.
Durable wood has a medium hardness.
It is in demand as a material for furniture, musical instruments or houses.
She polishes beautifully.
Furniture made from it acquires a truly royal elegance.
The wood is widely used in Sri Lanka and India.
From here it is exported to Europe.
In the 19th century, jackfruit was actively used in order to obtain a yellow dye, which
was considered extremely valuable.
It was commonly used to dye silk or organic cotton.
The most famous example is the saffron-colored robes of Buddhist monks.
Depending on the maturity, jackfruit is eaten both as a fruit and as a vegetable.
Edible pulp, flowers, seeds.
For example, in Sri Lanka, at different stages of growth, locals call jackfruit by different
names.
Here it is not called jackfruit at all.
There are three main names - stripes (young jackfruit, the earliest stage), kos (mature
jackfruit) and waraka (ripe jackfruit).
At the first stage, the jackfruit in Sri Lanka is called a stripe.
At this stage, the pitted slices inside the jackfruit have not yet formed, so the strips
are simply peeled and cut into pieces, then cooked as a curry or fried with meat.
Jackfruit pulp goes great with ice cream and other fruits and sweets, especially the pulp
in coconut milk in the form of fruit salad.
Jackfruit goes well with all meat and fish dishes; you can also cut the fruit into cubes
and decorate on top with savory snacks, such as fish or chicken salads.
Vinaigrette with the addition of jackfruit acquires a very tempting and delicious taste.
Vegetarians around the world have long appreciated this fruit, especially in its unripe incarnation.
The fact is that slices of not quite ripe, slightly sweet breadfruit, being grilled or
stewed with spices and salt, completely replace meat.
They even taste "meaty".
Its advantage over meat is also manifested in the fact that jackfruit does not contain
gluten and therefore is not a source of cholesterol.
Unripe jackfruit can be a wonderful food for diabetics.
The glycemic load of jackfruit is at least 40% lower than that of rice or wheat, making
it a suitable carbohydrate substitute.
If fresh jackfruit is not available to you, then it is quite possible to try chips from
it.
You can easily buy them in online stores.
The main raw material for fried jackfruit chips is fully developed unripe jackfruit.
The bulbs of the fetus are carefully removed from the peel and placenta.
It is very important to handle the bulbs carefully so as not to damage them.
The seeds are removed from the bulbs and cut to the desired size, resulting in chips ranging
in size from 15 to 40 mm.
The chopped onion pieces are blanched for 5 minutes in 90° C. water, then dried at
room temperature for 15 minutes.
Dried onion slices (250 grams) are deep fried in culinary quality sunflower oil.
Jackfruit pulp is used to treat various digestive disorders, and even stomach ulcers.
It
is often used by people who have problems with bowel function, as
the fibers contained in
the fruit normalize digestion.
In addition, the activity of the substances contained in the jackfruit
reduces the effect of alcohol in the blood, allowing you
not to get drunk for a long time.
Therefore, the fruit is eaten before home feasts or corporate parties.
That's all.
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