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Jackfruit

The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), an indigenous fruit tree of south India, is popular in the Southeast Asian region where not only is the fruit consumed but also its cooked seeds.

Description
It produces the world's largest fruit, with a few specimens weighing almost 50 kg, although 10 to 20 kg tends to be the norm. The plant belongs to the Moraceae family and grows up to 20 m. The leaves are oblong, oval or elliptic in form and their length ranges from 4 to 9 inc. The shiny, deep green leaves have a slightly leathery texture. Juvenile leaves can be distinguished by their lobes. Both male and female flowers are borne, but they drop soon after flowering. The tree usually bears fruit by the age of three years and can yield up to 250 fruits annually upon maturity. The compound fruit has a thick, yellowish-green rind to protect the large, egg-shaped seeds. The seeds are covered by a layer of edible, golden pulp. The pulp is sweet, firm and chewy, with a fairly strong aroma when ripe. Having been cultivated for many years, it is also present in the African and American tropics.

Usage and potential
Food source
The fruit can be eaten fresh, or canned and preserved in syrup. A favourite way to serve the fruit is to remove the seed, chill the fruit pulp and fill the cavity with ice-cream. The tree fulfils a vast number of uses, besides producing fruit. The seeds of the jackfruit can also be eaten. They are a rich source of carbohydrates and are served either roasted or boiled in salt water. Care must be taken to ensure that the seeds are properly cooked, for they contain poison. The unripe fruit is also eaten, but usually as a vegetable or soup, frequently prepared with coconut milk. The rind is used as animal fodder, while consumption of the boiled leaves is said to increase the amount of milk a breast feeding mother produces.

Medicine
Jackfruit leaves also play a significant role in traditional herbal medicines. In Malaysia, a concoction of jackfruit leaf ash and coconut oil is applied to cuts and wounds in order to hasten the healing process. In addition, the root is prescribed as a curative for fever, stomach upsets and even skin afflictions. Furthermore, the sap of the tree is used to remedy snakebites.

Others
The sap is extremely sticky and therefore also utilised as an effective adhesive. In Thailand, Jackfruit seeds are also regarded as potent talismans. The reason for this superstition lies in their coppery colour. According to traditional Thai folklore, copper is a metal with mystical qualities. The tree's durable timber is a valuable commodity in certain parts of Southeast Asia, where teak is in limited supply. The presence of an unusual, golden dye makes the timber very appealing, notably in Bali where it is used extensively by wood craftsmen. It is also favoured as a raw material for building boats and houses, furniture and musical instruments in other parts of the region.

Variant names
Common name: The name 'Jack' is believed to be a Portuguese modification of the Malayalam word chaka, which means "round."
Scientific name: Artocarpus heterophyllus
Malay name: Nangka
Other names: Jakfruit, Jaca



Author
Annalisa Dass



References 
Allen, B. M. (1967). Malayan Fruits. (pp. 202-205). Singapore: Donald Moore Press.
(Call no.: RCLOS 634.09595 ALL)

Burkill, I. H. (1966). A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula. (pp. 249-260). Malaysia: Ministry Of Agriculture and Co-Operatives.
(Call no.: RSING 634.909595 BUR)

Hutton, W. (1996). Tropical fruits of Malaysia & Singapore. (p. 24). Hong Kong: Eric M. Oey.
(Call no.: RSING 634.6 HUT)

Piper, J. M. (1989). Fruits of South-East Asia. (pp. 22-26). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 634.60959 PIP)

The information in this article is valid as at 1999 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history on the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Nature>>Plants
Artocarpus
Fruit--Southeast Asia
Science and technology>>Agriculture>>Fruit crops
Cookery>>Types of meals>>Desserts



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