The plant with the beautiful name jackfruit is also called the Indian bread tree. And this is right, because it is really a close relative of breadfruit. Jackfruit received the proud title of the national fruit of Bangladesh. And its fruits are very large, up to 90 cm long and up to 34 kg in weight. Therefore, they are considered to be the largest edible fruits that grow on trees. Fruits have a very thick rind, they have a green color before ripening, then grow yellow-green or yellow with a brown shade as they grow.
Ripe fruits make a hollow sound when tapped. Inside, they are divided into several large lobules, which contain a sweet flesh of yellow color, consisting of pronounced fibers. Jackfruit fruits are very juicy, they contain several very large oblong-shaped seeds. The smell of jackfruit cannot be confused with anything: it is very pleasant, but very specific, resembling at the same time the aroma of banana and pineapple. In addition to this smell of an exotic fruit, it contains light notes that seem artificial: it also smells like a very ripe melon, as if it was added with acetone-based liquid.
But the peel does not have such a pleasant smell, it is somewhat specific, although it is clear that this is the smell of natural fruit. In addition, the skin contains latex, which is very actively glued, so if you are going to carve a jackfruit, put on gloves or simply brush your hands with sunflower oil. Another beauty of the jackfruit is that it can be stored for a very long time, up to 2 months. The main thing is that the fruit is not over-ripe, otherwise it will deteriorate very quickly.
Jackfruit is native to India and Bangladesh, but now it is most actively grown in Asia and the Philippines. You can find it in East Africa, less often on the islands of Oceania and in the New World. The tree itself is very tall: it reaches 20 meters, and its leaves never fall off. At the moment when the jackfruit tree blooms, very large flowers grow directly on the trunk, and smaller ones – on the branches. It can take up to 8 months from flowering to final ripening of the fruits, and they grow on a wide part of the branches closer to the trunk, since, due to their large size, the fruits can break thin branches.
Jackfruit wood is often used for building houses, furniture is also produced from it, since this wood has a very beautiful golden hue, and is most known for its durability.
Jackfruit was used extensively in the 19 century to produce a yellow dye that was considered extremely valuable. Usually it was used for dyeing silk or organic cotton, including used for dyeing monks’ clothes. From the wood itself they also extract the substance from which high-quality glue is made.
How to choose
Pay attention to the jackfruit skin: it should be yellow-green and free from damage. A good peel has a high density, but it is not firm: an elastic and stretched peel means that the fruit is ripe enough. Pay attention also to the smell: if it is too strong, it means that the fruit has overripe.
Peeling the fruit is very simple: cut it in half lengthways or into several pieces, cut the core, and then press down on the rind – so the pulp, divided into slices, easily falls apart. Using a sharp knife, carefully remove the pulp and remove the jackfruit pits. It can be kept in the refrigerator for no more than 5 days in this form, so try to clean it immediately before using it. If you freeze it, the pulp will last up to 2 months.
Calorie and chemical composition
Jackfruit is almost completely fat-free, however, it is quite nutritious, as it contains a large amount of carbohydrates. 100 g of raw fruit contains 94 kcal, in canned – 92 kcal. This means that if consumed in moderation, you can easily maintain your figure.
Chemical composition (on 100 g)
Caloric content 94 kcal Proteins 1,46 g Fats 0,29 g Carbohydrates 2,4 g Fatty acids 0,062 g Dietary fiber 1,61 g Water 73,2 g Ash 1 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A 15 μg Vitamin B9 14 μg Vitamin B6 0,11 μg Vitamin B2 0,1 μg Vitamin B1 0,03 μg Ascorbic acid (C) 6,68 mg Vitamin PP 0,4 mg
Macro and microelements
Potassium 300 mg Magnesium 37,2 mg Iron 0,58 mg Calcium 33,9 mg Phosphorus 36 mg Sodium 3,1 mg Manganese 0,2 mg Zinc 0,4 mg Copper 187 μg Selenium 0,59 μg
Useful Properties
Ripe fruit contains up to 40% juicy pulp, which is very nutritious and contains a large amount of carbohydrates – even more than bread contains. That is why in India jackfruit is called bread for the poor, as this fruit is very cheap there. No less nutritious are the seeds, which are usually fried and eaten a little: they contain about 38% carbohydrates.
Freshly eat jackfruit, simply by removing the pulp, and also make sweets from it like jelly or marmalade. The immature ones are cooked like vegetables: they can be boiled or fried, stewed and then eaten. Mature cut pulp can be freely frozen and stored in the refrigerator for a long time. In cooking, even flowers are used: they are added to sauces consisting of shrimp or hot pepper. Fresh leaves are often added to a variety of salads, including fruit. In India, all parts are used from fruit: even the peel is pickled or sugared, and also because of the low price of the fruit, it is often used as animal feed.
In desserts, fruit pulp is often used as an addition to ice cream, in fruit salads, and often the pulp is added to coconut milk, which emphasizes the taste.
Even jam is made from jackfruit, which is used to fill pies or open pies, fruits can simply be cut and baked neat. When it comes to savory dishes, this fruit is great with any meat, fish and seafood: you can add it to hot dishes, or use it to decorate savory appetizers and salads. Jackfruit is often used as a side dish for meat, nutritious and tasty: for this, it is cut, the pulp is extracted from it, which is grilled for just a few minutes. It is often used for stuffing baked poultry. Jackfruit perfectly complements other vegetables: gourmets cut it even into a vinaigrette, which gives it a particularly piquant taste.
From Thai, the name of jackfruit can be translated as “support” or “help”, so Thais believe that the tree can bring good luck to its owner. That is why it is grown in many gardens right next to the house. In addition, the seeds are credited with the power of a talisman, which should protect the owner from wounds inflicted by firearms or sharp objects. This property is attributed to the seeds due to the fact that they have a copper color with a green tint, and Thai folklore considers copper to be a magical metal.
For medical purposes, jackfruit is also widely used as a medicine: for example, its roots are brewed for quick help with diarrhea, flowers help to have antidiuretic properties. Ripe jackfruits have an unexpressed laxative property. Herbal tea from the leaves of this fruit helps to increase the amount of milk from the mother.
Hazardous properties
Sometimes there is an individual intolerance to this fruit or some of its components. Also, if you’ve never tried jackfruit, eat it in small amounts and be very careful, as over-indulgence can lead to indigestion.
The pulp of this fruit is used to treat various digestive disorders, and even stomach ulcers. By the way, it is often used by people who have problems with the work of the intestine, as the fibers contained in the fruit normalize digestion. In addition, the activity of the substances contained in jackfruit, reduces the effect of alcohol in the blood, allowing for a long time not to get drunk.
The flesh helps reduce pressure and strengthen the immune system. In some countries, the fruit is used to treat pharyngitis or to get rid of fever. In addition, roasted seeds are used as an aphrodisiac.
The vitamins contained in jackfruit, folic acid, as well as magnesium, stimulate the creation of blood cells. They support good vision, and also make the walls of blood vessels more elastic and durable. Fruit seeds give the effect of a surge of energy, although it does not last long, but still gives a huge surge of energy and the possibility of vigorous physical activity.
It is believed that the fruits of jackfruit belong to substances that can slow down the formation of cancerous tumors due to the special substances included in the composition. In addition, the fruit is also credited with a serious anti-aging effect: it is believed that with regular consumption, the anti-aging effect becomes noticeable, the skin becomes more elastic, softer and smoother. The iron contained in fruits prevents anemia, and copper plays an important role in the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. Thus, jackfruit is able to normalize hormonal levels.
If you have the opportunity, be sure to add it to the list of regularly consumed products, since the benefits of the jackfruit are invaluable, and the pleasant taste of the jackfruit is enjoyed by both children and adults. In addition, vegetarians all over the world use it very actively, because of its qualities and characteristics, it perfectly replaces meat. In particular, if the pulp is preserved in sea water, which is done in factories, it will simply be an excellent vegetable substitute for meat.
