Jackfruit
Jackfruit (lat. Artocarpus heterophyllus) is an evergreen tree from the genus Artocarpus of the Mulberry family (Moraceae). The Almighty awarded the tree with the largest fruits growing on our planet.
One such fruit, weighing up to 35 kilograms, can feed a small village with lunch. And the annual yield of one tree ranges from 100 to 200 fruits. It is not for nothing that Jackfruit is also called “Indian breadfruit”, and its huge fruits (fruits) are called “bread for the poor”.
What”s in your name
The name of the tree “Jackfruit” was borrowed by the Portuguese, who reached India at the end of the 15th century, from the local language. In Portuguese it sounded like “jaca”.
The common English name for the tree, “jackfruit”, was included in the mid-16th century in the major work of the Portuguese physician, García de Horta, in which he described the medicinal herbs of India.
Many centuries later, the American botanist, Ralph Randles Stewart (04/15/1890 — 11/06/1993), suggested that the name of the tree immortalized the name of the Scottish botanist, William Jack (1795 — 1822), who worked as an employee of the East India Company in Bengal, Sumatra and Malaysia.
Description
It would seem that in order to hold giant fruits, the tree must have a thick and tall trunk, as well as strong flexible branches. But the tree cannot boast of its height, growing only up to 20 meters. And the branches are not particularly strong, withstanding only the weight of dense dark green foliage. With their oval shape and size, the leaves resemble Ficus rubber. The surface of the leaves is leathery.
Among the dense foliage, inconspicuous male flowers are hidden on thin branches. Female flowers, although larger than male ones, are also not attractive and are collected in inflorescences. They do not rely on the strength of the branches, and therefore they are located directly on the tree trunk, taking care of the preservation of their offspring.
Using the example of Jackfruit, nature once again shows a person that external beauty is not the main criterion when it comes to getting a good result.
Jackfruit fruit
The fruits of the tree deserve a separate description. After all, their aromatic and nutritious pulp in the countries of Southeast Asia, characterized by a large population, is one of the main foodstuffs, with which only bananas and mangoes can compete.
In fact, the fruit of a tree is a community of small fruits that form a huge fruit. Such fruit can be up to 90 cm long with a diameter of 50 cm. Since Jackfruit branches are thin and fragile, the fruits prefer to form directly on the tree trunk, which guarantees them a strong base.
The fully ripened fruit exudes a fruity, sweet aroma, and in its pulp, banana, apple, pineapple and mango flavors are intricately intertwined, creating a new characteristic jackfruit taste.
Each fruit carries a light brown seed into the world, the smell of which is reminiscent of the smell of rotten onions. Apparently this smell predominates in overripe fruit when they try to store it for a long time.
Chemical composition of the fruit
The pulp of the fruit is three-quarters water (74% to be exact), leaving 23 percent carbohydrates, 2 percent protein and one percent fat. In addition, it is a rich source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, and has moderate levels of vitamin C and potassium. Other chemical elements beneficial to humans are also present in small quantities.
Use in cooking
Different varieties of Jackfruit allow you to use its fruits and seeds in completely different dishes.
Unripe fruits replace vegetables. They are used to cook soups, stews and prepare all kinds of dishes that can only be tasted while in this area.
All kinds of desserts, jelly, and jam are prepared from sweet ripe fruits, which can be stored for a long time.
