Jackfruit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jackfruit |
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| Jackfruit tree with fruit | |
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Artocarpus
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A. heterophyllus
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| Artocarpus heterophyllus |
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The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), also known as jack tree, fenne, jakfruit, or sometimes simply jack or jak, is a species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family (Moraceae) native to southwest India.
The jackfruit tree is well suited to tropical lowlands, and its fruit is the largest tree-borne fruit, reaching as much as 35 kg (80 lb) in weight, 90 cm (35 in) in length, and 50 cm (20 in) in diameter. A mature jackfruit tree can produce about 100 to 200 fruits in a year. The jackfruit is a multiple fruit, composed of hundreds to thousands of individual flowers, and it is the fleshy petals that are eaten.
The jackfruit tree is a widely cultivated and popular food item throughout the tropical regions of the world. Jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh.
Cultivation
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The jackfruit has played a significant role in Indian agriculture for centuries. Archeological findings in India have revealed that jackfruit was cultivated in India 3000 to 6000 years ago. It has also been widely cultivated in southeast Asia. Stingless bees such as Tetragonula iridipennis are jackfruit pollinators, and as such, play an important role in jackfruit cultivation.
The jackfruit also provides a potential solution to countries facing problems with food security, such as several countries of Africa. In terms of taking care of the plant, minimal pruning is required; cutting off dead branches from the interior of the tree is only sometimes needed.
Aroma
Jackfruit have a distinctive sweet and fruity aroma. The inside of the fruit has been described as smelling of pineapple and banana. After roasting, the seeds may be used as a commercial alternative to chocolate aroma. The flesh of the fruit is starchy and fibrous and is a source of dietary fiber.
The flavor is comparable to a combination of apple, pineapple, mango, and banana. Jackfruit is commonly used in South and Southeast Asian cuisines. The ripe and unripe fruit is used, as are the seeds.
Wood
The wood of the tree is used for the production of musical instruments. In Indonesia, hardwood from the trunk is carved out to form the barrels of drums used in the gamelan, and in the Philippines, its soft wood is made into the body of the kutiyapi, a type of boat lute. It is also used to make the body of the Indian string instrument veena.
The golden yellow timber with good grain is used for building furniture and house construction in India. The ornate wooden plank called avani palaka, made of the wood of the jackfruit tree, is used as the priest's seat during Hindu ceremonies in Kerala. In Vietnam, jackfruit wood is prized for the making of Buddhist statues in temples and fish sauce barrels.
Jackfruit wood is widely used in the manufacture of furniture, doors, and windows, and in roof construction. The heartwood is used by Buddhist forest monastics in Southeast Asia as a dye, giving the robes of the monks in those traditions their distinctive light-brown color.
Commercial availability
Outside of its countries of origin, fresh jackfruit can be found at food markets throughout Southeast Asia. It is also extensively cultivated in the Brazilian coastal region, where it is sold in local markets. It is available canned in sugary syrup, or frozen, already prepared and cut. Dried jackfruit chips are produced by various manufacturers. In northern Australia, particularly in Darwin, jackfruit can be found in outdoor produce markets during the dry season. Outside of countries where it is grown, jackfruit can be obtained year-round, both canned or dried.
Jackfruit industries are established in Sri Lanka and Vietnam, where the fruit is processed into products such as flour, noodles, papad, and ice cream. It is also canned and sold as a vegetable for export. The wood of the jackfruit tree is important in Sri Lanka and is exported to Europe; it is termite-proof and is superior to teak for building furniture.
Images for kids
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Jackfruit tree illustrated from one of the earliest natural history books about China by Jesuit Missionary author Michael Boym in 1656.
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Jackfruit tree trunk showing texture and coloration
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A Jackfruit tree
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Flower buds and leaves of a jackfruit tree
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Jackfruit tree with fruits
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Jack fruits in India
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Jackfruit flesh
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Jack-fruit in Mymensingh, Bangladesh
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Opened jackfruit
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Jackfruit seeds
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Packaged jackfruit chunks, seasoned with paprika, tomato and other herbs and spices. When prepared in this way, jackfruit has the look and texture of meat and is used as a meat substitute.
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Vegan "pulled pork" style jackfruit burgers
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Jackfruit curry (Sri Lanka)
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Green jackfruit and potato curry (West Bengal)
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Jackfruit masala (India)
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Jackfruit fried in coconut oil from Kerala, India
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Jackfruit (unripe) cutlet, India
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Kripik nangka, jackfruit chips (Indonesia)
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Gudeg (left), jackfruit curry with palm sugar (Indonesia)
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Ginataang langka, jackfruit in coconut milk (Philippines)
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Halo-halo, shaved ice dessert with various fruits and toppings (Philippines)
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Packed jackfruit sold in a market
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Selling jackfruit in Bangkok
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Jackfruit at a fruit stand in Manhattan's Chinatown
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Cut jackfruit
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Polythene-packaged cut jackfruit
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Extracting the jackfruit arils and separating the seeds from the flesh
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See also
In Spanish: Yaca para niños
