Jack(fruit)and Jill Went Up the Hill
Jack(fruit) and Jill Went Up the Hill
Yes, this title doesn’t make sense! And yes, we chose to use it anyway. Jackfruit makes us a bit creative like that. Artocarpus heterophyllus, aka jackfruit, is a native of tropical Asia. India is the largest global producer of jackfruit. This exotic fruit is very popular in Kerala and is now its state fruit. Chakka (chekkai) in Malayalam means “group of fruits joined together”. Garcia da Orta, a Portuguese scholar, wrote about the fruit as jaca in his journal in 1563, and the name stuck! It translated to jackfruit in English.
The greenish raw jackfruit is cooked as a vegetable. The brown-rind fruit with yellow pulp is quite sweet and when ripened is considered a popular delicacy because of its sweetness. The seeds inside the fruit can also be cooked and eaten.
- Jackfruit seed is very rich in digestible starch, proteins, and minerals. Consuming the seed directly prevents constipation.
- The fleshy fruit is fiber-rich and detoxifies the system. It’s said to contribute to a glowing complexion.
- It is a great source of vitamin C and antioxidants.
- It’s also a rich source of simple sugar like fructose and sucrose and therefore a source of instant energy.
- The fruit is filled with copper a potent mineral to keep thyroid metabolism healthy.
So how can you introduce jackfruit to your diet? Jackfruit can be curried, sandwiched, or used in halwa (a sugary Indian confection). 🌼
