Jackfruit is a main species of fruit. It belongs to the Artocarpus genus and hails from the mulberry family. Its habitat is the tropical lowlands. This fruit is one of the most nutritious and delicious one in the edible fruit kingdom.

Scientific Name

Scientific name for jackfruit is Artocarpus heterophyllus.

Description

Jackfruit is does not look very attractive from outside but the flesh inside is simply irresistibly delicious looking as well as tasting.

Fruits: This fruit is about 20 inches in diameter and 36 inches in length. Exterior of the fruit skin ranges from light to dark green in color. The pulp inside is like an aggregation of many yellow colored bulbs with oval seeds inside those bulbs.

Smell: It has a strong and sweet essence that can be smelled from far away.

Taste: Ripe flesh of this fruit has an extremely strong sweet taste. Raw fruit tastes meaty and is eaten as a vegetable.

Trees: The trees spread their large branches. The trunk is broad and of hard wood.

Leaves: Leaves of this tree are oval shaped. The texture is leathery and glossy. They are dark green colored with very prominent midrib and veins.

Flowers: The flowers are light green in color in young stage. They are oblong and wide as well as swollen. When the flowers mature their colors turns into dark green colored with yellow colored pollens that shred after flowering.

History & Origin

Apparently, jackfruits bear their origin in the Western Ghat region of India. In the year 1782, this fruit was introduced to Jamaica. In the mid 19^th century, it was brought to Brazil where it became very popular.

Distribution

Hailing its origin in the Western Ghats of India, jackfruit is now cultivated all over India, Ceylon, Malaya, East Indies, Burma and southern parts of China. It is also grown in Philippines, parts of Queensland as well as Mauritius. The fruit has become popular in Kenya and Uganda of Africa as well as Brazil, including many parts of the new world.

Nutrition Information

Know the right nutritional facts and value containing in per 100 gm of jackfruit.

Edibility

Jackfruit is not only nutritious but also very delicious a fruit. The ripe, sweet fruit is eaten raw as a fruit only. It is eaten as a vegetable in its young stage. It is cooked in a spicy stew or even curry. The seeds of ripe fruit are equally popular as the young fruit. These seeds are boiled in salt water and then cooked in various forms and eaten.

Health Benefits

Jackfruit is extremely nutritious and thus is very beneficial for health. Every nutrient of this fruit benefits every part of our body.

• It strengthens our body against viral infections and bacteria.
• This fruit is highly anti-oxidant.
• It improves the immunity system by supporting white blood corpuscles in their working.
• Regular consumption of this fruit prevents cancer. It contains phytonutrients that help reduce cancer initiating free radicals.
• It contains anti-aging properties.
• This fruit contains anti-ulcer properties.
• Its high fiber content helps the digestive system. It clears bowel movement.
• Its high vitamin A content aids against nigh-blindness. Even under normal circumstances, it improves eyesight.
• The entire vitamin group content is very beneficial skin.
• Jackfruit is a very healthy and fast energy booster fruit.
• The potassium present in this fruit helps lower blood pressure.
• Since this fruit helps in maintaining blood pressure thus it checks cardiac attacks.
• Root of this plant helps in controlling asthma.
• Calcium and magnesium content in this fruit helps in checking bone associated disarray.
• It is rich in iron and thus prevents anemia.
• Copper present in this fruit helps in maintaining a healthy thyroid.
• It also regulates blood sugar level.
• The calcium content in this fruit also aids during blood clotting.

Side Effects & Allergies

Though jackfruit is extremely nutritious and very beneficial for health but still it has some side effects and may even cause adverse effects to those who are already allergic to this fruit.

• Those who are suffering from birch pollen syndrome should avoid consuming this fruit.
• Eating this fruit might amplify coagulation for those who are experiencing any kind of blood related disorders.
• Diabetic patients should avoid consuming it because this fruit can change the tolerance capacity of glucose in the body.
•  People undergoing therapy for immunosuppresison should avoid eating the seeds of this fruit because these seeds are immunostimulative.
• Jackfruit suppresses sexual arousal and libido in men.
• Over consumption of this fruit can lead to stomach upset, due to its high fiber content.

Recipes

The flesh of ripe jackfruit is widely eaten in raw form as a fruit. It is also eaten in fruit salads. Ripe jackfruit is also cooked in custard.

Raw jackfruit is cooked as a vegetable into curry and many more spicy recipes. It is also sliced into thin slices and deep fried for snacking. It is also made into many starters like cutlets, chops and chips.

Seeds of jackfruit is boiled and softened then cooked or deep fried as a snack.

Season

Jackfruit is available in stores in canned form round the year. But original season for jackfruits to ripen is spring to late summer. Unripe jackfruit is found naturally throughout the year in Asia.

Uses

This fruit is very useful to mankind. Its luscious taste and enticing smell makes it one of the most popular fruits worldwide. Apart from its edibility it has many medicinal uses and even commercial uses. The tree finds its use in spiritual purpose as well.

Edible Uses

• The ripe fruit is eaten mostly raw.
• It is also cooked in some milk based deserts.
• It is also served in fruit salad.
• Seeds are cooked and fried for edible purposes.
• Raw fruit is eaten as a vegetable.

Medicinal Uses

• Extracts of the root of this tree is known to cure fever.
• The same extract is useful in curing diarrhea.
• The roots are helpful in aiding asthma patients.
• Ripe fruit flesh is helpful in maintaining blood pressure and thus is prescribed to high BP patients.

Other Uses

• Musical instruments are being made from the wood of this tree. Indian “veena”, “kanjira” and mridangam”; Philippine “lute”; Indonesian drums and many more such instruments are carved out of this wood.
• Timber of golden-yellow color is used in making furniture.
• This wood is also used in making houses, doors, windows, roofs and beams of houses in southern parts of India.
• Wooden planks are made out of this wood. These planks are used in India during religious ceremonies by priests.
• It is a ritual among the Buddhists forest monastics to dye the monks’ robes with the heartwood of jackfruit tree for the light brown color.

Interesting Facts

Here are some fun and interesting facts about jackfruits.

• This is the largest edible fruit.
• It is highly nutritious and very beneficial for health.
• It is a wonder tree. Every part of it is useful to mankind. The fruit is eaten, root extracts have medicinal value, furniture is made of its wood and the leaves are fed by the cattle in farms.