Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is grown throughout Vietnam for its fruits and wood. There are many kinds of jackfruit, characterized mainly by their firm and starchy pulp, or softer, smaller and juicy pulp. The largest of all tree-born fruits, the jackfruit may reach 20-90cm long and 15-50cm wide, with weight ranging from 4-50kg.
Jackfruit is not only fragrant and delicious, but also healthful
Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is grown throughout Vietnam for its fruits and wood. There are many kinds of jackfruit, characterized mainly by their firm and starchy pulp, or softer, smaller and juicy pulp. The largest of all tree-born fruits, the jackfruit may reach 20-90cm long and 15-50cm wide, with weight ranging from 4-50kg.
Jackfruit contains many vitamins and minerals, and offers numerous health benefits. Given its isoflavones, antioxidants and phytonutrients, the fruit is considered to have cancer-fighting properties. It is also known to help cure ulcers and indigestion.
Ripe jackfruit is often consumed fresh as a fragrant, sweet and tasty dessert. Dehydrated jackfruit flesh (also known as jackfruit chips), or its preserves, is a snack of choice of quite a few Vietnamese families, especially during Lunar New Year.
In Vietnam, particularly in the central region, the flesh, fibers and seeds of young jackfruit are often used to prepare many salads (with shrimp, pork or beef and aromatic herbs and roasted peanuts or sesame) and soups (often with shrimp and certain aromatic herbs).
According to traditional medicine, young jackfruit is considered to be good for the spleen and liver. It is highly recommended for nursing mothers. Young jackfruit flesh is remarkably similar in texture to chicken, thus it is an excellent vegetarian substitute for meat.
Jackfruit seeds contain 70% of starch. The seeds can be boiled well, or boiled and then roasted, to be served as a snack. Roasted seeds are believed to be an aphrodisiac.
Jackfruit wood is often used to make houses, doors and windows, furniture and statues of gods thanks to its hardness and durability.
In traditional Vietnamese medicine, jackfruit is considered to be sweet and can be used to quench the thirst and detoxify the body against the bad impact of alcoholic abuse.
To treat boils or external ulcers, squeeze fresh jackfruit leaves and apply this stuff onto the affected areas a few times a day to relieve pain and swelling, and accelerate healing. Jackfruit latex can also be used in the same way to cure boils and external ulcers.
Jackfruit trunks and barks have long been used as a sedative, or as a remedy for those with high blood pressure.
(Source: SGT)
