It is known as Jack Fruit and its most striking feature is its size, much bigger than that of an ostrich egg. It can weight up to 35 kilos and be about 90 centimetres long and 40 wide. In Bangladesh, it is considered the national fruit; however, it can also be found in Malaga. In fact, it has already been marketed for a while in the Costa del Sol by the company Málaga Natural, which is specialised in supplying the planet's most exotic fruits. The Malaga-based firm sells an average of 12,000 tonnes of exotic fruits per year. Much of this volume corresponds to strawberries, but its portfolio includes more than 300 really exotic fruits.
Málaga Natural attended Fruit Attraction, in Madrid, looking for clients for these products. The firm showcased some Jack Fruits which, while small, were larger than a 10 kilo watermelon.
The tree can reach a height of 20 metres. Its crown is dense and the trunk can be up to four metres wide.
The fruit, the largest in the world, is yellow on the inside, with a colour similar to that of mangoes. Its juice is slightly acidic and deeply sweet, with a flavour reminiscent to a mix of mango and orange. Its appearance is not pretty. It has a rough, green skin with bumps. When ripe, it changes to a brown colour.
Inside it's like a cherimoya, but much larger; however, it is full of segments, each with its own stone or seed to be removed by hand. Since it has plenty of latex, it is sticky and you must be skilful to slice it, because that prevents the knife from cutting properly. In some parts of the world the latex is used to make syrups. Seeds are also roasted and eaten like chestnuts.
Also noteworthy is its smell, which is not pleasant when ripe; however, as a dessert it has a flavour that many people like. In Bangladesh, the seeds are sun-dried and fried.
The tree doesn't tolerate drought and grows in low and humid regions. It bears fruit all year round, but it become more productive between February and July.
Source: diariosur.es
