
Jackfruit was a very confusing fruit for me in Trinidad as some people call it cowa, other people call it chataigne. My understanding is chataigne is breadnut (see above) and cowa is jackfruit. Both Trinidadian fruit are from the same family. Is chataigne a jackfruit?
What is chataigne fruit?
Bilimbi is used in relish, that is very common in a casado. One of the most distinct Trinidadian fruits on the island is chataigne. It is from the same family as breadfruit and jackfruit and a similar size. It can also be referred to as breadnut in Jamaica, Maya Nut or Capomo nut in other countries and katahar in Guyana.
What is a jackfruit?
The jackfruit ( Artocarpus heterophyllus ), also known as jack tree, is a species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family ( Moraceae ). Its origin is in the region between the Western Ghats of southern India, all of Sri Lanka and the rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
What does green jackfruit taste like?
The ripe fruit is sweet (depending on variety) and is more often used for desserts. Canned green jackfruit has a mild taste and meat-like texture that lends itself to being called a "vegetable meat". Jackfruit is commonly used in South and Southeast Asian cuisines.
Is jackfruit popular in Bangladesh?
The fruit is popular in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, among other Southeast Asian countries, and is considered the national fruit of Bangladesh. While it may be reasonably priced in its native countries, jackfruit for sale in the rest of the world is expensive. Jackfruit is not the easiest fruit to prepare.
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What is the other name for chataigne?
The breadnut is a seeded variety of a breadfruit, also known as a katahar and chataigne in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. It grows on what is commonly called a milk tree. Despite the name, it's not a nut at all but rather a fruit. Its botanical name is Brosimum alicastrum, and it's also sometimes called a Maya nut.
Is there another name for jackfruit?
As for the name "jackfruit," it most likely emerged from what the Portuguese called it, "jaca," which was probably a version of a name used in southern India, "chakka pazham." Jackfruit has other names, too: kathal in Bangladesh, kanun in Thailand and nangka in Malaysia.
What do Jamaicans call jackfruit?
2:208:04Jackfruit (Artocarpus Heterophyllus), Jamaica - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd meat like texture that lends itself to being called a vegetable meat jackfruit is commonly usedMoreAnd meat like texture that lends itself to being called a vegetable meat jackfruit is commonly used in salt and southeast asian cuisines it is a non-seasonal fruit and also referred to as poor man's.
Is jackfruit also called breadfruit?
Breadfruits develop at the end of branches while jackfruits develop from stems directly attached to the trunk. While a single breadfruit can grow over 7 lbs, jackfruits are the largest fruit produced from a tree, with the current record held by a 94 lb jackfruit!
What are the disadvantages of jackfruit?
and Warnings Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Allergy to birch pollen or latex: Some people who are allergic to birch pollen or latex might also be allergic to jackfruit. Diabetes: Jackfruit might lower blood sugar levels. There is a concern that it might affect blood sugar control in people with diabetes.
Is jackfruit good for weight loss?
Jackfruit is good for weight loss when consumed the right way. It has high amounts of fibre and contains around 155 calories per cup of diced jackfruit.
Who brought jackfruit to Jamaica?
Originally from South Asia, the jackfruit was brought to Jamaica in 1782 when jackfruit plants are said to have been captured from French ship destined for Martinique and taken to Jamaica.
What is breadfruit called in Jamaica?
Breadfruit, Bresheh and Fruit a Pain are all different names for the same thing. Did you know that Fruit a Pain is literally translated as Fruit of Bread in French? The first trees in Jamaica were planted at Bath Garden in St. Thomas.
What do they call jackfruit in Guyana?
The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), also known as jack tree and locally as Koa in Guyana, is a species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family (Moraceae). Its origin is in the region between the Western Ghats of southern India and the rainforests of Malaysia.
Does jackfruit taste like breadfruit?
The main difference between jackfruit and breadfruit is their flavor. Most jackfruit in North America is sold green and immature, having little flavor of its own but the perfect texture to create a saucy meat alternative. Breadfruit, on the other hand, tastes remarkably like bread.
What is another name for breadfruit?
Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands In the Philippines, breadfruit is known as rimas in Tagalog and kolo in the Visayan languages. It is also called kamansi (also spelled camansi), along with the closely related Artocarpus camansi, and the endemic Artocarpus blancoi (tipolo or antipolo).
Are breadfruit and jackfruit the same family?
Jackfruit and its close relative, breadfruit (A. altilis), belong to the diverse mulberry family (Moraceae). Since individual jackfruits are composed of many ripened ovaries from many densely-packed female flowers, they are technically referred to as multiple fruits.
Is durian and jackfruit the same thing?
As we mentioned before, jackfruit contains latex, and durian does not. The unripe durian tastes rich and bittersweet. Jackfruit pulp tastes like a cross between a banana, mango, and pineapple. The jackfruit smell is musky and fruity, while durian fruit is known for its intense odor.
What is jackfruit called in India?
It is used in different ways all across the country, where it goes by different names: kathal (Hindi), kothaal (Assamese), chakka (Malayali), phanas (Marathi), ponos (Konkani), halasa (Kannadiga).
Does jackfruit taste like breadfruit?
The main difference between jackfruit and breadfruit is their flavor. Most jackfruit in North America is sold green and immature, having little flavor of its own but the perfect texture to create a saucy meat alternative. Breadfruit, on the other hand, tastes remarkably like bread.
What is the national fruit of Trinidad?
CocoriteCocorite is a fruit in Trinidad that comes from the maripa palm, and it's the national fruit of Trinidad and Tobago.
What is the fruit used in curry?
In Bangladesh, the fruit is consumed on its own. The unripe fruit is used in curry, and the seed is often dried and preserved to be later used in curry. In India, two varieties of jackfruit predominate: muttomvarikka and sindoor. Muttomvarikka has a slightly hard inner flesh when ripe, while the inner flesh of the ripe sindoor fruit is soft.
How tall is a Jackfruit tree?
Artocarpus heterophyllus grows as an evergreen tree that has a relatively short trunk with a dense treetop. It easily reaches heights of 10 to 20 m (33 to 66 feet) and trunk diameters of 30 to 80 cm (12 to 31 inches). It sometimes forms buttress roots.
Why are jackfruit trees expanding?
The species has expanded excessively because its fruits, which naturally fall to the ground and open, are eagerly eaten by small mammals, such as the common marmoset and coati. The seeds are then dispersed by these animals, spreading jackfruit trees that compete for space with native tree species. The supply of jackfruit has allowed the marmoset and coati populations to expand. Since both prey opportunistically on bird eggs and nestlings, the increases in marmoset and coati populations are detrimental to local birds.
What is a ripe jackfruit?
Ripe jackfruit arils are sometimes seeded, fried, or freeze-dried and sold as jackfruit chips. Opened jackfruit. The seeds from ripe fruits are edible once cooked, and are said to have a milky, sweet taste often compared to Brazil nuts. They may be boiled, baked, or roasted.
What does jackfruit smell like?
When fully ripe, jackfruit has a strong pleasant aroma, the pulp of the opened fruit resembles the odor of pineapple and banana.
Where did the Jackfruit tree originate?
Its origin is in the region between the Western Ghats of southern India, all of Sri Lanka and the rainforests of Malaysia.
How many fruits does a jack tree produce?
A mature jack tree produces some 200 fruits per year, with older trees bearing up to 500 fruits in a year. The jackfruit is a multiple fruit composed of hundreds to thousands of individual flowers, and the fleshy petals of the unripe fruit are eaten. The ripe fruit is sweet (depending on variety) and is more often used for desserts. Canned green jackfruit has a mild taste and meat-like texture that lends itself to being called a "vegetable meat".
How much does a jackfruit weigh?
First grown in Thailand, this type of jackfruit weighs on the heavier side, at around 17 pounds each, and also delivers plenty of flavor in those speedy growth spurts.
What is the inside of a jackfruit?
The interior layout of a jackfruit is as strange as its outside, with its pouches of edible flesh sitting in small pockets, and wrapped in bright orange or yellow edible coats of skin.
How much does a black gold jackfruit weigh?
Each Black Gold jackfruit can weigh up to an impressive 15 pounds, covered throughout in a deep green hide that’s blanketed in spikes. But on the inside, this type of jackfruit is a big old softy, with orange-colored flesh that’s especially sweet and aromatic.
What does jackfruit taste like?
Jackfruits have a uniquely sweet and fruity smell that beckons anyone curious or hungry enough to try it. And the fruit itself is equally tasty, with a mildly sweet flavor that reads somewhere between pineapple and banana.
What is a cheena?
Technically a jackfruit hybrid, Cheenas are a mixture between a jackfruit and a champedak. As such, this type of jackfruit isn’t quite as big as its cousins, coming in at an average of just 5 pounds, growing in a lighter shade of green and rocking much blunter spikes.
How much does a golden pillow weigh?
Weighing in at an average of 8-12 pounds, there’s still plenty of the Golden Pillow to love, and this type of jackfruit also rocks a uniquely crunchy flesh inside, delivering all the classic jackfruit sweetness with a whole different bite.
Where did Jackfruit land?
Indeed, this may have been where the jackfruit’s story would’ve ended if it weren’t for a French ship which, upon being captured by its mutinous crew, landed in Jamaica and spread the good word of jackfruit throughout the Caribbean.
What is the largest passionfruit in the world?
Barbadine /Giant Granadilla. Also called the giant granadilla because of its humongous size, it is the largest passionfruit in the world. Barbadine is a fruit in Trinidad that comes from an herbaceous vine called passiflora quadrangularis. It can actually grow up to 15 meters. The fruit itself can grow up to a foot long.
What is the fruit that is ripe in Trinidad?
When ripe, the abiu fruit is slightly yellow on the outside. It has a white creamy flesh that you can easily scoop out and eat like a custard. Abiu is also made into milkshakes, smoothies and ice cream, and you can find it all year-round as it is one of the most popular Trinidadian fruits.
How tall is a maripa palm?
The maripa palm can grow as tall as 35 meters and it bears a yellow oblong fruit that’s called cocorite in Trinidad, cusi in Bolivia, inayuga in Peru and rikre in Brazil.
What is the most distinctive fruit in Trinidad?
One of the most distinct Trinidadian fruits on the island is chataigne.
Where is cowa tree native to?
The cowa tree belongs to the breadfruit, fig and mulberry family and it is native to Malaysia and Southern India. Since it is well-suited in tropical climates, jackfruit is also now widely grown in the Caribbean including Trinidad.
Is rambutan a fruit?
21 INCREDIBLE: Cuban Fruits. The rambutan fruit is oval with a single seed.
Where is lychee grown?
Although it has no spikes and the pulp is a lot sweeter. Lychee trees were originally grown in China , but it has since been cultivated in tropical areas including Trinidad and Tobago.
What Is Jackfruit?
It is oblong, green, and looks somewhat like durian, though jackfruit can be even larger. In fact, the jackfruit is the largest fruit that comes from a tree, sometimes reaching 80 pounds and 36 inches long. The fruit is popular in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, among other Southeast Asian countries, and is considered the national fruit of Bangladesh. While it may be reasonably priced in its native countries, jackfruit for sale in the rest of the world is expensive.
What does the smell of jackfruit mean?
The smell of a whole jackfruit will usually indicate its ripeness: The stronger the smell, the riper the fruit. Due to the fruit's size, many stores offer precut jackfruit as well. Whether raw or ripe, make sure to avoid fruit with black or dark spots. Jackfruit can also be purchased frozen, dried, or canned.
How long does jackfruit last in the fridge?
Cut, ripened jackfruit can be stored in plastic in the refrigerator for about one week or the freezer for up to one month.
What is the nutritional value of jackfruit?
Raw jackfruit contains protein and lots of vitamins A and C, as well as calcium and iron. 1 The canned variety has less than the fresh, which is always the case with any vegetable or fruit.
How long to boil jackfruit?
Keep slicing until you have large chunks of fruit (leaving the skin on). Boil the jackfruit chunks for 45 minutes or until the inner flesh is soft and a bit stringy, like chicken.
What is the best vegetable for salad?
It's the unripe, green jackfruit that's the most interesting and useful. It has a texture very similar to chicken or pulled pork, which makes it an excellent "vegetarian meat" for curries, salads, and noodles.
Where does Jackfruit grow?
Jackfruit is a large, prickly fruit that grows on a tropical tree that can reach a height of 80 feet. The fruit grows in tropical Asian regions and is most common in Asian cuisines. It's often used in curries, especially in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries where it's plentiful in the markets. Worldwide, jackfruit is increasingly being ...
History and Cooking
Food columnist and blogger Cynthia Nelson is the author of "Tastes Like Home: My Caribbean Cookbook." Living in Barbados, Cynthia shares her love of the diverse food of the islands.
What Does a Breadnut Look Like?
A breadnut is a round, green fruit with short, dull, regular spikes covering its skin. It's approximately the same size as a breadfruit, but it has a more oblong shape. Inside you'll find white nuts covered by brown shells, all surrounded by white pulp. The shells are only brown when the breadnut is ripe.
A Little History
Tropic Hispanic cultures have valued the breadnut as their main source of food throughout the ages. Not only is it edible and sustaining, but it attracts game from wild pigs to rodents that can be hunted to provide meat. Breadnuts grow abundantly in the warm, wet climates and they're easy to harvest and store.
Cooking With Breadnuts
The flesh and seeds of the breadnut are often made into a curry and cooked with coconut milk. When the breadnut is green, it's treated like a vegetable. Immature breadnuts are often used in stews and soups.

Overview
The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), also known as jack tree, is a species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family (Moraceae). Its origin is in the region between the Western Ghats of southern India, all of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the rainforests of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
The jack tree is well-suited to tropical lowlands, and is widely cultivated throug…
Etymology and common name
The word jackfruit comes from Portuguese jaca, which in turn is derived from the Malayalam language term chakka (Malayalam: chakka pazham), when the Portuguese arrived in India at Kozhikode (Calicut) on the Malabar Coast (Kerala) in 1499. Later the Malayalam name ചക്ക (cakka) was recorded by Hendrik van Rheede (1678–1703) in the Hortus Malabaricus, vol. iii in Latin. Henry Yule transl…
History
The jackfruit was domesticated independently in South Asia and Southeast Asia, as indicated by the Southeast Asian names which are not derived from the Sanskrit roots. It was probably first domesticated by Austronesians in Java or the Malay Peninsula. The fruit was later introduced to Guam via Filipino settlers when both were part of the Spanish Empire. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh and the state fruit of Kerala.
Botanical description
Artocarpus heterophyllus grows as an evergreen tree that has a relatively short trunk with a dense treetop. It easily reaches heights of 10 to 20 m (33 to 66 feet) and trunk diameters of 30 to 80 cm (12 to 31 inches). It sometimes forms buttress roots. The bark of the jackfruit tree is reddish-brown and smooth. In the event of injury to the bark, a milky juice is released.
Food
Ripe jackfruit is naturally sweet, with subtle pineapple- or banana-like flavor. It can be used to make a variety of dishes, including custards, cakes, or mixed with shaved ice as es teler in Indonesia or halo-halo in the Philippines. For the traditional breakfast dish in southern India, idlis, the fruit is used with rice as an ingredient and jackfruit leaves are used as a wrapping for steaming. Jackfruit d…
Wood and manufacturing
The golden yellow timber with good grain is used for building furniture and house construction in India. It is termite-resistant and is superior to teak for building furniture. The wood of the jackfruit tree is important in Sri Lanka and is exported to Europe. Jackfruit wood is widely used in the manufacture of furniture, doors and windows, in roof construction, and fish sauce barrels.
The wood of the tree is used for the production of musical instruments. In Indonesia, hardwood …
Cultural significance
The jackfruit has played a significant role in Indian agriculture for centuries. Archaeological 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.
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 …
Cultivation
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. In addition, twigs bearing fruit must be twisted or cut down to the trunk to induce growth for the next season. Branches should be pruned every three to four years to maintain productivity.