Fun Facts
- Jackfruit is sometimes considered the king of fruits because it is also the largest tree fruit. They can grow up to 3 feet long and 18 inches wide, weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh.
- A fully ripe jackfruit is said to smell a bit like a pineapple and a banana.
- The skin of a jackfruit is made up of green spikes and is bumpy in texture.
- Jackfruit has so many uses – it can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is often used in jams, dried as chips or used to flavour ice cream.
- Jackfruit is often used as a plant-based meat alternative in vegetarian and vegan meals because when the fruit is unripe it soaks up flavour easily, and it has a stringy meat-like texture when it is cooked.
Where do we come from?
Jackfruit comes from south-west India. The trees typically grow in tropical and near-tropical conditions across the world. Today, the fruit is grown throughout the whole of India and across parts of south-east Asia including the Phillippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. It can also be found in some parts of America, Australia, Hawaii, parts of Africa and it is very popular in Brazil.
Jackfruit is quickly increasing in popularity. Whilst it only used to be found in specialist food stores, it is now becoming more common in supermarkets. However, it is still unlikely that you will find it in your local small food and grocery shops.
Test yourself! Can you locate these countries on the map?
We are good for you!
Like all fruits and vegetables, jackfruit is low in sodium, calories and fat and it is also a good source of dietary fibre. But jackfruit is especially good for you because …
- It contains a lot of vitamin B6, which is good for boosting your energy levels.
- It is a good source of vitamin A, which is good for your skin and your immune system.
Struggling to find fresh jackfruit?
Jackfruit is very rarely sold fresh outside its countries of production, although it is getting more common in large supermarket stores. Instead, you could try using it tinned or as dried chips, which are usually more readily available in food shops.
Get Cooking! BBQ Pulled Jackfruit
This is such a great vegetarian and vegan alternative! Click here for the recipe.
