Jackfruit

The jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is an amazing tropical plant which bears the largest tree fruit in the world. 

A good size Khanun tree beside our house

It comes originally from Southwest India where it was called Chakka in the Malayalam language.  When the Portuguese arrived there they called it "Jakka" and later the British named it Jak or Jack fruit.
Archaeological evidence indicates that it has been cultivated for at least 3000, perhaps as much as 6000 years. It is the national tree of Bangladesh and is very common in Southeast Asia and Southern China. It has also become popular in areas of South America and Africa wherever conditions allow it to thrive.

Here in Thailand it is called "khanun". Thai tradition suggests that khanun trees growing near the house bestow support and good fortune on the family.

Here Ael is holding the first fruit of the season from the tree pictured above. On my first visit to Thailand, Ael and I bought a jackfruit in a local market. We found the fruit very tasty so Ael saved some seeds and planted a few in a pot. Later, when we bought land and built our house, we planted one of the seedlings here.

The tree is now at least 10 meters tall and reliably bears a multitude of big fruit every year.

We like to eat the fresh ripe fruit which is aromatic and sweet. The yellow-orange fruit forms a jacket covering the large oval seeds which are also perfectly edible. The seeds are reported to be rich in protein, potassium, calcium and iron.

We eat the seeds boiled and sometimes we can eat unripe fruit and  seeds pounded together and made into a spicy curry.

Recently, cultivation of Jackfruit trees is being promoted as a highly productive, drought resistant and environmentally friendly provider of food security in times of concern over climate change.  

Nutrition Facts - Jackfruit Pulp   Amount Per 100 grams Calories 95

% Daily Value*
Total Fat                      0.6 g	0%
Saturated fat                  0.2 g	1%
Polyunsaturated fat            0.1 g
Monounsaturated fat            0.2 g
Trans fat                      0 g
Cholesterol                    0 mg	0%
Sodium                         2 mg	0%
Potassium 448 mg	12%
Total Carbohydrate             23 g	7%
Dietary fiber                 1.5 g	6%
Sugar                          19 g
Protein                       1.7 g	3%

Vitamin A	2%	Vitamin C	22%
Calcium	2%	Iron	1%
Vitamin B-6	15%	Vitamin B-12	0%
Magnesium	7%

*Per cent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The wood of the Jackfruit tree is beautiful and versatile, good for furniture, ornaments, casks, and a variety of musical instruments such as this three-stringed Isaan Phin.

The traditional dye which yields the color for the robes worn by forest monks is made by boiling heartwood shavings of the Jackfruit tree.

It is believed to provide good protection against bacteria and odor.