Fruit, vegetable or meat, jackfruit is truly the "jack of all foods" (quote). Packed with nutrients, a pleasant texture and a versatile flavor, this Asian staple is becoming increasingly popular around the world. In this article I will talk about jackfruit; where it originated, the practices of its cultivation, its appearance and the many uses of the fruit and the tree. The jackfruit native to southwestern India; It grows mainly in the rainforests of the Western Ghats mountains. While there is no specific evidence as to when jackfruit was first discovered, it is a quote from the Greek philosopher Theophrastus. "There is also another tree which is very large and has wonderfully sweet and large fruits; it is used for food by the wise men of India who wear no clothes." (quote here) Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay This quote from around 300 BC is believed to be about jackfruit. The fruit spread to other parts of India, Southeast Asia, the East Indies, Africa and the Fertile Crescent. In more recent years, due to growing popularity, it has been introduced in Brazil, Australia, Hawaii and Florida. Jackfruit or "poor man's fruit" is mentioned in many ancient Hindu texts including Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita and Jataka Tales. It is also commonly offered along with other fruits to Hindu deities as a symbol of self-sacrifice. Easy to grow and drought tolerant once mature, jackfruit has become a staple crop for farmers in Southeast Asia. Reaching up to 80 feet tall, the tree thrives in humid tropical climates and covers nearly 14,826 acres in India. Related to the breadfruit, mulberry and fig families, the tree has large, glossy leaves and is planted to provide shade. The jackfruit harvest season varies from early May to late October depending on the cultivar and origin. As it grows, a sticky latex slime oozes out of the fruit, but as it ripens, the amount dissipates. A few days before harvesting, small cuts will also be made at the base of the fruit to continue the draining process. “When the fruit is ripe, it makes a dull, dull noise when tapped.” (quote here). Once the hollow sound is obtained, farmers will use clippers, loppers or a scythe to cut the fruit with steam. It takes about 3-10 days for the fruit to fully ripen. Growing up to 100 pounds and 3 feet long, the jackfruit is the largest fruit borne by the tree. While the average fruit only ranges from 10 to 15 pounds and is a foot long, there are more than 60 different varieties, all varying in size and taste. This large fruit has a hard, green or yellow skin covered in hundreds of cone-shaped spikes. The interior is described as consisting of "large 'bulbs'" (fully developed perianths) of yellow, banana-flavored flesh, crowded between narrow ribbons of thin, tough undeveloped perianths (or perigones) and a central, concise core. ( quote here). Inside the fruit there are also seeds, perfectly edible and with a flavor similar to chestnuts. As for the bulbs, they make up 25-40% of the weight of the fruit and mainly have a ripe flavor and consistency. unripe. When the bulbs are not fully ripe they have a neutral flavor like that of potatoes and take on the flavor and seasonings with which they are cooked. Young jackfruit has a meaty texture and shreds almost like pulled pork, so it is mainly used in dishes. It's getting salty.