The jackfruit, also known as jack tree, is a species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family. Its origin is in the region between the Western Ghats of southern India and the rainforests of Malaysia.
There are over 6 Jackfruit trees varieties.
Black Gold
The Black Gold is an energetic jackfruit, with a dense and highly manageable awning. With annual prune the tree is easily maintained at a height and spread of 2 to 2.5 m with reliable, heavy production of 55 to 90 kg per tree. The fruit are medium in size, averaging of 6.7 kg, with an edible flesh percentage of 35% for each.
The exterior of the fruit is dark green in colour and has sharp fleshy spine. The spines always have a zig-zag it is very difficult to judge the proper harvest time and maturity. The deep orange flesh is soft, with a strong, sweet flavor and aroma. The flesh is removed easily from the fruit compared with other cultivars.
Cheena
The Cheena has an exotic fruit, tree with an Open, low and spreading growth habit and can be maintained at a height and spread of 2.5 m with annual pruning. ‘Cheena’ can always produce 50 to 70 kg per tree. The fruit are long, narrow and uniform in size and shape. The skin is green, with blunt spines which become yellow and open slightly leading maturity.
Fruit are small, and weigh around 2.4 kg and they have an edible flesh percentage of 33%. The flesh is deep orange, soft and fairly fibrous, with an excellent flavor. The fruit has an intense, earthy aroma. Fruit preparation time can be less as 15 minutes, compared to the 1 to 2 hours required for other cultivars.
Cochin
The Cochin Fruit is small and smooth in nature. The tree is low in energy and forms a sparse, upright and narrow awning. The tree can be maintained at a height between 2 and 2.5 m and a spread of 1.5 m with light annual pruning. The fruit are small and smooth in comparison with other cultivars because the spines squash and fruit opens when matured.
Fruit with an average 1.5 kg, with 35% edible fruit percentage. During a quantity of times of the year, the entire fruit can be eaten, including the “rag”. The flesh is firm and mild, with little latex.
Red Bartlett
The Dang Rasimi is an exotic fruit in medium oval shape. The tree is always in an open, spreading and fast growing habit. It must be pruned annually to maintain a height and spread of 3 to 3.5 m. The trees are highly industrious, soft between 75 and 125 kg per tree, while maintaining energetic growth of the tree. The fruit are bright green to pale yellow colour and uniform in shape.
The skin has sharp spines that do not flatten or “open” with maturity. Fruit are medium to large, average of 8 kg, with 32% edible flesh percentage. The flesh is deep orange and firm. It has a mild, sweet flavor and a sweet, enjoyable aroma. ‘Dang Rasimi’ is one of the most energetic jackfruit cultivars, and must be annually pruned to maintain size.
Golden Nugget
The Golden Nugget Variety Tree has a fast growing nature, with a characteristic of dark green, rounded leaf. It forms a dense, spreading awning, which is easily maintained at a height and spread of 2 to 2.5 m. The fruit are small, green and rounded, fleshy spines on the skin. The spines flatten to a smooth, golden-yellow upon maturity. The fruit weigh around 3.2 kg, with an excellent edible flesh percentage of 41%.
The deep orange flesh is soft to medium firm depending on fruit’s ripeness. The flavor is excellent and the flesh has no fiber. ‘Golden Nugget’ fruit will be regularly split open prior to ripen when there are having a heavy rains. Yielding of tree can be maintained at 60 to 80 kg per tree per year.
Golden Pillow
Golden Pillow’ or ‘Mong Tong’, was introduced in the 1980s from Thailand. In its homeland of Thailand it has attained a standing as a fruit of characteristic beauty and quality. The tree is always managed with a height and spread of 3 m and it is small. The fruit average of 3.6 to 5.5 kg with 35 to 40% edible flesh.
There are naturally 65 to 75 seeds per fruit and little latex. The flesh is thick and crisp, with a golden color. The flavor is mild and sweet, with no musky aftertaste. This cultivar is famous for intelligent fruiting, bearing in the second year after planting.
Why Is Jackfruit Good for You? Nutrition, Benefits and How To Eat It
Jackfruit is a unique tropical fruit that has increased in popularity in recent years.
It has a distinctive sweet flavor and can be used to make a wide variety of dishes. It’s also very nutritious and may have several health benefits.
This article will discuss the advantages of adding jackfruit to your diet.
1. Jackfruit Is Packed With Nutrients
Jackfruit has an impressive nutrition profile.
It contains a moderate amount of calories, providing 155 in a one-cup (165-gram) serving. Approximately 92% of the calories come from carbs, while the rest come from protein and a small amount of fat .
Furthermore, jackfruit contains some of almost every vitamin and mineral that you need, as well as a decent amount of fiber .
One cup of sliced fruit provides the following nutrients :
Calories: 155
Carbs: 40 grams
Fiber: 3 grams
Protein: 3 grams
Vitamin A: 10% of the RDI
Vitamin C: 18% of the RDI
Riboflavin: 11% of the RDI
Magnesium: 15% of the RDI
Potassium: 14% of the RDI
Copper: 15% of the RDI
Manganese: 16% of the RDI
What makes jackfruit unique from other fruits is its protein content. It provides more than 3 grams of protein per cup, compared to 0–1 grams in other similar types of fruit, such as apples and mangoes .
Jackfruit is also rich in several types of antioxidants, which are likely responsible for the majority of its health benefits .
Summary Jackfruit is quite healthy. It provides a moderate amount of calories in addition to lots of fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
2. It May Benefit Blood Sugar Control
Jackfruit has several properties that may help with blood sugar management.
It has a fairly low glycemic index (GI), which is a measure of how quickly your blood sugar rises after eating a food. This has been attributed to the fiber it provides, which slows digestion and helps prevent blood sugar spikes .
Diets that include lots of low-GI foods have been shown to be helpful for promoting blood sugar control.
Moreover, jackfruit provides some protein, which may help prevent blood sugar levels from rising too quickly after a meal .
In one study, adults who consumed jackfruit extract were found to have significantly improved blood sugar levels .
Additionally, a study of diabetic mice found that jackfruit leaf extract helped reduce fasting blood sugar levels and provided long-term blood sugar control .
These effects were attributed to jackfruit’s content of flavonoid antioxidants, which are known for their ability to promote balanced blood sugar levels .
Although the results from these studies are promising, more studies of people eating fresh jackfruit are necessary to confirm these potential benefits .
Summary Jackfruit has a low glycemic index and provides some fiber, protein and antioxidants, all of which may promote better blood sugar control.
Jackfruit is high in a few powerful antioxidants that provide various health benefits, including a reduced risk of several diseases.
Antioxidants protect your cells from oxidative stress and inflammation, which often result from damage caused by molecules called free radicals .
Here’s an overview of the antioxidants that are most abundant in jackfruit:
Vitamin C: Jackfruit contains high amounts of vitamin C, which may help prevent the inflammation that can lead to chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer .
Carotenoids: Carotenoids have been shown to help lower inflammation and reduce the risk of various chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease .
Flavanones: Flavanones contain anti-inflammatory properties that may help lower blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels — important factors in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease .
Summary Jackfruit contains a variety of antioxidants that may be helpful for preventing the development of several chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.
4. Other Potential Health Benefits
Jackfruit is said to have several other health benefits that have not been studied specifically.
Immune health: Jackfruit’s content of immune-boosting vitamins A and C may help prevent illnesses. Eating this fruit is also claimed to be helpful for reducing the risk of viral infections .
Preventing skin problems: This fruit provides several nutrients and antioxidants, such as vitamin C, that may improve skin health. There is anecdotal evidence that eating it may slow the aging of your skin .
Heart health: Jackfruit may have the potential to reduce the risk of heart disease due to its content of potassium, fiber and antioxidants .
Furthermore, the roots and extracts have been used in traditional Indian and Sri Lankan medicine to treat several conditions, including asthma, diarrhea and stomach ulcers, but these effects have never been scientifically proven .
Although these reported benefits are not supported by scientific evidence, including jackfruit in your diet is certainly worth a try if you want to improve your health.
Summary There are several potential health benefits of jackfruit that have been reported anecdotally but have not been proven by scientific evidence.
5. Risks of Eating Jackfruit
Although safe for most, some people may need to limit or avoid jackfruit. Certain people are allergic to it, especially those who are allergic to birch pollen .
Moreover, due to its potential to lower blood sugar levels, individuals with diabetes may need to have their medication dosages changed if they eat this fruit on a regular basis.
Nevertheless, consuming jackfruit has never been reported to cause any serious side effects, and it is safe for most people to eat.
Summary There are not any major risks associated with eating jackfruit, with the exception of individuals who are allergic to it.
6. How to Eat It
Jackfruit is very versatile and can be eaten raw or cooked.
To prepare it, you will first want to slice it in half and remove the yellow fruit pods and seeds from the skin and core. You can do this with a knife or your hands.
It is important to note that the white, fibrous part inside of jackfruit is incredibly sticky, so it may be helpful to wear gloves while handling it.
Jackfruit can be consumed plain or cooked into both sweet and savory dishes, depending on its ripeness. Unripe fruit generally tastes best in savory recipes, while the sweetness of the ripe fruit is great for desserts.
Since it is an exotic fruit, fresh jackfruit can be difficult to come across in grocery stores, especially when it is not in season. However, it is often sold canned, which is a convenient option.
Vegetarians and vegans often use jackfruit as a meat alternative due to its texture. For example, you can use the fruit as a meat replacement in jackfruit tacos by cooking it and then combining it with vegetables and seasonings.
Additionally, you can incorporate jackfruit into curries or soups. The ripe fruit also tastes great when added to yogurt or oatmeal.
Jackfruit seeds are edible, too. They can be roasted or boiled and then combined with seasonings. You can even use the seeds to make hummus.
Summary Jackfruit is quite versatile. It can be eaten raw, cooked, ripe or unripe and tastes great in a variety of sweet and savory dishes.
The Bottom Line
Jackfruit is very good for you for many reasons.
It is high in nutrients and antioxidants and may have a number of health benefits, including improved blood sugar control.
You can easily incorporate jackfruit into your diet by eating it plain or in various dishes. It makes an excellent meat alternative in vegetarian and vegan recipes.
Fresh jackfruit is easiest to find when it’s in season during the summer months, but you can find canned jackfruit in most grocery stores year-round.
Adding jackfruit to your diet is worth a try, as it is quite healthy and a unique food to experiment with.
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