What Is Jackfruit?

This article may contain one or more independently chosen Amazon affiliate links. See full disclosure.

The jackfruit, native to Southeast Asia, has the distinction of being the largest edible fruit that grows on trees. It belongs to the family Moraceae or the mulberry family, and of the genus Artocarpus, an important group of about 50 species that also contains breadfruit and other edible starch fruits that can serve as staples. The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam) bears fruit that can weigh up to eighty pounds or even 100 pounds, reaching three feet in length, eighteen inches wide, with a two-foot circumference. Unlike most tree fruits, the fruits grow on the main trunk of the tree. The fruits are so large that branches cannot support them.

Jackfruit Introduction
The Jackfruit Tree
How did Jackfruit get its name?
What does Jackfruit Look Like?
What Does Jackfruit Taste Like?
A Sticky Mess
Smell of Jackfruit
Uses Of Jackfruit
Notable Jackfruit Food and Dishes
Buying Jackfruit

The Jackfruit Tree

The jackfruit tree itself, an evergreen resembling a large oak, can grow up to 70 feet in height. It is believed to have originated in southern India, possibly in a chain of mountains in southwestern India called the Western Ghats, and then to have spread to Sri Lanka and over Southeast Asia.

It is cultivated in many tropical places including central and eastern Africa, southern China, India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Malaya, East Indies, Philippines, and Australia. The hardwood is somewhat like teak, great for making furniture, and the green leaves can be used for animal fodder.

For thousands of years, the bark of the tree has been used to make dye for the robes of Buddhist monks in South and Southeast Asia. The tree produces a gummy latex which is said to have medicinal properties.

How Did Jackfruit Get its Name?

The “jack” part of jackfruit comes from the Portuguese word jaca which itself derived from the Malayalam ¹ word cakkai, chakka, or tsjaka, which was the name of the fruit.

What does Jackfruit Look Like?

The fruits are large, oblong, and covered with hard conelike spikes resembling those of a pineapple. They are green or yellow-green when unripe but turn a yellowish-brown when ripe. The flesh is composed of large bulbs of yellow flesh within sections of tough membranes. The structure of the flesh will remind you of a pineapple except the arrangement is more irregular.

Technically, jackfruits are aggregate fruits, not one fruit but multiple. Each fruit is a pod that has a pithy core covering a light-brown pit encased in a white membrane. Both the pulp from the pod and the pits are edible.

A single jackfruit may contain from 50 up to 500 starchy edible pits. These are sometimes known as ‘breadnuts’ although the true breadnut is a different species.

These seeds, which resemble chestnuts, have a slight bitterness that is lost with boiling, and they can be roasted, ground into flour, or candied. The unfertilized flowers are also edible.

The large size, high nutrition, and abundance of this fruit have made it a staple in the tropical regions in which they grow, especially in India and South and Southeast Asia.

The fruit is often sold in large slices due to its size. It is also sold canned, such as Aroy-D Young Green Jackfruit in Brine.

large jackfruit on tree — Large jackfruit growing on tree.

What Does Jackfruit Taste Like?

There are actually two main varieties of the fruit, a “soft” variety and a “hard” variety. The flesh of the soft variety is more mushy, sweet, and juicy, while the flesh of the hard variety is crisp but less sweet and juicy. The hard variety is preferred. The flavor of jackfruit is similar to banana, pears, or pineapple.

The pulp and the seeds are edible but the core, as well as the rind, are not. The inedible parts, as well as the leaves of the tree, as mentioned above, can be fed to livestock.

A Sticky Mess

When jackfruit is cut open and sliced up, it gives off a large amount of very sticky latex, making preparation difficult. Often, vegetable oil is applied to knives and surfaces, and rubber gloves are used to make clean-up easier. The latex is so sticky it can be used as glue, making it very difficult to wash off.

Smell of Jackfruit

The smell of the ripe jackfruit, although not as unpleasant as the very stinky durian, can be off-putting, especially to Westerners. It is often compared to rotting onions. The stronger the smell, the riper the fruit. If the smell is overwhelming, filling up a room, the fruit is already overripe. Although the outside of the fruit has a bad odor, the ripe flesh itself gives off the pleasant smell of pineapple and banana.

The fruits are climacteric and will continue to ripen after being picked. They will even continue to ripen after being peeled.

Uses Of Jackfruit

The unripe fruit can be boiled and mixed with other food to use as a vegetable in soups or curries, pickled in brine, or canned. It has a very meaty texture and some even say it tastes like, you guessed it, chicken. It is even used as a ‘meat substitute’ for these reasons.

Young jackfruit is highly popular as a cooking ingredient in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kampuchea, and Vietnam.

The seeds are boiled or roasted to eat and the pulp of ripe fruits can be made into syrup or to make jams, jellies, or even ice cream. Today, as well, dried jackfruit is becoming popular.

homemade vegan jackfruit 'barbecue' sandwich — Homemade vegan jackfruit ‘pulled barbecue’ sandwich

Notable Jackfruit Food and Dishes

Below are listed popular jackfruit dishes including desserts, by country.

India

There are many dishes, snacks, and desserts using jackfruit throughout India and Indian states. Here a but a few of them.

Enchorer Tokari (unripe jackfruit curry)
Kathal Subji
Kathal Aaachar
Idiyan chakka
Chakka aviyat
Chakka erisseri
Chakka Varatti (jackfruit jam)
Chakka Vatta
Panasa Koora
Guijeda Kajipu
Raithey (sour jackfruit curry)

Desserts include Ghariyo, Pilakkai Kandbu, Dosa, and Chakka Pradamam (jackfruit pudding).

Jackfruit chips are often eaten as snacks.

Thailand

Kaeng Khiew Wan Gai (a sweet green chicken strew)
Jaw Phak Kat (mustard green soup)
Kannoon (jackfruit soup)
Gaeng Kanun (unripe jackfruit curry)
Jaew (a spicy dipping sauce for meat)
Jin Hoom Neua (a beef soup)
Khanam Pang Ai Tiim (ice cream sandwich – Raam Mit is a traditional jackfruit ice cream)

Sri Lanka

Kiri Kios (creamy jackfruit curry with coconut milk)
Polos Ambul (unripe jackfruit cooked with spices)

Indonesia

Sayur Gori (unripe jackfruit in coconut milk)
Gudeg
Lodeh (vegetables with coconut milk)
Gute Nangka (spicy curry)
Sayur asam

Vietnam

Goi Mit tron (jackfruit salad)

Philippines

Humba Nangka (jackfruit curry with coconut milk)
Ginataang Langka sa Alimango (jackfruit with crab and coconut milk)
Sinh To Mit (jackfruit sherbet)

Native Forest Organic Young Jackfruit – Great Meatless Alternative, Plant Based Meat, Non-GMO Project Verified, USDA Organic – Original, 14 Oz (Pack of 6)

MEATLESS ALTERNATIVE: Our Organic Young Jackfruit is an excellent vegan, soy & gluten free meatless alternative to use in numerous recipes. A mild flavor makes it a great base for sauces & seasonings!
GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO CHICKEN & PORK: Young jackfruits fleshy interior has a meaty texture similar to chicken. As it cooks, it flakes & shreds making it ideal for vegan pulled pork and chicken recipes.
SUSTAINABLY FARMED: We support organic & sustainable farming that avoids GMOs & pesticides. Were proud participants in the Non-GMO Project & want our consumers to know where their food comes from.
SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL DIETS: Our vegetarian products are ethically sourced & suitable for many special diets including vegan, gluten free, paleo, keto, kosher, organic & low sodium.
OUR COMMITMENT TO HEALTHY OPTIONS: Our company was born out of a commitment to create delicious & healthy vegetarian foods with convenient preparation for those with busy, health-aware lifestyles.

Buy on Amazon

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.