Fruits of Viet Nam: Jackfruit (Quả Mít)

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Overview

Jackfruit (Quả Mít) is a native Asian fruit, where it is considered a delicacy. It came originally from India, before reaching Viet Nam. Jackfruits come in many shapes and sizes, although generally they are oblong or pear shaped. They can grow to...

Description

Jackfruit (Quả Mít) is a native Asian fruit, where it is considered a delicacy. It came originally from India, before reaching Viet Nam. Jackfruits come in many shapes and sizes, although generally they are oblong or pear shaped. They can grow to 90 cm long and can weigh up to 44 kg. The name Jack is believed to be a Portuguese mispronunciation of a Malay word “round”. Jackfruits have a thick pale green rind with thousands of sharp hexagonal spines similar to Durien. The fruits grow on every part of the tree: the trunk, branches, and even on the roots.

To eat: gently open the fruit with a knife, the interior yields dozens of golden yellow pulps. The meat of the pulp covers a large brown pit. When ripe, the meat is very sweet; it contains a lot of sugar and calories. The pit can be boiled and eaten as well.

Jackfruits are planted densely in the Mekong Delta Region. In the south, the Jackfruit harvest season is around March to June. The wood from the jackfruit tree is very strong and often used to make furniture or to build houses. There are several species of jackfruits in Viet Nam, divided into two main groups: dry jackfruits (Mít khô) with dry and crunchy flesh, and wet jackfruits (Mít ướt) with softer flesh and a lot of juice.