Author Topic: Mystery fruit in Indonesia  (Read 3722 times)

tabbydan

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Mystery fruit in Indonesia
« on: August 27, 2012, 11:58:10 AM »
I encountered some odd fruits in a market in Indonesia (Sumatra... not too far from Lake Toba).

I forgot to ask for the local name.  I was told they weren't for fresh eating but for use in fish dishes.

They have green skin (light yellow green with a tinge of brown).  Lavender/pink flesh (seemed darkest near the seeds and lightest in the center).  No discernable smell.  Firm but not juicy or crunchy.  Seeds shaped like citrus pips but soft (as soft or softer than the surrounding flesh so when the fruits were cut so were the seeds).  Shape of the fruits varies from near spherical to lumpy (like many near spherical things mashed together).

The top fruit is a Pandanus, the bottom three are the mystery fruit in this image



These two have the mystery fruit on trays surrounded by other items




Not a great shot of a cut in half mystery fruit



Any ideas what this is?
What's that got to do with Jose Andres $10 brussel sprouts?

Tim

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Re: Mystery fruit in Indonesia
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2012, 12:12:00 PM »
Can't provide a positive ID but below is the link to what I think is related

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=2268.msg31617#msg31617
Tim

tabbydan

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Re: Mystery fruit in Indonesia
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2012, 12:27:41 PM »
Very weird....  I looked high and low for A. lakoocha when I was in Southern India, and I bump into it when I'm in Indonesia.

Incidentally I was looking for "other" Artocarpi when I was in Indonesia (I saw some moderately interesting ones in Singapore on the way there... none in full fruit though).

I guess I should have tried to eat it... I was disuaded by the fact that they said it was only used in fish dishes.

I always thought A. lakoocha was supposed to have orange flesh though.  This one was lavender/pink.
What's that got to do with Jose Andres $10 brussel sprouts?

amaqeq

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Re: Mystery fruit in Indonesia
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2012, 12:59:01 PM »
tabbydan
Do you have more nice Artocarpus fruit photos from Indonesia to share?


Gouralata

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Re: Mystery fruit in Indonesia
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2012, 01:07:29 PM »
Hi, tabbydan

I don't think the top fruit is a pandanus. It looks like Kechala (Etlingera eliator infructescens)

gouralata (reunion Island)

tabbydan

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Re: Mystery fruit in Indonesia
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2012, 01:31:29 PM »
Well, that one (the one I thought was a Pandanus) is in the hands of Atlanta Customs...

Thanks for telling me about it since I'm always curious about the edible uses of the true gingers.

I do have other Artocarpus photos- not sure how interesting they'd be:
-one or two more of the mystery fruit
-several photos of trees in Singapore (various Artocarpus species), some with the trunk/roots/tag (where sadly the tag didn't come out so well), one or two immature "terap" photos (though I think it was an ugly duckling cousin of terap).  Market shots with jackfruit, breadfruit, and something which (in retospect) I probably should have purchased but at the time thought just to be an immature jack.

This trip taught me how pretty Dillenia are.  Not only do many have edible fruits (I have yet to try even D. indica) but they have showy flowers and many have nice leaves.  I saw quite a few in Singapore.
What's that got to do with Jose Andres $10 brussel sprouts?

amaqeq

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Re: Mystery fruit in Indonesia
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2012, 04:41:23 PM »
tabbydan
every photo mentioned will be appreciated,  it is a bit like getting the taste of those places.
mostly when people are coming back they will have hundreds of sunset photos
broad shots of markets and nature, which are all very nice for themselves
but it is not happening so often that the focus is directed at those fruits
or fruit trees


« Last Edit: August 27, 2012, 04:43:09 PM by amaqeq »

murahilin

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Re: Mystery fruit in Indonesia
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2012, 06:22:23 PM »
Great pics Tabbydan. Would love to see any more pics that you have from the markets in Indonesia.

tabbydan

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Re: Mystery fruit in Indonesia
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2012, 09:18:52 PM »
Thanks,  I've got  LOTS of other market photos.

I'm wondering if the mystery fruit is some other Artocarpus.  A. lakoocha is native to India, not Indonesia.  While it is possible someone brought the fruit to Indonesia, they mainly grow the more common crops.  I even have trouble finding a lot of native fruits there because they are not widely grown (like the various, non durian, Durio species).
What's that got to do with Jose Andres $10 brussel sprouts?