They grew all over the place where I lived in Nayarit, Mexico. They just had the boring smell of an unripe banana. Kinda tasted like one, too.
Maybe they're confusing yaka with durian fruit?
Maybe they're confusing yaka with durian fruit?
BTW, the seeds of the jackfruit are also eaten, and are supposed to be nutritious, IIRC (part of that wonder plant stuff). Got a nutty taste. It's added to some curries in Indian cuisine, both North and South, I think. Had it a few times.
My mom and other elders warn me to eat small helpings because it can screw with digestion, but I'm not sure if that's true.
Jackfruit is a brilliant creation of nature
Jackfruit has a mild, taste with a hint of banana and is odorless. Durian reeks like a trash heap but has a sweet and a little bit sour flavour with a hint of canned pears.
But their mass and weight sure set them apart! They grow so god damn big it's awe-inspiring to see them on trees along side of the road or beach. As if they are the cocoons of a giant jurassic-era butterfly.
Hard not to wonder how many small animals must have been obliterated by one falling from the tree.
But also how amazing it must have been for an early human or settler to find one in the wild. The amount of fruit you can harvest from one is incredible. Thankfully people would collect them, pluck out all the meat "nodes", and sell them in little bags of 4-6 nodules. I could never eat more than 4 nodules without rummaging for something else in the pantry, they're quite boring.
The last paragraph reminds me of novels like The Swiss Family Robinson and Robinson Crusoe, which were fun reading while growing up.
Yes, I had the same thought about whether they confused jackfruit with durian (which AFAIK grows mainly in SE Asia). Never had it myself.
Two other fruits I think more Americans should try are guyaba/guava and guanabana. Both are somewhat annoying to eat due to the seeds, but they have some unique flavors. Those are my two go-to icecream flavors.
Unfortunately the lack of demand makes them expensive in the US where I was astounded. They almost give them away where I live in Mexico.
Same with dragon fruit. A single fruit was $8 in Texas. Meanwhile I get them from the pitaya guy who rolls down my street 4x for <$1.