Interesting Fruits of Indonesia (Pic Heavy)

Innoma · June 25, 2007

Last year I had a chance to travel throughout Indonesia again (Java, Bali & Lombok), and its always such an interesting experience when it comes to cuisine and odd fruits and vegetables. The following are some photos I took last year of some of the more interesting fruits and spices available in the region. A change of pace from the usual Tomato Topics (which, incidentally, are eaten with sugar in Indonesia rather than, say, salt & pepper). In describing each item, the Indonesian name comes first (if I know it) with English (and other) equivalents to follow (text primarily cobbled together from wikipedia):

Belimbing (or Carambola), more popularly known as Star Fruit, but also Coromandel Gooseberry or Kamranga, is a golden-yellow to green berry. When cut across it shows a 5-pointed (sometimes 6-pointed or 7-pointed) star shape, hence the name, "star fruit." Star fruits are crunchy, and have a slightly tart, acidic, sweet taste, reminiscent of pears, apples, and sometimes grapes. The fruits are a good source of vitamin C. Its seeds are small and brown. They consist of a tough outer skin and a tangy white inside. There are two varieties of star fruit - acidulate and sweet. The tart varieties can often be identified by their narrowly spaced ribs. The sweet varieties usually have thick fleshy ribs. The fruit starts out green, and goes to yellow as it ripens, though it can be eaten in both stages. (Photo from nursery in Jakarta, 2006)

Cabe (Chile). I couldn't tell you which particular chile this is, but various chile sauces (sambal) are used extensively in Indonesdian cuisine. (Photo from an open market in Jakarta, 2006).

Pitaya (also known as Pitahaya, Dragon Fruit, Strawberry Pear, Nanettikafruit, or Thanh Long) is the fruit of several cactus species native to Mexico and Central and South America. These vine-like epiphytic cacti are also cultivated in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. They are also found in Taiwan, Okinawa, Israel, and southern China. The pitaya only blooms at night; they are large white flowers that are often called Moonflower or Queen of the Night. The name of the fruit was later changed to dragon fruit to boost sales. (Photo from Jakarta, 2006)

Jackfruit (don't know the Indonesian name) is a species of tree of the mulberry family (Moraceae) and its fruit, native to southwestern India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and possibly also east to the Malay Peninsula, though more likely an early human introduction there. The fruit is huge. Even a relatively thin tree can have huge fruits hanging on it. The fruits can reach 36 kg in weight and up to 90 cm long and 50 cm in diameter. The jackfruit is the largest tree borne fruit in the world. The sweet yellow sheaths around the seeds have a taste similar to pineapple but milder and less juicy. (Photo from an open market in Jakarta, 2006)

Kluwek (or Pacung): Seed of the kepayang tree, which contains a black, pasty substance that imparts a distinctive flavor to dishes such as rawon. Salak is a species of palm tree (family Arecaceae) native to Indonesia and Malaysia. The fruit grow in clusters at the base of the palm, and are also known as snake fruit due to the reddish-brown scaly skin. They are about the size and shape of a ripe fig, usually round with a distinct tip, with an edible pulp; to peel, pinch the tip of the fruit and pull away. The fruit inside consists of three lobes, each lobe containing a large inedible seed. The lobes look and have the consistency of peeled garlic cloves. The taste is usually sweet and acidic, but its apple-like texture can vary from very dry and crumbly (salak pondoh from Yogyakarta) to moist and crunchy (salak Bali). (Photo from an open market in Jakarta, 2006)

Kolang-Kaling (Sugar Palm?) is a common name for several species of palms used to produce sugar. I am not sure of the particular uses for this. (Photo from an open market in Jakarta, 2006)

Lengkeng (Longan) is an evergreen tree native to southern China. It is also found in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The longan ("dragon eyes") is so named because of the fruit's resemblance to an eyeball when it is shelled (the black seed shows through the translucent flesh like a pupil/iris). The fruit is edible, and is often used in East Asian soups, snacks, desserts, and sweet-and-sour foods. They are round with a thin, brown-coloured inedible shell. The flesh of the fruit, which surrounds a big, black seed, is translucent white, soft, and juicy. (Photo from Ubud, Bali, 2006)

Manggis (Mangosteen) is a tropical evergreen tree, believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas. The tree grows from 7 to 25 meters tall. The rind of the edible fruit is deep reddish purple when ripe. Botanically an aril, the fragrant edible flesh is sweet and creamy, citrusy with some peach flavor. Often heralded as the "Queen of Fruits", mangosteen is closely related to other edible tropical fruits such as button mangosteen and lemondrop mangosteen. (Photo from Ubud, Bali, 2006)

Markisa (Passion Fruit) is cultivated commercially for its fruit in northwestern South America, India, the Caribbean, Brazil, southern Florida, Hawaii, Australia, East Africa, Israel and South Africa (where it is known as a Grenadilla or Granadilla). The passion fruit is round to oval, yellow or dark purple at maturity, with a soft to firm, juicy interior filled with numerous seeds. The fruit can be grown to eat or for its juice, which is often added to other fruit juices to enhance aroma. (Photo from Jakarta, 2006)

Melinjo is a species of Gnetum native to southeast Asia and the western Pacific Ocean islands, from Assam south and east through Malaysia and Indonesia to the Philippines and Fiji. Common names include Melinjo or Belinjo (Indonesian language), Bago (Malay language, Tagalog language), Peesae (Thai language) and Bét, Rau bép, Rau danh (Vietnamese language). It is a small to medium-size tree (unlike most other Gnetum species, which are lianas), growing to 15-20m tall. The leaves are evergreen, opposite, 8-20 cm long and 3-10 cm broad, entire, emerging bronze-coloured, maturing glossy dark green. The fruit-like strobilus consist of little but skin and a large nut-like seed 2-4 cm long inside. The seeds are ground into flour and deep-fried as crackers (Emping, a type of Krupuk, or cracker). The crackers have a slightly bitter taste and are frequently served as a snack or accompaniment to Indonesian dishes. (Photo from an open market in Jakarta, 2006)

Rambutan is a medium-sized tropical tree in the family Sapindaceae, probably native to southeast Asia, and the fruit of this tree. It is closely related to several other edible tropical fruits including the Lychee, Longan and Mamoncillo. The leathery skin is reddish (rarely orange or yellow), and covered with fleshy pliable spines, hence the name rambutan, derived from the Malay word rambut which means hairs. The fruit flesh is translucent, whitish or very pale pink, with a sweet, mildly acidic flavour. The single seed is glossy brown with a white basal scar; it is poisonous and should not be eaten with the fruit flesh. (Photo from Ubud, Bali, 2006)

Salak is a species of palm tree (family Arecaceae) native to Indonesia and Malaysia. The fruit grow in clusters at the base of the palm, and are also known as Snake Fruit due to the reddish-brown scaly skin. They are about the size and shape of a ripe fig, usually round with a distinct tip, with an edible pulp; to peel, pinch the tip of the fruit and pull away. The fruit inside consists of three lobes, each lobe containing a large inedible seed. The lobes look and have the consistency of peeled garlic cloves. The taste is usually sweet and acidic, but its apple-like texture can vary from very dry and crumbly (salak pondoh from Yogyakarta) to moist and crunchy (salak Bali). (Photo from Ubud, Bali, 2006)

Durian is the fruit of trees of the genus Durio belonging to the Malvaceae, a large family which includes hibiscus, okra, cotton, mallows and linden trees. Widely known and revered in Southeast Asia as the "King of Fruits," the fruit is distinctive for its large size, unique odour, and a formidable thorn-covered husk. Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown and its flesh pale-yellow to red, depending on species. The hard outer husk is covered with sharp, prickly thorns, while the edible custard-like flesh within emits the strong, distinctive odour, which is regarded as either fragrant or overpowering and offensive. I personally find durian quite delicious, provided you find the reight variety - at worst, they can taste something like mushy, slightly sweet garlic with an odor that, while not exactly unpleasant, is definitely strong. At its best, durian is creamy, custard-y, and redolent of vanilla. (Photo unmercifully stolen from a random web search; I was too busy eateing them to actually take any pictures).

June 25, 2007	#1
Innoma Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: CA, Zone 9 Posts: 33	Interesting Fruits of Indonesia (Pic Heavy) Last year I had a chance to travel throughout Indonesia again (Java, Bali & Lombok), and its always such an interesting experience when it comes to cuisine and odd fruits and vegetables. The following are some photos I took last year of some of the more interesting fruits and spices available in the region. A change of pace from the usual Tomato Topics (which, incidentally, are eaten with sugar in Indonesia rather than, say, salt & pepper). In describing each item, the Indonesian name comes first (if I know it) with English (and other) equivalents to follow (text primarily cobbled together from wikipedia): Belimbing (or Carambola), more popularly known as Star Fruit, but also Coromandel Gooseberry or Kamranga, is a golden-yellow to green berry. When cut across it shows a 5-pointed (sometimes 6-pointed or 7-pointed) star shape, hence the name, "star fruit." Star fruits are crunchy, and have a slightly tart, acidic, sweet taste, reminiscent of pears, apples, and sometimes grapes. The fruits are a good source of vitamin C. Its seeds are small and brown. They consist of a tough outer skin and a tangy white inside. There are two varieties of star fruit - acidulate and sweet. The tart varieties can often be identified by their narrowly spaced ribs. The sweet varieties usually have thick fleshy ribs. The fruit starts out green, and goes to yellow as it ripens, though it can be eaten in both stages. (Photo from nursery in Jakarta, 2006) Cabe (Chile). I couldn't tell you which particular chile this is, but various chile sauces (sambal) are used extensively in Indonesdian cuisine. (Photo from an open market in Jakarta, 2006). Pitaya (also known as Pitahaya, Dragon Fruit, Strawberry Pear, Nanettikafruit, or Thanh Long) is the fruit of several cactus species native to Mexico and Central and South America. These vine-like epiphytic cacti are also cultivated in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. They are also found in Taiwan, Okinawa, Israel, and southern China. The pitaya only blooms at night; they are large white flowers that are often called Moonflower or Queen of the Night. The name of the fruit was later changed to dragon fruit to boost sales. (Photo from Jakarta, 2006) Jackfruit (don't know the Indonesian name) is a species of tree of the mulberry family (Moraceae) and its fruit, native to southwestern India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and possibly also east to the Malay Peninsula, though more likely an early human introduction there. The fruit is huge. Even a relatively thin tree can have huge fruits hanging on it. The fruits can reach 36 kg in weight and up to 90 cm long and 50 cm in diameter. The jackfruit is the largest tree borne fruit in the world. The sweet yellow sheaths around the seeds have a taste similar to pineapple but milder and less juicy. (Photo from an open market in Jakarta, 2006) Kluwek (or Pacung): Seed of the kepayang tree, which contains a black, pasty substance that imparts a distinctive flavor to dishes such as rawon. Salak is a species of palm tree (family Arecaceae) native to Indonesia and Malaysia. The fruit grow in clusters at the base of the palm, and are also known as snake fruit due to the reddish-brown scaly skin. They are about the size and shape of a ripe fig, usually round with a distinct tip, with an edible pulp; to peel, pinch the tip of the fruit and pull away. The fruit inside consists of three lobes, each lobe containing a large inedible seed. The lobes look and have the consistency of peeled garlic cloves. The taste is usually sweet and acidic, but its apple-like texture can vary from very dry and crumbly (salak pondoh from Yogyakarta) to moist and crunchy (salak Bali). (Photo from an open market in Jakarta, 2006) Kolang-Kaling (Sugar Palm?) is a common name for several species of palms used to produce sugar. I am not sure of the particular uses for this. (Photo from an open market in Jakarta, 2006) Lengkeng (Longan) is an evergreen tree native to southern China. It is also found in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The longan ("dragon eyes") is so named because of the fruit's resemblance to an eyeball when it is shelled (the black seed shows through the translucent flesh like a pupil/iris). The fruit is edible, and is often used in East Asian soups, snacks, desserts, and sweet-and-sour foods. They are round with a thin, brown-coloured inedible shell. The flesh of the fruit, which surrounds a big, black seed, is translucent white, soft, and juicy. (Photo from Ubud, Bali, 2006) Manggis (Mangosteen) is a tropical evergreen tree, believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas. The tree grows from 7 to 25 meters tall. The rind of the edible fruit is deep reddish purple when ripe. Botanically an aril, the fragrant edible flesh is sweet and creamy, citrusy with some peach flavor. Often heralded as the "Queen of Fruits", mangosteen is closely related to other edible tropical fruits such as button mangosteen and lemondrop mangosteen. (Photo from Ubud, Bali, 2006) Markisa (Passion Fruit) is cultivated commercially for its fruit in northwestern South America, India, the Caribbean, Brazil, southern Florida, Hawaii, Australia, East Africa, Israel and South Africa (where it is known as a Grenadilla or Granadilla). The passion fruit is round to oval, yellow or dark purple at maturity, with a soft to firm, juicy interior filled with numerous seeds. The fruit can be grown to eat or for its juice, which is often added to other fruit juices to enhance aroma. (Photo from Jakarta, 2006) Melinjo is a species of Gnetum native to southeast Asia and the western Pacific Ocean islands, from Assam south and east through Malaysia and Indonesia to the Philippines and Fiji. Common names include Melinjo or Belinjo (Indonesian language), Bago (Malay language, Tagalog language), Peesae (Thai language) and Bét, Rau bép, Rau danh (Vietnamese language). It is a small to medium-size tree (unlike most other Gnetum species, which are lianas), growing to 15-20m tall. The leaves are evergreen, opposite, 8-20 cm long and 3-10 cm broad, entire, emerging bronze-coloured, maturing glossy dark green. The fruit-like strobilus consist of little but skin and a large nut-like seed 2-4 cm long inside. The seeds are ground into flour and deep-fried as crackers (Emping, a type of Krupuk, or cracker). The crackers have a slightly bitter taste and are frequently served as a snack or accompaniment to Indonesian dishes. (Photo from an open market in Jakarta, 2006) Rambutan is a medium-sized tropical tree in the family Sapindaceae, probably native to southeast Asia, and the fruit of this tree. It is closely related to several other edible tropical fruits including the Lychee, Longan and Mamoncillo. The leathery skin is reddish (rarely orange or yellow), and covered with fleshy pliable spines, hence the name rambutan, derived from the Malay word rambut which means hairs. The fruit flesh is translucent, whitish or very pale pink, with a sweet, mildly acidic flavour. The single seed is glossy brown with a white basal scar; it is poisonous and should not be eaten with the fruit flesh. (Photo from Ubud, Bali, 2006) Salak is a species of palm tree (family Arecaceae) native to Indonesia and Malaysia. The fruit grow in clusters at the base of the palm, and are also known as Snake Fruit due to the reddish-brown scaly skin. They are about the size and shape of a ripe fig, usually round with a distinct tip, with an edible pulp; to peel, pinch the tip of the fruit and pull away. The fruit inside consists of three lobes, each lobe containing a large inedible seed. The lobes look and have the consistency of peeled garlic cloves. The taste is usually sweet and acidic, but its apple-like texture can vary from very dry and crumbly (salak pondoh from Yogyakarta) to moist and crunchy (salak Bali). (Photo from Ubud, Bali, 2006) Durian is the fruit of trees of the genus Durio belonging to the Malvaceae, a large family which includes hibiscus, okra, cotton, mallows and linden trees. Widely known and revered in Southeast Asia as the "King of Fruits," the fruit is distinctive for its large size, unique odour, and a formidable thorn-covered husk. Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown and its flesh pale-yellow to red, depending on species. The hard outer husk is covered with sharp, prickly thorns, while the edible custard-like flesh within emits the strong, distinctive odour, which is regarded as either fragrant or overpowering and offensive. I personally find durian quite delicious, provided you find the reight variety - at worst, they can taste something like mushy, slightly sweet garlic with an odor that, while not exactly unpleasant, is definitely strong. At its best, durian is creamy, custard-y, and redolent of vanilla. (Photo unmercifully stolen from a random web search; I was too busy eateing them to actually take any pictures).