My National Emblems (Fruit) | “Jackfruit”

Myself @aspiya From #Bangladesh

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Greetings Splendid Individuals

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How are you all? I hope that you all are well. I am happy to be able to take part in the ongoing contest "My National Emblems | Fruit" presented by the community @steem4bangladesh. A national emblem is a token that symbolizes the identity, culture, beliefs and values of a country and there is nothing more natural than the fruit that is receiving served on my plate this morning... the country fruit. In this post, I'm going to share some interesting info and personal experiences related with the national fruit of my country- Bangladesh. In doing so I also wish to consider not just the symbolic sense of it, but what it means in our day-to-day reality.

What is the national fruit of your country?

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In Bangladesh, where natural beauty and agriculture is in abundance. We have so many tasty fruits all the year round such as mango, lychee, banana, guava, and so on. But of all these, our national fruit is the “jackfruit”, which we Bengalis call “Kathal”. It has long been recognized as the largest fruit in the world and is found in plenty in this country, especially during summer. Jackfruit you see is superior not just for its taste but also for its nutritional properties – brimming over with all those vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. It is eaten ripe, as well as raw, ripe jackfruit is sweet and fragrant, while the raw one is used in cooking as a vegetable like in curries. Being so big and luscious and versatile to use, it is indeed deserving of the name of our national fruit. I love jackfruit, particularly when it’s sweet and perfectly ripe and juicy.

Describe the taste or texture of your country's national fruit.

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There really is nothing quite like the flavor and texture of jackfruit. When it’s ripe, the texture becomes soft and juicy and sweet with a rich, tropical taste I adore. The yellowish pods inside the jackfruit are musky, fibrous and they emit a sweet aroma when the fruit is cut open. It nearly dissolves on the tongue, tastes to me like a cross between pineapple, banana, and mango so flavorful and satisfying! On the other hand, when jackfruit is picked green, the texture becomes quite firm and even a bit starchy, ready to be cooked into savory dishes such as curry. I like both versions, but I prefer the well-cooked ones because they remind me of long, sunny childhood afternoons and family get-togethers back home.

How is the national fruit typically eaten or used in your country? Is it a seasonal fruit, or is it available throughout the year?

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Jackfruit is predominantly a seasonal fruit in Bangladesh and summer is the time we generally get it, particularly April to July. It’s when the trees are loaded with big green jackfruits that hanging from the branches, and the air is filled with their sweet fragrance. We prepare jackfruit in different ways based on whether it’s ripe or raw. Once they ripe, we typically eat the golden pods fresh after shelling away the large tough husk. Some even juice it or turn it into a dessert. I personally like to chill the ready jackfruit pieces in the fridge before enjoying they taste even more delicious that way!

When raw, it’s treated like a vegetable and cooked in curries with spices. My mom cooks an awesome jackfruit curry with meat and it goes very well with plain rice. We fry the seeds, or mix them with lentils. While it’s not available all year round, we also try to save some jackfruit by freezing or drying them so that we can eat them later.

Do you enjoy eating your country's national fruit? Why or why not

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If I must be honest, I am not very fond of fruits and I often don’t like eating jackfruit even though it’s the national fruit in my country. I eat it very rarely. The main reason is that ripped jackfruit smells very strong which personally I do not like. It tastes and smells sweet and many people love it, but it's just not my thing. But really, I do like to eat raw jackfruit as a vegetable. It is so yummy when cooked with spices, I mean in the traditional curries. I love the melt in the mouthy taste of cooked raw jackfruit. While that ripened fruit may not be my favorite, I certainly enjoy this raw, unripe one in our local food.

In conclusion, although I don't like ripe jackfruit for its pungent aroma, I respect and cherish it as the national fruit of Bangladesh. It's a cultural staple, a summer table staple, and it's revered both as a fruit and as a vegetable. Jackfruit in its raw variety, in particular, lends so much flavor, and tradition to our meals. Whether you love it or not, it continues to stand as one of many proud symbols of our country’s natural richness and culinary heritage.