The jackfruit is said to be the largest fruit in the world, with the biggest specimens weighing up to 50 kg (110 lbs). Native to south India, the jackfruit is now firmly established all over Southeast Asia. The young Fruit is cooked as a vegetable, often in coconut mikl, while the ripe fruit provides almost enough for an entire village. The seeds make an excellent snack when boiled in salted water. Various parts of the plant are believed to have medicinal properties and the lemon-coloured wood is extensively used for wood carving, especially in Bali.
Ripe jackfruit, which has a rather strong odour, is generally cut into sections for sale in the market The interior white central core is surrounded by yellow egg-shaped pieces of pulp, each of which contains a light brown seed. Many fruit sellers separate the pieces of pulp and sell them individually or by the bag. The flesh has a slightly chewy but agreeable texture, and a flavour that calls to mind pineapple mind pineapple mixed with melon.