Cempedak

Chempedak or cempedak (pronounced "chem-pe-dak"; syn. Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr., Artocarpus polyphema Pers.) is a species of tree

Tree

A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...

 and its fruit

Fruit

The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context, and the term is not synonymous in food preparation and biology. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants disseminate seeds, and the presence of seeds indicates that a structure is most likely a fruit, though not all seeds come from...

 in the family Moraceae

Moraceae

Moraceae — often called the mulberry family or fig family — is a family of flowering plants comprising about 40 genera and over 1000 species. Most are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, less so in temperate climates...

. It is native to southeast Asia

Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.6% of the earth's total surface area and with approximately 4 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population.Asia is traditionally defined as part of the...

, occurring from West Malaysia east to West Irian on the island of New Guinea. It has been introduced to Queensland. The vigorously growing, medium-sized tree can bear heavy crops of fruit once or twice a year.
There are many varieties, although few are named. The sausage-shaped fruits range from 22 to 50 centimetres in length and 10 to 17 cm across. The edible arils surrounding the large seeds are yellow, orange or green in colour. The taste of the fruit is similar to the related Jackfruit

Jackfruit

The jackfruit is a species of tree in the mulberry family , which is native to parts of South and Southeast Asia. It is called Panasa in Sanskrit, Katahal in Hindi, Pala in Tamil and Chakka in Malayalam language. It is well suited to tropical lowlands...

 and Breadfruit

Breadfruit

Breadfruit is a species of flowering tree in the mulberry family, Moraceae, that is native to the Malay Peninsula and western Pacific islands. It has also been widely planted in tropical regions elsewhere.- Description :...

 with a hint of Durian

Durian

The durian is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio and the Malvaceae family . Widely known and revered in southeast Asia as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large size, unique odour, and formidable thorn-covered husk...

. The sweet, juicy pulp surrounds the seeds in a thick layer between the husk and an inedible core. The green skin is thin and leathery, patterned with hexagons that are either flat or raised protuberances like jackfruit skin.
The fruit is very popular in its native area, and is becoming so in Queensland. Fritters made by dipping arils in batter and frying in oil are sold in the streets of Malaysia.

External links

For more information, see "Fruits of the Future: Chempedak" by David K. Chandlee http://borneocollection.netfirms.com/article_chempadek.htm

• Fruits Technology of cempedak