NATIONAL JACKFRUIT DAY- JULY 4th

Jackfruit Day is celebrated on July 4 every year. The tropical fruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, along with being the state fruit of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, India. The fruit has spiky outer skin and is native to parts of South and South-East Asia. Today, the fruit is known as a popular meat substitute for people adhering to a plant-based diet. It is high in vitamins and antioxidants, making it a healthy addition to any diet. Jackfruits are also referred to as ‘jak,’ ‘kathal,’ and ‘chakka,’ among other names.

HISTORY OF JACKFRUIT DAY

Humans have been consuming jackfruits for millennia. Though no one is completely certain of where the fruit came from, it is believed to be indigenous to the Western Ghats of India. The Jack tree, an evergreen tree, thrives in hot weather and moist tropical climates. The fruit is majorly produced within Asia, though attempts were made to grow the fruit in Hawaii before 1888. The word ‘jackfruit’ is derived from the Portuguese ‘jaca,’ and in turn from the Malayalam word ‘chakka.’ Portuguese naturalist and scholar Garcia da Orta used the English term ‘jackfruit’ in a book he wrote in 1563. As a result of colonialism, the jackfruit has made its rounds across the globe — it is now grown in several countries that used to be colonies of European empires.

The fruit, thus, is used in cuisines across the world in several different forms. Jackfruit can be found in jams, pickles, ice creams, desserts, and all other types of meal preparations. Recently, the Global North has begun consuming jackfruit as a meat substitute due to its meat-like texture when cooked.

The fruit has several varieties, each one fit to deliver a unique gastronomic experience. Ripened jackfruits are said to have a pungent odor that may be intimidating at first — which is probably why many people purchase unripened jackfruits to avoid it — the taste of the fruit is often described as ‘mellow.’ Jackfruit Day was established by jackfruitday.com in 2016 to raise awareness about the fruit and its versatility.

JACKFRUIT DAY TIMELINE

1563 Jaca is Identified

Portuguese scholar Garcia da Orta, a pioneer of tropical medicine identifies the ‘chakka’ fruit as ‘jaca.’

1782 The Fruit Reaches Jamaica

Jackfruit plants are captured alongside a French ship destined for Martinique and are taken to Jamaica.

2016 First Jackfruit Day

The first Jackfruit Day is celebrated.

2018 State fruit of Kerala

Jackfruit becomes the official state fruit of Kerala, India.