14 Charming Facts About Salak

The exotic Salak fruit is also called the snake fruit. This is because its skin is very similar to the shiny scales of a snake.

Facts About Salak

1. Salak is the fruit of a tropical palm tree that grows up to 2 m in height. The fruit is similar in size to kiwi.
2. The homeland of Salak is Southeast Asia. In Malaysia and Thailand, the crop is harvested from June to August, in Indonesia, the palm tree bears fruit all year round. It is believed that the most delicious fruits grow in Bali and Java, near Yogyakarta.
3. Salak tastes like a banana with pineapple and nuts. It is light in the mouth, refreshes well, and has a pungent aftertaste.
4. The fruits are pear-shaped or oval, tapered in a wedge-shaped manner at the base, and grow in clusters on a palm tree. Fruit dia - up to 4 cm, weight from 50 to 100 g. Fruits are covered with unusual brown skin with small thorns, similar to snake scales.
5. The pulp of the fruit is beige, consists of one or several parts, tightly connected to each other. Inside each segment of the pulp, there are 1-3 large oval-shaped brown bones.
6. Depending on the type of Salak, there are semi-sweet, dry and crunchy or juicy, soft and sour.
7. Salak plucked unripe can withstand 2-3 days of transportation, for example, in bamboo baskets. In hot and humid climates, they stay no more than a week after harvest. The slightest damage accelerates the corruption.
8. Snake fruit is a favorite treat of the primates who live in Monkey Park on Java. They often steal fruit from people.
9. The peel of the fruit only looks firm and is quite easy to remove. You need to break off the tip with your fingers and peel the fruit from top to bottom. If it was in the refrigerator, then the rind breaks into small pieces, like the shell of a hard-boiled egg.
10. Most of the Salak is consumed completely ripe and raw. In Indonesia, fruits are boiled in sugar and pickled. Fresh, unripe fruits are added to the rujak spicy fruit salad. Mature ones can be preserved.
11. Although the seeds of most Salak are considered inedible, in Indonesia they are boiled in salt water to remove the mucus layer. After this treatment, the seeds are eaten without the skin.
12. Salak is an important food product in producing countries. They contain many substances that are essential for maintaining health. One of them is beta-carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant and helps prevent heart disease, stroke, and even cancer. In "Snake Fruit" this substance is 5 times more than in watermelon and mango, and 3 times more than in guava.
13. Beta-carotene and other antioxidants present in fruits are good for the eyes. To keep your eyesight sharp, it is recommended to drink Salak juice along with carrot juice. The polyphenolic compounds in Salak are similar to those found in green tea. They prevent the development of cancer.
14. Salak is a low-calorie product, therefore nutritionists advise including it in the diet menu. Since the pulp is high in dietary fiber, it quickly satisfies the appetite.