Jackfruit (or jakfruit) comes from the jackfruit tree, a cousin of the fig tree, mulberry tree, and breadfruit family that grows in Southeast Asia.1 The jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh and looks like an oblong honeydew melon or large mango.2The word "jackfruit" comes from the Portuguese word jaca, which 16th-century explorers derived from their pronunciation of the Malaysian name for the fruit, chakka.3 Today, although it's still exclusively grown in Southeast Asia, jackfruit is enjoyed around the world—on its own, or in raw and cooked recipes.
Some people confuse the jackfruit with the durian fruit, which looks similar, but there is a large difference. Durian has a strong odor that may not be pleasant to everyone; jackfruit smells sweet. Durian fruits are also much smaller than jackfruit; and the outside of durian may have spiky "thorns," while a jackfruit has smooth bumps on its surface.
The jackfruit texture is not dissimilar to a banana, mango, or pineapple in terms of being dense and fibrous. But the taste is quite distinctive. Some say it's sweet, and some say a jackfruit has a flavor similar to pulled pork, especially when cooked. The seeds of jackfruit are edible, and some compare their taste, which is milky and gummy, to that of a Brazil nut.
Not only can eating jackfruit provide an exotic treat for your tastebuds, but jackfruit packs a powerful nutrition punch. Besides containing the typical mix of vitamins and minerals you'd find in almost any fruit, jackfruit is a great source of magnesium, vitamin B6, and antioxidants.
Because it has a meaty texture when cooked, it's a good swap for certain meat-based recipes, although it's important to note that jackfruit doesn't have a particularly high protein content, so you may still need a protein source if planning a main course anchored around a jackfruit recipe.
When eaten regularly as part of a varied diet, the vitamins and minerals in jackfruit can help enhance immunity, may contain antioxidants that can help fight cancer, can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, aid in osteoporosis prevention, and improve digestion. It can also be a low-carb, vegan meat substitute for sweet or savory dishes.