Jackfruit

"Siapa makan nangka, dia kena getah." -Whoever eats the nangka, will be touched by the sap (You are responsible for your own actions)

"Adat dunia telah sudah, Seorang makan nangka, Seorang kena geta." -The world has always been like this: one man feasts on the nangka and the other gets stuck in the sap.

The nangka (Artocarpus heterphyllus or A. integra) or jackfruit is one of a group of fruits which is characterized by a thick, spiny or pimply rind found in Malaysia. Grown on evergreen trees reaching 50-60 feet in height, the firm yellowish flesh and seeds, encased in the oblong fruit, are rich in carbohydrates, calcium and phosphorus. The fruit grows year-round and the flesh is eaten raw, cooked into a syrup or used in curries. The seeds are also boiled and eaten. Bird's lime, a by-product of the sap of this tree, is used to capture birds by spreading it on the limbs. The proverbs refer to this sap.

Banana

"Aku bukan budak makan pisang."
-I am not a banana-eating boy (I wasn't born yesterday. Don't regard me as a small child)

"Pisang tidak akan berbuah dua kali." -A banana tree does not bear fruit twice (Opportunity only knocks once)

Pisang (Musa paradisiaca) or bananas are a common and popular fruit found in the Malay diet. The banana plant is a tree-like herb, from 6-18 feet in height, that flourishes in the moist and humid climate. Grown for home use and local markets, there are many varieties of the fruit compared to the types available in the United States. For instance, some bananas are raised to be eaten raw, while others are grown to be cooked (ie. pisang embun, pisang hijau, or pisang mas versus the plantains, pisang tanduk (Musa patadisiaca sapientum) or pisang abu. The fruit varies in shape, size, skin color, flavor, and texture (i.e., embun=cream colored, hijau=green streaks and abu=ashy). It takes approximately 8-10 months from planting to harvest time, with the shoot bearing the bunch of bananas dying off after being cut. The Malay consider their country to be the "home" of the banana.

Durian

"Bagai menimun dengan durian." -Like a cucumber versus a durian. (Refers to the struggle between the weak- cucumber- and the strong- durian. No matter what the circumstances are, the cucumber will lose.)

Grown on a tree with bark ranging in color from gray to reddish-brown, reaching 120 feet in height, the durian (Durio zibethinus) is a favorite fruit of many Malays. The heavy, large, oval fruit (8-14" X 7") is covered with a thick, tough rind, bearing sharp, pointed spikes. This protects the pulp when the durian falls from the tree. Pity the poor person who is hit by the falling fruit. The seeds are embedded in a rich cream or yellow custard-like pulp, which carries a strong smell of offensive to many tourists. Eaten raw, mixed with ice cream, or used in cakes and jam, the pulp should be used very quickly before it spoils. "Dibut lempok" refers to a durian that is inferior in quality and only fit for preserves.

Cempedak

"Daripada cempedak baiklah nangka, daripada tidak baiklah ada." -The nangka is better than the cempedak, but something is better than nothing. (Half a loaf is better than none)

"Berbunyi sebagai cempedak jatuh." -Sounds like a falling cempedak. (The analogy is made when one sees a heavyset person fall)

Cempedak, like the Nangka, is a composite fruit born on an evergreen tree of similar height. It differs in that it is a seasonal fruit, native to the region. Most Malays prefer the nangka. They feel that the taste of the nangka is far superior. The cempedak fruit may be eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable when semi-ripe. Generally, the fruit is smaller in size than the nangka, but both are quite large.

Bacang

"Buah bacang buru kulitnya." -The skin of the bacang has an unpleasant smell. (Don't judge a book by its cover)

The horse-mango or bacang (Mangi fera foetida) grows on trees that range from 60 to 80 feet in height. It is distinguished by a bark that contains a resinous sap that is very irritating to the skin. The oval fruit (3-5" X 2-4") has a smooth yellow-green skin when ripe. A turpentine-like smell permeates the orangish-yellow fibrous flesh, but when soaked in fresh lime juice, the flesh is quite palatable. The bacang is mostly used in curries or for making chutney.

Manggis

"Hendakkan buah si-manggis, hutan, masak ranun tergantung tinggi. -Like anticipating the ripened manggis, suspended high in the forest. (Although the object is difficult to obtain, with sufficient effort it may be obtained)

Manggis (Garcinia mangostana) is a slow-growing evergreen tree, from 20-40 feet in height, indigenous to the region. It often takes up to 15 years before any fruit is produced. The tree bears a round-lobed fruit (2-3" in diameter), which reveals fleshy white segments present, the fewer the number of seeds. Manggis is noted for its delicate taste, but the segments are easily bruised and may then turn brown and watery.

Limau Kesturi

"Alah limau oleh dedalu." -The orange is overcome by the dedalu (parasitic plant on the tree). (Even a strong, healthy person will be overcome by a parasitic person)

Limau kesturi (Citrus microcarpa or possibly C. mitis, but there is much confusion between these species) is a small citrus fruit (1-2" in diameter) grown in a shrub, 12 feet in height. The segmented fruit is orange in color and quite juicy and sour. The skin is thin and quite easy to peel.

From Asia Society's Focus on Asian Studies. Vol VI, No1, Fall 1987.