Cempedak
By: Anonymous

About

Chempedak or cempedak (pronounced "chem-pe-dak"; syn. Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr., Artocarpus polyphema Pers.) is a species of tree and its fruit in the family Moraceae. It is native to southeast Asia, occurring from West Malaysia east to West Irian on the island of New Guinea. It has been introduced to Queensland

Information
Other names: Moraceae; Chempedak; Artocarpus champeden
Translations: Tjampedak, Цемпедак


Physical Description
Smaller compared to a jackfruit, it is green in color when its young and turns slightly yellowish as it ripens. It is still bigger compared to other fruits. It also emits a strong smell, comparable to the smell of a durian when it becomes ripe. It is usually fried, a common Malay food/snack in Malaysia. It retains the sweet taste, but reduces the chewy effect of the skin.
Colors: Its skin is yellowish green, with bright yellow pulp encasing brown seeds


Tasting Notes
Flavors: Sweet, sticky and chewy when raw. Retains the flavor but less chewy when fried
Mouthfeel: Sweet and chewy
Substitutes: Jackfruit, Breadfruit. not quite similar, But should be close enough


Selecting and Buying
Choosing: When ripe, it emits a strong smell. It turns light green with slightly brown spots. It would also be sticky due to latex secretion.
Buying: Very common in Malaysia and other South East Asia country. It is a seasonal fruit, so it is not available at all times. Not recommended for those who could not take the strong smell of durian, as it smell almost as strong as a durian
Procuring: This plant grows well in the tropical region, with a continuously irrigated environment. These trees are found only in areas that have no truly dry season. The trees need a lot of water to grow, a minimum of 50in of rain needed
These trees bear fruit once or twice per year. In addition to its function as a food crop, the chempedak tree is also cultivated for its wood, which is durable and resistant to termites. The bark is used in the production of the yellow dye used on the saffron-colored robes of Buddhist monks


Preparation and Use
To eat, one would just need a sharp knife to cut the fruit into half to reach the sweet pulps.
Or, it could be fried after being dipped in Batter.