Pandanus tectorius (Wikipedia) (Fruit of the Hala aka Puhala Tree Seed Pod [aka Pandan Tree])
Pandanus tectorius is a species of Pandanus (screwpine) that is native to Malesia, eastern Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Common names include Thatch Screwpine, Hala (Hawaiian), Bacua (Spanish), and Vacquois (French). P. tectorius [Pandan] is a tree that to grows to 4–14 m (13–46 ft) tall.Image Source (mlkshk)
Fruit
The Thatch Screwpine’s fruit is either ovoid, ellipsoid, subglobose or globose with a diameter of 4–20 cm (1.6–7.9 in) and a length of 8–30 cm (3.1–12 in). The fruit is made up of 38–200 wedge-like phalanges, which have an outer fibrous husk. Phalanges contain two seeds on average, with a maximum of eight reported. The phalanges are buoyant, and the seeds within them can remain viable for many months while being transported by ocean currents.
Uses
The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is a major source of food in Micronesia, especially in the atolls. The fibrous nature of the fruit also serves as a natural dental floss. The tree’s leaves are often used as flavoring for sweet dishes such as kaya jam [coconut jam], and are also said to have medicinal properties. It is also used in Sri Lankan cookery, where the leaves are used to flavour a variety of curries. Leaves were used by the Polynesians to make baskets, mats, outrigger canoe sails, thatch roofs, and grass skirts.
Is it a lovely fruit? I was not familiar with the fruit of the Pandan Tree (as I’ve known it), but I have been very familiar with the Pandan flavor! I’ve had it as a flavoring for Vietnamese sweet sticky (glutinous) rice or kaya Jam [See next posts :)]
Source: http://thechefslab.tumblr.com/post/43444702564
Food, Fruit, Hala, PuhalaTree, Pandan, StickyRice, GlutinousRice, Kaya, Asian
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