Comments on: Langka / Jackfruit

By: Marketman

Marketman — Tue, 09 Aug 2005 04:46:23 +0000

Karen, I didn’t actually weigh my langka but I would imagine that the 3+ foot ones are in the 40-50 kilo range. I didn’t see too much mention of wide variations in langka in my cursory research for the post. I was away for the weekend and changes to website were introduced then, it went a little haywire for a few hours… Chris, thanks for that info on “jackfruit” – saves me research time!

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 20:10:12 +0000

Uy, new template! Of course this must be days old now, hehe!

Marketman, how long were your 60lb. langka? I’m trying to figure out if the 3ft.+ long fruits from Cotabato are the same variety as those we get here in Luzon. How about those in Cebu?

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 16:43:37 +0000

The name “jackfruit” comes from the Portuguese “jaca” + fruit. The Portuguese term comes from the Malayalam “cakka/cakkai/chakka” (it differs according to region) The Filipino term “langka” or “nangka” is actually closer to the origin, which is expected because it belongs to the same Malayo-Polynesian language family. Jill’s brother doesn’t actually have anything to do with the name ;)

By: Marketman

Marketman — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 00:14:02 +0000

Gosh, I was away from a computer for three days and look at all these comments! We should push this whole jackfruit underground delicacy. It sounds like a potential chi-chi fruit. That’s how they get white endive or white asparagus… they keep covering it in dirt/sand then charge 3x the price! I totally missed this whole boil the seeds thing… no wonder the cook hoarded the seeds and put them aside… gotta do some research on why it is “Jackfruit” and not “Big Fat Smelly Prickly Fruit with Sweet Flesh”!

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 21:00:10 +0000

There is such a thing as underground langka though it’s a really old method. Seedlings are raised in bamboo tubes then then you coil the stem beneath the ground. Last I saw something like that was in the very early 80s.

By: virgilio

virgilio — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 09:11:05 +0000

langka trees bearing fruits underground? Thought this was a myth. Totoo pala? Have yet to see one.

Yes, boil the seeds until the skin gets cracked making them easier to remove. At least that’s how I remember from childhood.

By: SCHATZLI

SCHATZLI — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 08:55:13 +0000

boiled langka seeds – sarap yan!

sa cebu the smaller younger seeds are used for soups.

By: Mila

Mila — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 02:54:46 +0000

The seeds are great boiled and eaten plain or with a little rock salt. I think I remember eating them roasted too, but I like them boiled like peanuts. Yes, the skin does take some getting used, they are like saran wrap sometimes. And there’s always kinilaw na langka, like laing but langka, not taro leaves.
How do you manage to diet when surrounded by so much good food?!

By: joey

joey — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 02:54:36 +0000

I like to eat it (like Stef) half frozen or in turon…yum!

By: stef

stef — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 02:46:05 +0000

your posts are so nostalgic as of late — nakakamiss tuloy lalo ang pilipinas…. langka happens to be my favorite pinoy fruit, more than anything else! i love it half-frozen. and yes, the seeds are great too.