Breadfruit(Artocarpus altilis) is a large round fruit with a tough green outer skin, and equally tough rubbery white inner flesh.
Health Benefits of Breadfruit:
- Increased Immune Function
- Protection Against Heart Disease
- Alleviation of Cardiovascular Disease
- Alleviation of Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
- Osteoporosis Protection
How to choose Breadfruit: Look for firm breadfruit that has no signs of molding around the stem. Smell is key with breadfruit and it will have a rather strong sweet smell when ripe.
Climate and origin: Breadfruit is native to the Malay Peninsula and Pacific Indies.
Taste: Raw breadfruit has a very light fragrant taste that is somewhat like a guava, but not as sweet. The texture of raw breadfruit is rather tough and rubbery. Cooked breadfruit has a starchy taste that is reputedly like bread, from where it gets its name. When cooked the texture of breadfruit turns crumbly, not unlike a baked potato.
Substitutes with more vitamins: Bananas
Miscellaneous information: The HMS Bounty set sail for the English Royal Navy in search of breadfruit which it was charged to transfer to the West Indies. Water supplies ran low and water was given to the breadfruit before the crew resulting in the infamous mutiny on the Bounty.
