Breadfruit - Potato-like Food from the Tropics
Ranked #6,154 in Education, #138,246 overall
Breadfruit - A Source of Starch from the Tropics! Great for Meals!
Native to the Malay Peninsula and the Western Pacific Islands, the breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a distinctive large tree that grows to a height of 66 ft (20 m) and develops a large fruit that resembles a green basketball in size and skin texture.
Lieutenant William Bligh (of the "Captain Bligh and Mutiny on the Bounty" fame) collected young specimens of this plant as part of his botanical samples during the late 18th century (before the mutiny, obviously!) in order to distribute them throughout the other tropical areas in the British realm as cheap, high-energy food sources.
Breadfruit Giclee Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Unfortunately, the lure of Tahiti and the island's sensuous dancing (among other things) had Bligh being stuck adrift in a rowboat with his loyal crew and some breadfruit sprouts--while the mutineers took off with the H.M.S. Bounty. But back to the story of the breadfruits.
On the Western Pacific Islands of Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands, the wild seeded breadfruit (Artocarpus mariannensis) used to be a dominant tree in the native forests. However, the ferocity of recent "supertyphoons" and the consumption and browsing of the fallen seeds and fruits and seedlings by introduced Philippine deer (Cervus mariannus) and feral pigs (Sus scrofa) has reduced populations of these "native" trees.
When I lived on Guam, I learned to enjoy the flavor and texture of the breadfruit as it was prepared in many island dishes. One of my favorites was when my mom got a ripe fruit (a domesticated seedless one), peeled the skin off of it, and sliced it into thin strips. After frying the strips and lightly salting them, they resembled thick potato chips or thin and flat french fries--A nice starchy supplement to our meals.
Breadfruit Trees (Artocarpus altilis) -- with Maturing Fruit, Guam
Origin of the Breadfruits and Their Widespread Distribution
Breadfruit in All Sorts of Media!
Breadfruit Boy, Hawaii World Culture Art Poster Print by John Kelly, 11x14
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William Bligh's - A Narrative of the Mutiny, On board HMS Bounty by William Bligh
We all know the story of the Mutiny of Bounty with more...0 points
Breadfruit World Culture Giclee Poster Print by John Kelly, 11x14
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Pig Tails 'n Breadfruit: A Culinary Memoir by Austin Clarke
A tantalizing Caribbean memoir--part cookbook, part more...0 points
Vietnamese Fusion: Vegetarian Cuisine by Chat Mingkwan
Fresh Spring Rolls - Glass Noodle Soup - Papaya Sa more...0 points
It's another of those trees where almost everything about the plant is used!
Pulp from the wood can be pounded and then laid while still wet on screens of woven palm fronds to make a fabric-like paper called "breadfruit tapa" when it dries.
All parts of the tree produce a milky-white latex-like juice, which is useful for boat caulking and for sealing other wooden items in tropical homes.
It's Not "Breadfruit Tapa", but You Can Still Wear It!
Close-Up of Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis)
Breadfruits by the Bay... eBay, that is!
Breadfruit Links--More Information for those who really want to know!
- National Tropical Botanical Garden--The Breadfruit Institute
- This website of the National Tropical Botanical Garden displays how the Breadfruit Institute in Hawaii promotes the conservation and use of breadfruit for food and reforestation.
- The Global Gourmet--Roasted Breadfruit
- This website provides a "recipe" for roasted breadfruit... yum! Nothing like a breadfruit roasting over an open fire! (or, was that chestnuts?)....
- Ulu Cookbook -- Breadfruit Cookbook!
- You wanna know many ways to cook a breadfruit? This website and book provides the answer to that question that's been nagging at the back of your mind for all these years! ... Really... good food here!
Leave a Note... This Isn't "Breadfruit Tapa" Paper, but You Can Leave a Note Anyway!
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RawBill
Apr 12, 2011 @ 11:18 pm | delete
- Great information on Breadfruit. I am adding this lens as a featured lens on my Norfolk Island lens as the descendants of the Bounty Mutineers eventually settled there after Pitcairn and I have mentioned the breadfruit on the lens.
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SandyPeaks
Dec 6, 2010 @ 11:37 am | delete
- Tasty! Always wanted to to try one. Blessed by a SquidAngel.
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JaguarJulie
Jun 5, 2010 @ 2:30 pm | delete
- Isn't it just amazing, how magical a breadfruit is? Such a remarkable shape and texture.
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kiwisoutback
Dec 5, 2008 @ 1:36 pm | delete
- Interesting, I've never heard of this. Nice work!
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naturegirl7
Nov 30, 2008 @ 7:45 pm | delete
- Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens link to the appropriate plexo and vote for it.
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Breadfruit recipes, anyone?
Pig Tails 'N Breadfruit: A Culinary Memoir
Amazon Price: $5.98 (as of 02/17/2012)
This book provides the Caribbean style recipes--and many that include the marvelous Breadfruit!
A Novel that Features Breadfruit!
Breadfruit: A Novel
Amazon Price: $2.95 (as of 02/17/2012)
This is a novel with a Tahitian setting that also features the breadfruit as part of the environment. Being that breadfruit are very often a staple food in the islands, there's good reason why the breadfruit would feature prominently in the novel!
The Mutiny on the Bounty... from Captain Bligh's Perspective...
The whole purpose of the trip was to bring back BREADFRUIT!
A Voyage to the South Sea: For The Purpose Of Conveying The Bread-Fruit Tree
Amazon Price: $15.11 (as of 02/17/2012)
This is the captain's version of the trip... (we most likely already know about the other shiphand's version.... it's been made into many movies and novels). Interesting read from a different perspective. And yes, it DOES talk about the breadfruit!
