Bread Fruit

[debmidge]

Anyone familar with this vegetable/fruit? I suppose it's gluten free but what does it taste like? Where can I buy it? (north east coast USA)

[kenlove]

Breadfruit is pretty common on most tropical islands. I have a few trees here in Kona. No gluten and nothing to do with bread.

If you remember Mutiny on the Bounty, Capt. Bligh was sent to Tahiti to get breadfruit to feed slaves in Jamaica which he eventually did. It is illegal to ship the fruit from Hawaii but you might be able to get it from Fla. Not cheap but it is tasty.

Check with the Miami Fruit and Spice Park if they know anyone selling it.

Open Original Shared Link

gives more information on the fruit

Ken

quote name='debmidge' date='Apr 5 2008, 03:05 PM' post='416087']

Anyone familar with this vegetable/fruit? I suppose it's gluten free but what does it taste like? Where can I buy it? (north east coast USA)

[debmidge]

Ken

What does it taste like? Yes, it was in the movie when I watched it yesterday that they spoke about breadfruit....I thought they meant grapefruit but my hearing was "off."

Debbie

[kenlove]

Hi Debbie,

There are a number of different types of breadfruit and although they taste differently, they have the same starchy texture.

It's a staple of the Polynesian and Micronesian cultures and one of the original trees brought to Hawaii by settlers in 700 AD or so.

That said, it depends on how its eaten as to what it taste like. Often it's just put whole into an imu or Hawaiian type luau oven and baked. At home it can also be baked whole. Good varieties are naturally sweet and dont need anything but these days people put butter and cinnamon on it. That way it is a little like bread because of the firm but soft texture. When it's overripe it can be eaten like poi in Hawaii. Ulu (Hawaiian name for breadfruit) poi is sometimes found at family luaus here but seldom at the hotels. We take the over ripe fruit and make ulu bread with gluten-free flour of course. Good varieties can have an orange or slight yellow color to the meat. It's hard to say what it tastes like or compared too with conventional foods. The closest relative of breadfruit is jackfruit, the worlds largest tree fruit. Jackfruit flavor is what Juicy Fruit gum gets its flavor from. Breadfruit might remind some of that flavor.

Sure wish I could send some, have to harvest them this week for the hotels here. Maybe you just have to visit Hawaii!

Ken

Ken

What does it taste like? Yes, it was in the movie when I watched it yesterday that they spoke about breadfruit....I thought they meant grapefruit but my hearing was "off."

Debbie