Tropical Fruits and Its Value

Gowok fruit (also known as kupa or kepa), with the scientific name Eugenia polycephala Miq., is a native Indonesian fruit belonging to the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). The fruit is small and round, resembling a blueberry, with a dark purple color when ripe. It has a refreshing sweet-and-sour taste and is commonly eaten fresh or used in rujak (traditional fruit salad). Today, gowok is increasingly rare. Gowok This fruit grows in clusters directly on the trunk and branches and is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, making it beneficial for health. The gowok tree is native to Indonesia, particularly Java, Sulawesi, and Kalimantan. Characteristics of the Gowok Plant The gowok tree grows to a height of 8–20 meters, with a trunk diameter of up to 50 cm. Its leaves are single and oval-shaped, measuring approximately 17–25 cm in length and 6–7 cm in width. The flowers are arranged in panicles, with white petals and numerous stamens. This plant grows wild in secondary forests at elevations of 200–...

Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) is a very popular fruit in Southeast Asia. This region is a major producer and consumer of this fruit. Sapodilla preferred mainly because it tastes sweet and soft flesh. This plant is thought to originate from tropical America-such as Guatemala, Mexico, and the West Indies-and in Java, this plant can be found in the lowlands. The Spanish colonizers brought from Mexico to the Philippines, and the possibility of it spreading to Southeast Asia. Sapodilla has now grown in many tropical regions of the world. Brown manila germplasm collections are in Los Banos (Philippines), Queensland (Australia), India, Cuba, Brazil, Costa Rica, Florida and Hawaii (USA) and several other countries. Sapodilla Most sapodilla fruit eaten fresh as a table fruit.  However, sapodilla can also be processed into sherbet, mixed into ice cream, or used as jam. Sapodilla fruit juice can be concentrated into syrup, or fermented into wine or vinegar. The sap can be used as glu...

Mangosteen Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) is a member of the Clusiaceae family and the Garcinia genus. Garcinia is a large genus of about 400 species native to East India, the Malay Peninsula and Southeast Asia including Indonesia. In addition, based on morphological and cytological studies, it is estimated that the mangosteen originates from Southeast Asia. In addition, researchers argue that mangosteen is a fruit producer in Indonesia. In fact, the mangosteen is a tropical fruit that has been used for hundreds of years around the world as a traditional medicine. Mangosteen trees can grow in the lowlands. The best growth is achieved in areas with an altitude of 500-600 m above sea level. In Indonesia, the centers for planting mangosteen trees are West Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, Riau, East Kalimantan, North Sumatra and North Sulawesi. Europeans call this fruit the queen of tropical fruit, this title arises from the reasons for the pleasure of this fruit. Sweet, sour and fre...

Marian Plum is an endemic of South East Asia, and has Scientific name Bouea macrophylla Griffith. Even though it is becoming scarce in its source area, Marian Plum is still well known and has the local names Gandaria or Djatake (Indonesia) and serapoh, kondongan, kundang (Malaysia). Marian Plum  is a tree of the humid tropics and thrives in light and fertile soil. It occurs naturally in lowland forests below 300 m altitude, but has been successfully cultivated up to elevations of about 850 m. Tree with clear sap turning black. Stipules absent. Leaves opposite which is rare within the Anacardiaceae, distichous (in one plane along the twig), simple, large, glabrous. Flowers small, placed in small branched inflorescences. Fruits c. 3 cm long, orange-red fleshy drupes. Characteristics of the tree:  The tree is medium, but high. The height can reach 25 m with a diameter of 55 cm. The plant canopy is conical or round in shape with dense leaves so it is very suitable for use as a sha...

Guava (Psidium guajava), is a tropical plant from Brazil, which then spread to many other tropical countries, and became a popular fruit in there. Has a green rind when young and turn yellow when ripe and have white or red meat fruit and sweet-sour taste, Guava contain a lot of vitamin C. Guava leaves contain tannins, eugenol (essential oils), fatty oil, resin, tannin substances, triterpinoid, apfel acid. While fruit contains amino acids (tryptophan, lysine), calcium, phosphorus, iron, sulfur, vitamin A, B1, and C, however, guava leaf not common to consume and only used as part of herbal medicine. These plants include Myrtaceae family, grown in the lowlands to the highlands 1,200 meters above sea level; in loose soil to clay soils, especially in open areas and plenty of water.

Duku (Lansium domesticum) is a type of tropical fruit that grow primarily in Southeast Asia region. In Indonesia, Malaysia and Burma this fruits have the same name. Duku is a popular fruit and a favorite in the subcontinent. Sweet taste with a lot of water content is a perfect blend to be enjoyed in tropical climates that tend to heat. Duku fruit, relatively inexpensive and easily found everywhere, especially at harvest time. Lansium domesticum There are several different varieties of Duku, such Kokosan, Langsat in Indonesia, Langsat, lansa, langseh, langsep in Malay, Langsad and longkong in Thailand and some others varieties. Duku also be found in some South American countries like Suriname and Puerto Rico, except in South Asia such as India and Sri Lanka. Duku, as is generally the other tropical fruits was originally a species that grows in the forest. However, due to the fruit popularity and economic value,   now planned cultivation already done. Duku colo...

Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) , is the geographical origin and spread of South America and Central America. However, has been widely planted in the southern United States since prehistoric times, and have been found at archaeological sites in Mexico dated 3000 years BC. Now this bean has been commonly grown throughout the tropics. The legume seeds produce a kind of bean that can be used as a source of vegetable protein can be processed in various types of processed foods, although presently, cultivation is not so intensive. Characteristic of the tree: Jack bean can adapt well in the humid tropics, but also can survive in periods of drought. These beans can be grown in areas with an annual rainfall ranges from 700-4000 mm. Although Jack bean is a low-lying plant but can also be grown at altitudes up to 1800 m., Best growth in full sunlight but have moderate shade tolerance. These beans tolerant to a variety of soil conditions including acid and covers a land area of a...

Yardlong Bean (Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalisis) a plant used as a vegetable or vegetable dish. He grew up with by climbing or twining. Yardlong beans are used as vegetables or fresh fruit when it is still young and the fibers are soft, long beans are easily found in the tropical territory of Asia, especially in South East Asia Region. Yardlong Bean Yardlong Bean (Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalisis   is known as  dau gok  in  Cantonese ,  jiang dou  ( 豇豆 ) in  Standard Mandarin ,  Thua Fak yao  ( ถั่วฝักยาว ) in  Thailand  and  Kacang Panjang  in  Indonesia and Malay ,  Sitaw  in  Tagalog ,  Ilokano utong  in Bora in the West Indies and vali, Borboti in Bengali, India, eeril in Goa, India or  đậu đũa  (V ietnamese , literally: chopstick bean). Scientific classification: Kingdom            : Plantae Division  ...

Corn or Zea mays or commonly referred to Maize is one of the most important sources of carbohydrates, especially in the western hemisphere. Known, maize has become a staple food of the people of Mexico and Latin America since prehistoric times. From Central America, the plant with the same name of the fruit is then grown to almost all tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world. Currently maize, become an important agricultural business from local, regional to multinational size of scope. Characteristics of the tree: Corn is a tropical grass plants is very adaptive to climate change and have a life span of 70-210 days. Corn can grow to a height of 3 meters. Unlike other grain crops, maize is a plant that flowers only males and females separately. Maximum temperature of the corn crop and the start of the growth phase of development is 18-32 degrees Celsius. Beyond that maize can not be grown or even death. Corn can produce good yields on rainfall 300 mm per mon...

Leucaena leucocephala or Guage (Mexico); wild tamarind (Corozal, Belize); lead tree (Florida); lamtoro (Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea); ipil ipil (Philippines); jumby bean (Bahamas); false koa, koa haole (Hawaii); tangantangan, tangan tangan, talantayan (Guam, Marshall Islands); talntangan, ganitnityuwan tangantan (Yap); tuhngantuhngan, rohbohtin (Kosrae); telentund (Palau); lopa samoa (American Samoa); fua pepe (American Samoa and Samoa); lusina (Samoa); pepe (Niue and Samoa); nito (Cook Islands); siale mohemohe (Tonga); subabul (India); vaivai (Fiji); cassis (Vanuatu); te kaitetua (Kiribati); kay keo dâu (Vietnam), is a kind of shrub of the legume tribes (Leguminosae, legumes), which is often used in reforestation or erosion prevention. Originated from tropical America, this plant has introduced hundreds of years to Southeast Asia. In Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia's fruit (locally called Leucaena) used as food and herbal medicines, alt...

Pometia Pinnata Fijian longan or Island lychee (Pometia pinnata) is a kind of tropical fruit come front South East Asia and Pacific Islands as their origin habitat. Now Pamotia Pinnata grows concentrated in Papua Island and has it local name Matoa. This tree product a sweet and nice fruit named the same with its tree Fijian Logan or Matoa. The taste of this fruit is combination between Lychee and Durian, two kinds of fruits that is the favorite in South East Asia regions. Even though has its very nice taste, so far this fruit is not yet popular outside the area of grown. Even in Indonesia, where Matoa grow, many people are not familiar. So far, this fruit tree is not yet widely cultivated and is still a forest crop. The reason may be the reason why Matoa not well known, even in their growing area. Once again, this fruit has a unique flavor, fresh sweet and deliciously scented. Characteristic of the tree: The tree Matoa (Pometia pinnata) is a typical fruit tree of ...

Pare (Momordica charantia) or Bitter Melon is a vine and Asia tropical origin, especially the western India, namely Assam and Burma. Tribesmen pumpkin or Cucurbitaceous  commonly cultivated for use as a vegetable and a medicinal.In East Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea, and China, bitter melon is used for the medical treatment, among others, as a cure indigestion, pep drinks, laxatives and vomiting, and even has been extracted and packaged in capsules as herbal medicine. While in Indonesia, bitter melon is very popular and become part of the basic materials for variety of culinary dishes. Pare though has bitter taste, treated more as a vegetable than a fruit. Characteristics of the tree:   Bitter lemon is a type of vine, with long fruit shape and tapered at the ends, and jagged surface. Bitter lemon grows well in the lowlands, but can be found growing wild in wastelands, dry land, cultivated, or planted in the garden with propagated in the fence...