Fruity

Now the local fruit season is upon us

we've been quite good at trying new things, but less good at taking in focus photos so, some are from http://weloveourbangladesh.blogspot.com


Lychees
starting with the familiar.  I think I must have known that lychees grow on trees, but didn't realise that they grow in big bunches

here they are sold with the leaves still attached per bunch of 50 or so, too many for me to eat before they go bad as Lon doesn't like them (they remind him of eyeballs), so the driver and maid both get a share.  Oh and I buy the expensive ones which are 1.50 for the bunch of 50.

 

Day 2 in the bowl.  By day 3 we have some mouldy ones, and the skin on lots are discoloured, which makes me think the imported ones in Europe must be treated to prevent this happening.

The verdict - delicious and much juicier than I've had before (running down your arm juicy). Must get more as the season is so short.

Rose apples

we tried a similar fruit in Thailand.  They have a nice crunch to them, a bit like an unripe conference pear but juicier, but no discernible flavour as such.  Verdict, not worth the bother

Taal fruit

these fellas grow on the Asian palm - when ripe and brown they are used to make alcoholic toddy.

I saw some at the market and thought they were odd shaped green coconuts.  I asked my friends driver the name, and he said they were a bit like lychees but not so sweet

Back with our own driver, I asked him to stop if we saw any for sale - he later presented me with some peeled in a bag. Palm sized, clear gelatinous blobs.

The verdict? on biting in there was a watery centre, which was unexpected (and so messy) - the fruit itself was like unripe coconut flesh in texture, but with no particular flavour. It felt like eating a jellyfish.  I'd like to try the toddy though!

Jack fruit
The national fruit of Bangladesh.  They are everywhere on the trees in Dhaka and grow on the trunks and branches of the trees in huge numbers - some are less even than others.  They grow huge as well (bigger than a basketball).  Unripe they can be made into chutneys and curries, but bangladeshis just like to eat them ripe.  The ripe fruits have a strong almost unpleasant smell (penetrating in the same way overripe melons can be, but less appetising).  I think that they look almost like cancerous growths on the trees.

Incredible texture on the skins

I'll be getting mine from the street vendors when the time comes (not yet- but soon, they are in the markets already)

the flavour falls somewhere between a pineapple and a banana, with hints of mango; the texture, depending on the ripeness of the fruit, can be mildly chewy


Mangoes
Season is just starting! Lon is a happy bunny. They are around a euro a kilo now, and will go down as supply increases