Jacky F.: organic young jackfruit as a great meat substitute

What's the story behind Jacky F.?

Julia Huthman, the inspirer and founder of Jacky F., lived in Sri Lanka for a number of years. She was eating a vegetarian curry dish there one day. She was amazed that this delicious meal tasted like chicken. She went to see the cook, who, with a laugh, told her that it contained Jackfruit!

Jackfruit or Jackyfruit is a typical fruit for Sri Lanka. The flesh has a meaty texture reminiscent of chicken or tuna. It is forbidden to cut down Jackfruit trees in Sri Lanka. This ensures that there is an abundance of Jackfruit, with one-third of all fruit staying on the tree and spoiling.

Julia saw an opportunity to make sure this culinary discovery wouldn't go to waste and at the same time help the Sri Lankan people. In 2016, she was the first to introduce young jackfruit in Europe as a meat substitute under the name Jacky F.

Why buy Jacky F. jackfruit?

Nutritious, high-fibre and low-calorie meat substitute
high-quality source of fibre low in calories, fat and sugar
100% organic, harvested and processed without pesticides or artificial additives
Processed and canned locally in Sri Lanka - with Sri Lankan love
Social project: Jacky F. works with small farmers and cooperatives who, thanks to this project, can earn their own income from fruit that would otherwise go to waste.
Sustainable, ecological, innovative

Two versions of jackfruit

Jackfruit or Nangka is an evergreen tree from the mulberry family that originated in India. It stands out because of its large fruits with a green-brown skin consisting of hexagonal points. The flesh is white to yellow in colour and has a fleshy structure.

Jackfruit comes in two versions: young and green or ripe and yellow. It is actually a fruit and vegetable in one.

Young jackfruit is picked before the natural fruit sugars are formed. This jackfruit is rather neutral in taste. Straight from the can, it has a mild artichoke flavour. However, jackfruit absorbs flavours from marinades very well. With a little seasoning, it can easily be used to make vegetarian stew or a vegetarian burger. Jackfruit is also delicious in Asian curries and is being hyped up worldwide as pulled jackfruit or vegetarian pulled pork! Jackfruit is high in fibre and low in calories. Ideal for those who want healthy and nutritious food.
Yellow jackfruit is fully ripe and exotically sweet. It tastes like a mixture of mango, papaya, banana and gummy bears. It is popular as a natural snack, an exotic touch in muesli or in cakes and desserts.

Jackfruit comes in salt water or 'saltlake brine' and in lime juice or syrup.

For savoury preparations use young jackfruit in salty water. The ripe variety in syrup is used in desserts.

Read our blog: How do you marinate jackfruit?

Jackfruit: meat substitute of the future

According to some scientists, jackfruit is the crop of the future. It is a good alternative to maize, wheat and cereals. Due to its robust skin, jackfruit is highly resistant to pests and diseases. It also withstands heat well, needs little water and grows quickly. A promising fruit in a world of climate change.

Jackfruit is not a durian

Don't confuse jackfruit with durian, the infamous Asian stinky fruit. Jackfruit and durian are very similar, but otherwise not at all comparable, as the skin of a durian fruit is more prickly. The most important distinction, of course, is that Jackfruit doesn't stink!