The slaves refused to eat it. They fed it to the pigs. Though the common name “breadfruit” comes from the fruit’s supposed resemblance to fresh-baked bread, the broader consensus is that its taste is bland to blah. Some compare it to a cross between undercooked potato and plantain.
Why did the Bounty want breadfruit?
In December 1787, the Bounty left England for Tahiti in the South Pacific, where it was to collect a cargo of breadfruit saplings to transport to the West Indies. There, the breadfruit would serve as food for enslaved passengers.
What is the origin of breadfruit?
Breadfruit originated in New Guinea and the Indo-Malay region and was spread throughout the vast Pacific by voyaging islanders. Europeans discovered breadfruit in the late 1500s.
Who brought breadfruit to the Caribbean?
Captain William Bligh
Breadfruit is a staple Caribbean food, but it’s not native to the region. Like many other fruit and plants, it was transplanted here and has made itself at home. The humble breadfruit arrived in 1793. It made its first landfall in the region in St Vincent, and it was brought by Captain William Bligh of the HMS Bounty.
Why did the British want breadfruit from Tahiti?
The breadfruit expedition, backed by the great and influential botanist Sir Joseph Banks, patron of Kew Gardens and president of the Royal Society, had been commissioned to transport the nutritious, fast-growing fruit to the West Indies for propagation as a cheap food for slave laborers who worked the vast sugar
Why is breadfruit important?
The breadfruit (Ulu’) was a staple food and was important in the cultural, and spiritual life of ancient Hawaiians. The breadfruit tree was an important source of wood for canoes, drums, surfboards, and houses; bark for kapa; Sap from the tree was used as caulking, chewing gum and salve.
Who first brought breadfruit to Jamaica?
This species had been introduced to Jamaica by Africans who had been enslaved in the west and central parts of Africa and transported to Jamaica. Its Jamaican name ackee was derived from its West African Akan name akye fufo.
Can breadfruit be poisonous?
Type of Toxicity
Contain oxalates with immediate adverse reaction. The juice or sap of these plants contains tiny oxalate crystals that are shaped like tiny needles. Chewing on these plants can cause immediate pain and irritation to the lips, mouth, and tongue.
Is breadfruit a fruit or a vegetable?
fruit
Breadfruit is an extremely versatile fruit that can be prepared and eaten at all stages of development and maturity. Mature fruit is the most desirable to use for most dishes, due to its potato-like texture.
Is raw breadfruit poisonous?
Most varieties of breadfruit are purgative if eaten raw. Some varieties are boiled twice and the water thrown away, to avoid unpleasant effects, while there are a few named cultivars that can be safely eaten without cooking.
Where did Jamaica get breadfruit from?
Tahiti
The Breadfruit is a common food tree in Jamaica . It was introduced from Tahiti in about 1792 by Captain William Bligh, and soon became an important food source for slaves. The first plants were established in the Bath Botanical Garden in St. Thomas .
What is another name for breadfruit?
Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit)
Are jackfruit and breadfruit the same?
The main difference between jackfruit and breadfruit is their flavor. Most jackfruit in North America is sold green and immature, having little flavor of its own but the perfect texture to create a saucy meat alternative. Breadfruit, on the other hand, tastes remarkably like bread.
What fruit triggered the world’s most famous mutiny?
In French Polynesia, breadfruit is an essential part of both the islanders’ diet and their culture – so much so, that its story is cemented in history.
Is the story of Mutiny on the Bounty true?
It tells the tale, which is in fact a true story, about a famous mutiny that took place in 1789 on an English ship.
Who brought breadfruit to Puerto Rico?
Spanish voyagers who arrived in the late 1500s documented the prolific plant for the first time in their journals. And in the late 1700s, the British Empire established breadfruit plantations in Caribbean colonies to use as food for slaves, where it gained a notorious reputation.
Is breadfruit a Superfood?
Breadfruit, a newly recognized superfood, is a fruit that is dense and full of life and vitality. It is from the same family as mulberry and jackfruit trees and grows widely in tropical regions, with trees that grow up to 70 feet high and produce fruit within three or five years.
Can you get breadfruit in the US?
“Breadfruit is a tropical tree. It’s something that you won’t find on the mainland United States, unfortunately. But it’s a very important starch to those of the Pacific,” said Mike Opgenorth, the director of Kahanu Garden, home to the largest collection of breadfruit trees in the world – 150 varieties.
Can diabetics eat breadfruit?
As revealed in the breadfruit and diabetes article, breadfruit is a healthy diet for diabetic patients, as it helps to lower blood sugar levels. It also contains fibers that help remove toxins from the body.
What ethnic group brought Yam Jamaica?
It is said that yams came to Jamaica from Africa in a Portuguese slave ship. There are up to 18 different varieties of yam are cultivated in Jamaica, and they all have a unique taste, flavour and texture.
Is breadfruit native to Jamaica?
The British Captain Cook discovered breadfruit on Tahiti, and his description of the fruit caught the public’s imagination back home in England. The first tree in Jamaica was brought to the island from Tahiti by Captain William Bligh in 1793 on the ship HMS Providence.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.