From the Tropical Fruit News, Rare Fruit Council International Miami RFCI
by Donna M. Cannon



Feasting on the Kampong Mulberry


Around the beginning of June, we were lucky enough to sample some mulberries at the Kampong that were monumental in size and flavor. Larry Schokman led us to the tree, which he said was planted mainly to deter birds from eating the more valuable fruits. If you think about it, this makes that luxuriously foliated mulberry tree one of the largest biocontrol methods around! It came through the hurricane very well, and must have a degree of salt tolerance, as the Kampong is an oceanfront property. (David Fairchild knew how to pick a spotl) The ripest berries were jet black, but the ones that were crimson-purple were also delectable.

Larry reminded us that the mulberry is a jakfruit relative, and these luscious delights did indeed resemble their much larger distant cousin in formation. Both fruits belong to the family Moraceae; jakfruit's complete name being Artocarpus heterophyllus and the mulberry, Morus, species alba, nigra, or rubra depending on the color and geographical location. the leaves are used in teas around the world, and the young shoots are sometimes eaten with rice, in stews, or just as a green vegetable with butter and salt. And Marian is right, they sure do stain. I wouldn't be surprised if the fruits were not used as natural dye for fabrics, Easter eggs, etc.



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Bibliography

Cannon, Donna M. Feasting on the Kampong Mulberry. Rare Fruit Council International Miami RFCI, Tropical Fruit News, 1993.

Published 27 Oct. 2017 LR
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