Marang Fruit

What is Marang Fruit ? An interesting tropical fruit found in the Philippines. The Marang fruit is a large sweet aromatic fruit that tastes like a mix of pears, pineapple, and jackfruit. Marang is a breadfruit cousin, also known as Madang, johey oak, terap, or the scientific name ‘Artocarpus Odoratissimus’ in Latin, meaning ‘a sweet taste and odor’. A delicious special fruit that only grows in tropical climates, also known for its rich source of fiber, energy and carbohydrates. But what exactly makes it so unique?

Short Introduction

Marang fruit in English is a type of ‘Breadfruit’ which are versatile fruits from the Mulberry Family, that can be eaten in all stages of development and maturity. This is one of the healthiest and unique fruits in the Philippines. A common figure around Mindanao, while it looks like a hybrid of Kamansi fruit (breadnut) and Langka (jackfruit), it’s softer and has a more favorable scent especially when ripened. 

Marang origins; The marang fruit tree grows in countries with tropical climates, namely, Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The marang tree grows to a height of approximately 25 meters, and bears fruit after 4 to 5 years, is harvested manually since they do not fall onto the ground unless they are overripe. When is the Marang season in Davao? The Marang fruit season starts at September, October, and sometimes ends at December. The fruit bears resemblance to the jackfruit, with large green or sometimes brown spiny skin with dull ends, it of the same size or smaller than a football.

How to know if Marang is ripe ? The fruit will have a distinctive strong aroma that intensifies the riper it gets. The skin will also turn green to yellowish in color, with the protrusions softening further making it easier to open even without a knife.

How to ripen Marang ? If you want to quickly ripen your fruit. Place this in a paper or plastic bag. The natural ethylene gas will speed up the ripening process. You can also submerge the fruit in water for a few minutes to make it ripen the next day. Marang has a short shelf life, so even placing these in a warm area can hasten the process.

How to eat Marang fruit ? Lightly slice with a knife or pull with your hands to open. Once opened or pulled, you’ll see a cluster of white or yellowish soft flesh like bulbs with seeds hidden inside, surrounding the inedible core. Do not eat the seeds unless they have already been roasted. You can pick the meat with a fork or by hand. The marang fruit tastes like a mix of jackfruit, pear, and pineapple.

Where to buy Marang fruit ? You can find these sold on the streets by fruit vendors in some provinces. Sold beside durian and other seasonal fruits. You can also find these sold in some dry markets or fruit cards in the city. Though you might also find these sold at grocery stores.

A notable disadvantage to the Marang is that, once opened, this oxidizes and loses its flavor. So it’s best to eat it on the same day. So gather friends and family to enjoy this with!

Health Benefits of Marang fruit

A sweet tasting delectable fruit, that might seem discreet as it’s lesser known compared to its fellow similar looking compatriots. Marang calories are around 60 – 120 calories per serving of 100 grams of the flesh with the seeds removed. These are packed full of goodness that you’ll be shocked as to why you haven’t heard of it before. But is marang fruit good for diabetic? What benefits can this interesting looking fruit have? Here are some Marang Fruit Benefits:

• Helps relieve constipation, being a rich source of dietary fiber that not only helps the gut, it helps relieve you of stomach problems and diseases.
• Since having a healthy gut is the prerequisite for a strong and healthy body, this helps with the body’s metabolism.
• Reduces the risk of anemia, being a good source of iron.
• Is Marang fruit good for high blood pressure ? It can be good for high blood pressure as it contains a huge amount of potassium. It also regulates blood pressure levels which keeps the heart healthy.
• Has Vitamin A or beta carotene, a great way to improve and keep your vision strong.
• The Marang leaves, while traditionally used for thatched roofs after obtaining latex from the tree. The leaves are also used to treat inflammation.
• Is Marang fruit is good for pregnant women ? It can be eaten by pregnant women but only in moderation. It prevents anemia, maintains metabolism, and promotes heart health. Though if you feel unsure, consult your doctor or dietician to ensure you and your child’s safety.

Marang Fruit Side Effects

• Do note that while there are not many notable problems, there may be side effects of marang fruit. Those who have bleeding disorders or are sensitive to bananas and figs, this might cause an allergic reaction or lower blood pressure.
• Is Marang fruit high in uric acid ? While there is no direct confirmation that the fruit is high in uric acid, it is wise to be cautious as fruits with high sugar content and hypoglycemic ( glucose-lowering ) can cause uric acid levels to rise.
• Is Marang fruit high in sugar ? It is slightly high in sugar. Though it will not harm the body as long as it is only eaten in moderation.

*Is Marang fruit good for dogs? It’s rich in fiber and vitamins making it beneficial for dogs but only in moderation and given in bite-sized servings. These should also have the pit removed before feeding as these can choke your pet.

Marang fruit Vs. Jackfruit

When you first look at it, you might be a bit confused on which is which. But after considering these point, you’ll be sure to notice the difference, from the looks, texture and taste:

• Jackfruit is round or pear shaped with small spines, while Marang is round or oblong shaped with soft broad spines.
• Marang is usually smaller than jackfruit.
• The Jackfruit has yellow stringy flesh, while marang has white bulb-shaped flesh.
• Jackfruit tastes subtly sweet, like a light pineapple or mango flavor. It tastes more neutral as these are used in savory dishes or meat substitutes.
• Marang tastes like a combination of pineapple, jackfruit, and pears.

Marang is an exotic fruit commonly found in the many mountainous regions of Mindanao, Philippines. These have a natural sweetness and creaminess that can be enjoyed as is, turned into jam, syrup, concentrate, powdered, puree, preserves, or even bread, some even add them into desserts like ice cream and especially other cream based desserts.

Marang and Durian Difference ?

Both tropical fruits are large and slightly spicky with differences like:

• Marang has rough, soft-spicy protrusions while Duian has larger sharper thorns.
• Durian has a strong an pungent odor. While Marang has a milder scent that some have even describe to be slightly similar to gasoline.
• Durian has a creamy, custardy, richly sweet silky flesh. Marang is also creamy and sweet but it more so soft, white, melt in your mouth refreshing meat.
• Marang has to be eaten right away after opened which also causes problems with exporting. Durian can last a bit longer in the fridge.

What can you do with this Fruit ?

You can take the seeds out and turn this into into jam, ice candy, or ice cream like the recipe below:

Characteristics of Marang Seeds :

The Marang fruit English name is also “Marang”, which is derived from the local in the Philippines. Though some also call this ‘Terap or Tarap‘ in Sabah and Borneo. Another less common name is ‘Johey Oak‘. This beneficial plant can be grown by anyone living in the Tropics with a good amount of sandy loam at their backyard.

• How to plant Marang Fruit ?
  • Extract the fresh seeds, clean then plant them right away in a sandy loam soil where there is partial shade and humidity. The seeds germinate best at 25°C.
  • The marang seedlings should be transplanted into it’s final location after a year. To a place with good sunlight and well drained soil.
  • The plant is not cold tolerant. It thrives best in humid tropical climates. If you do live somewhere colder, a greenhouse is recommended.
  • Fertilize with ammonium sulfate twice a year after transplanting.
  • The tree will bear fruit after 4 to 6 years of age.
• How to roast Marang Seeds as Coffee – to make this, you’ll need to rinse and dry the seeds well. Roast these in a dry pan over medium low heat. Stirring constantly until it turns slightly brown or a deeper brown ( depending how ‘dark’ you like your coffee to be ). These should smell very nutty. Once it does, ground these into a powder to turn into a coffee substituted.
• Marang seeds as butter – while it’s still being studied and tested. Some belitve that the seed may have potential to be a nut-free alternative due to it’s nutritional content.