Duku Terengganu: The sweet fruits that are sought after

Duku Terengganu is considered among the best breed in Malaysia. Traditionally, they are planted in the villages along the Terengganu river. The flood water brings large amount of silts to riverine villages. These silts supplied nutrients to the soil. Duku tree thrives well in the village vicinity where not much disturbance at its base and its surrounding.

Sample of good , sweet duku.

Duku fruit is light yellow in colour and round in shape. Its size is around 1.5 inches  in diameter. You can get  tons of duku fruits from a tree. Those days, people who owned duku trees are richer when the season comes. Lorries came in to bring the duku out from their orchards. They exported the duku to other regions as the demand was high.

Now duku is everywhere. When the season comes, the orchards are full of duku.  If   there is a glut., the price falls. You can buy duku fruits in the market with RM3 per kilo or less. Happy travelling.

Buah Semeta: Terengganu version of Mangoesteen

Mangoesteen (garcinia mangostana) or buah semeta as it is called in Terengganu, is the queen of the fruits. It is a seasonal fruit availaible not only in Terengganu but the whole of South East Asian countries. Its outer skin is dark blue black and the flesh is white and sweet. Its season is quite similar to durian. When you see durian, you too can see mangoesteen.

Mangoesteen, its white flesh is very sweet.

The scientists have found the xantones in the rind of the fruit which had vigorous phytonutrients with powerful nutritional properties. You can not eat the rind just like that. It has to be processed first. Traditional herbalists in Terengganu used to dry this rind and later boil it. It is consume like drinking tea for the treatment of high blood pressure and diabetes. Some companies around the world now are turning whole fruit  into juice.But they add other juices to this mangoesteen.

Mangoesteen trees in Terengganu are planted in the orchards with other fruit trees. Some are planted in the town parks for artistic appreciation.

If you want to taste Terengganu mangoesteen, come in May to July. But do not get frustrated if you do not find it as some season may produce less mangoesteen. Happy travelling.