Description

Ackee is a fruit that belongs to the soapberry family. It grows on evergreen trees, the fruit is yellow on the outside, and turns bright red when ripe. On the outside, it consists of 3 separate pods with yellow flesh inside. This yellow flesh is known as the aril and is edible. As the fruit ripens the pods split wide open exposing the seeds and the spongy flesh around the seeds. Ackee trees produce fruits only 2 times a year. The tree has originated from West Africa and was introduced to the Caribbean on slave ships. Ackee fruit was promoted by a man named Thomas Clarke, who planted it in Eastern Jamaica in 1778 and eventually ackee became the national fruit of Jamaica. It grows throughout the Caribbean and in Jamaica, it is grown commercially as a food item. It is sold as fresh fruit in markets in Jamaica and canned in brine elsewhere. Ackee is safe to eat when it’s ripe however the unripe fruit is very poisonous. It is poisonous as it contains a substance called ' saponins' which causes the condition 'Jamaica-vomiting sickness'. The fruit weighs 100-200 grams. There are two kinds of ackee, one called the "butter ackee", that needs to be cooked carefully, or else it will become mushy like butter, the second is "cheese ackee", that keeps its form during cooking.
Ackee is treated like a vegetable, as opposed to a fruit, when it comes to cooking it. It is often made into a Jamaican dish called, “Ackee and Saltfish”, which consists of Ackee and salted cod. When cooked this way, ackee fruit tends to taste like scrambled eggs.

 

Health benefits

• Helps regulate Blood Pressure- Ackee is rich in potassium which is very beneficial for those suffering from high blood pressure as potassium tends to normalize the blood pressure and further prevents heart disease. ⁽¹⁾
• Promotes bone health- It is rich in minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc, which help build strong bones and stops bone loss thus preventing osteoporosis.⁽¹⁾
• Boosts Immunity Ackee is rich in vitamin C, which helps build white blood cells in the body thereby boosting the immune system.⁽¹⁾ 
• Aids Digestion- The rich fiber content in ackee helps bulk up stool, helping food move along the gut and prevents bloating, cramping, constipation thus aiding in good digestion.⁽¹⁾ 
• Good source of protein-It is considered a rich vegetarian source of protein. Protein is very essential for our body for the repair and development of muscles and tissues. Thus, consuming ackee provides a good amount of protein to the body.⁽¹⁾

Selection Guide

When buying fresh always choose ackee fruit when it is fully ripe, that is when the outer skin is deep red and the pods have opened up exposing the inner flesh and seeds. When buying canned ackee, check that it's within the expiry period.