A
JACK FRUIT TALE
We
used to spend much of our vacations at our mothers house. Those were
the best days of our life. Saji maman(mother’s younger brother) had
a pot which he used to breed honey bees. Our vacations were during
summer, the season of ‘chakka’(jack fruit). Sajimaman; as a part
of our home coming ,plucks jack fruit ,either way, raw, ripened or
partially ripened. Achamma(grandmother) sits on a small stool and
cuts the jack fruit to separate its fruit and seeds. Partially
ripened Jack fruits tastes the best with honey, freshly taken from
the pot. The taste of jack fruit with honey brings back all the good
memories to mind. Raw jack fruit was always “puzhukku”;the best
delicacy of Kerala that goes with chicken curry. Raw, unripened ones
are best fried. ‘chakka varuthathu’ was always the best teatime
snack.
All
the cooking at home was done by ammayi(ammavan’s wife), who handles
the ration shop they own along with house hold chores. Morning 8 to
1o'clock in the afternoon she used to be at the ration shop and then comes home for lunch. By 3pm, ammayi heads to kitchen to make snacks for the
evening tea. The days chakka puzhukku was made were our favorite
days. At first jack fruit, separated from seeds are chopped and boiled
with turmeric and salt. Coconut is grted and blended with garlic,
shallots, green chilies and curry leaves. The smell of blended
coconut mix, cooked with the boiled jack fruit made all of us
assemble in the dining room. We had it along with either chicken
curry or mango pickle. A cup of delicious tea along with chakka
puzhukku is the most splendid memory of childhood ever.
