A jackfruit tale

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.