As a Borneo-ian (people who lives in Borneo Island), I must do my part to introduce the fruit of our island – TARAP.
Tarap is a type of fruit, a bit similar to cempedak, but i think it taste so much better as cempedak’s taste is too heavy for me. It’s scientific name is Artocarpus odoratissima, which can only be found in Borneo Island. In fact this fruit comes once a year and a lot of borneio-ians thought this fruit is very common. I realised when i was studying in KL, I missed it so much and later on I verified with the Internet that it’s only found in Borneo Island.
Its Name: Tarap derived from a Malay word – Bald or Botak. (People normally call someone the “Tarap hair”, ermm… maybe the word tarap hair is from the fruit, i’m not sure… mmm..)
Its Looks & Feels: Tarap looks between rambutans and durians, It’s hairs length is as long as durian’s pointies, its density is like rambutan’s, but is harder than rambutans…
To Open: You do not need a knife to open it, when its ripe, you just need to peel the skin off.
To Eat: pluck the isi one by one, the seed is not too small to make you swallow it accidentally or purposely, its not too big and so you can accumulate the seeds before you spill it out. (i always accumulate up to 20 seeds in my mouth b4 i spill it out for show)
the Taste: is sweet, and very nice! I can finish the whole thing all by myself! Come to Borneo now, its the TARAP SEASON!!!
The other fruit is the local yellow/orange durian that you should also introduce… only found in borneo island also… hehehee….
Really? i didn’t know the yellow+orange durian is only found in Borneo.. but now not the season yet. haha
I thought it’s the season again as I saw people selling it again. Been seeing it on my way to and back from work, near the Aman Complex at Jalan Muara leh… Just that I so malas to stop by to buy as my aunt doesn’t like durian… and I don’t enjoy eating alone..
oh… my family crazy about durians, i will just wait at home, someone will bring durian back. But i really tot the orange durian is common in west malaysia too.. let me double check again
wow… i never see anyhing other than nangka, cempedak and durian.. @_@
THen next time you should come to Borneo to try it. Remember k? hehe
Yup my family in Lumut will be crazy about durian but not here in BSB, my aunt doesn’t like durian, so no kaki to eat then no fun…
That unique Borneo durian is called Durian Pulu. It doest grow on the tree but instead on the ground. The spikes are kinda blunt and the flesh peels so easily too. It’s pretty hard to find and so its not that cheap too.
And yes, I love Tarap, especially if its fried with though, just like they do cucur pisang (banana fritters).
Gonna write a post on Durian Pulu… it grows on the ground?? :O its so dangerous… what happened if someone stepped on it!!
It actually looks a bit like “custard apple”.
Hi,
Very interesting article! Can you get some seeds of Tarap and/or other local fruits for me? I am interested to trade for other seeds or things that interest you. Or I can pay your expenses!
Many thanks in advance.
Best Regards
Carlos
Brazil
Hello Carlos
THe fruit is very seasonal, it is not the season yet… so we gotto wait!
so you collect seeds from all around the world?
Oh, could you send me the seeds so I can plant it and later enjoy the fruit too? Aku belum pernah makan.
I woul love cempedak and durian seeds to plant, also.
i love that TARAP too….my #1 Borneo local fruit.
@Carlos,i think it should be no problem plant in Brazil we got the same climate (tropical).Like our rubber plant also origined from your country Brazil.
from,
Lawas.Sarawak.
Hey, great article and information. This interesting fruit has been of interest to me for years now. I seek to grow it myself, as all who try it seem to love it’s flavor.
There is a type of red durian from Sabah (and it grows only there, I have heard) called “Tabelak,” or “Merah” which grows up in the tree like regular durian. It’s flesh is a deep red color. The species is ‘durio graveolens.’
I think the kind which grows near the ground is the species ‘durio kutajensis’ which has orange color flesh and the fruits are a little more elongated. Both are native to Borneo and Malaysia.
Anyhow, Tarap is also called “Marang,” but the species itself, ‘artocarpus ororatissimus’ can be found to a lesser extent in Indonesia and is grown rather commonly in the Philippenes also. It grows wild in Borneo, where it is far more common than anywhere else in the world.
If you ever want to sell your seeds after eating one, there’s quite a market. You can make money because collectors are most certainly looking for them. I know some people who list them on eBay. All of the rare Borneo fruits are highly sought after.
Here’s how to prepare– Wash the seeds with light soap, (get rid of all bacteria). Throw away any broken or damaged ones (they will rot the whole batch!)
Put them in a slightly damp, sterile medium (like coconut fibers) and ship them as fast as possible!
- Timothy @ Skyfield Tropical
P.S. and, if you do want to sell your Tarap seeds, I’ll buy them, too!
Hey Borneo fellows, I envy you, living in that beautyfull
Country with all those delicious fruits! I’m. Rare fruit
Collector from Mexico Ill buy also the seeds of the red, orange
Durian and orange Tarap! raulglezruiz@gmail.com
If you ever want to read a reader’s feedback
, I rate this article for 4/5. Decent info, but I have to go to that damn google to find the missed parts. Thank you, anyway!
hello…. you can also find tarap or marang here in philippines…
yeah it’s true that it is delicious…come and visit philippines specially here in mindanao…. hahaha
Tarap is found only on the Island of Borneo and Mindanao. The reason why it is unknown outside of these two islands is due to the very delicate nature of the fruit. This exotic fruit is sweet and fragrant hence the name A. “odoratus…” It ripens rapidly when covered for transportation and the pulp then turns black and sour. So come visit Borneo/Mindanao to sample this fruit.