Chempedak, the smaller cousin of the well-known, jackfruit. It adopts the Malay name as it does not have an English name. It is a seasonal fruit native to southeast Asia.

Chempedak looks similar to the jackfruit except that it is much smaller in size but it is large in comparison to other fruits. It is also sweeter, stickier and with a strong odor when it is ripe.

You will know when it is ripe as it will emit a strong odor that fills the room, similar to the durian. It will turn light green with dark brown spots appearing on several of the flattened studs. It is also slightly sticky when you touch it due to the secretion of latex through the rind.

The rind is thick but soft, so it is easy to cut it length-wise into half. There are many fleshy, yellowish-orange pulp which encases each brown seed inside. The pulp is sweet, sticky and mushy with a rather chewy skin if you eat it raw. Another style is fried Chempedak, a popular Malay snack. It is very tasty. The hard seeds can be eaten too when boiled or roasted.