Fruit
Salak
Salak, or snake fruit (Salacca zalacca), is a palm fruit from Indonesia and neighbouring Southeast Asia with reddish-brown scale-like skin that peels in segments. Inside, firm ivory lobes taste sweet-tart—apple, pineapple, and astringent tannin in one bite—with a dry, crisp texture unlike juicy tropicals. Pondoh and Bali types are prized for higher sugar and lower astringency. Eaten fresh after peeling, salak also appears in salads, chips, and local sweets. The large inedible seed sits in each lobe. Choose fruit that yields slightly and smells fragrant, not fermented. Unfamiliar shoppers should expect a mild tannic finish; ripe, good cultivars minimise that bite.
Track this ingredient
Cuts & parts
Breeds & varieties
A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles.
Characteristics
Preparations
Provenance
Sources
Traits
Nutrition and pairings
Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 0.29 g
- Saturated Fat 0.05 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0.1 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 4.75 mg
- Salt 0.01 g
- Total Carbohydrate 13.6 g
- Dietary Fibre 1.91 g
- Total Sugars 10.2 g
- Complex / starch 1.08 g
- Protein 0.8 g
- Water 87.6 g
- Energy 51.2 kcal
- Water 87.6 g
- Carbohydrates 13.6 g
- Sugars 10.2 g
- Monosaccharides 7.16 g
- Disaccharides 3.07 g
- Starch 1.08 g
- Amylose 0.27 g
- Amylopectin 0.81 g
- Digestible Starch 0.92 g
- Resistant Starch 0.11 g
- Fibre 1.91 g
- Soluble Fibre 0.67 g
- Insoluble Fibre 1.24 g
- Protein 0.8 g
- Plant Protein 0.76 g
- Fat 0.29 g
- Saturated Fat 0.05 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0.1 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1 g
- Vitamins 77.8 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.03 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.04 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 0.36 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.18 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.07 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 0.9 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 12.9 µg
- Vitamin C 39 mg
- Vitamin E 0.25 mg
- Vitamin K 4.1 µg
- Minerals 459 mg
- Major Minerals 453 mg
- Trace Minerals 6.3 mg
- Salt 0.01 g
- Sodium Chloride 0.01 g
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 39 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.03 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.04 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 0.36 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.18 · vitamin-b6: 0.07 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 0.9 · vitamin-b9-folate: 12.9 · vitamin-e: 0.25 · vitamin-k: 4.1 ·
Minerals
Sodium: 4.75 · Potassium: 394 · Calcium: 54 · Iron: 0.9 · Zinc: 0.4 · Iodine: 5 ·
Fruit energy is mostly natural sugars with fibre and vitamin C varying by species.
History
Salak was used as a fruit food in regional diets long before industrial packing and global year-round supply.
Trade, migration, and selection spread distinctive Salak types and preparations into new climates and cuisines.
Modern production, storage, and transport made Salak a regular purchase far from where it is grown or raised.
Cooks now treat Salak as both staple and specialty, with more attention to provenance, variety, and form.