Fruit
Salacca zalacca
S tier
Salacca zalacca is salak (snake fruit)—a clustering palm bearing pear-shaped fruit with brown reptile-scale skin that peels to crisp, apple-lychee segments around inedible seeds. Flavour is sweet-tart with astringent notes if underripe; texture is crunchy-dry compared with juicy mangosteen. Indonesian markets are the heartland. Peel from the tip; watch sharp skin edges. Eat fresh; some types are crisper or sweeter (Pondoh). Not a long shipper at peak—local is best. Pair with other market fruit carefully; astringency varies lot to lot.
Track this ingredient
Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
History
Indonesian cultivation established salak as a major palm fruit.
Regional named salak types differentiated across islands.
Commercial Pondoh and Bali types expanded modern trade.
Specialty import trials brought snake fruit to global curious markets.