Ackee fruits (Blighia sapida). The bland white aril (fleshy seed covering) of the ackee fruit is edible but is poisonous if eaten when unripe. ackee, (Blighia sapida), tree of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae) native to West Africa, widely cultivated throughout tropical and subtropical regions for its edible fruit.
What is Ackee? Is it a Fruit or Vegetable?
What is ackee? This is a question I’m asked pretty often. I usually start by saying it’s a fruit!
Though often thought of and prepared like a vegetable, ackee is a fatty fruit!
In fact, it is actually the whole pod that is the fruit, but when we talk about cooking or eating ackee however, we are referring specifically to the arils which are the only edible part of the fruit.
The photo below shows a mature opened fruit and it’s different parts:
Photo Credit: Dr. Sylvia Adjoa Mitchell
What is ackee called?
Other names for ackee are: Akye fufo, Ankye or Guinep (this one is particularly funny/confusing since there is a different fruit called guinep in Jamaica. I’ve witnessed on social media a Bajan (Barbadian) tagging a picture of guinep “ackee”, with some very perplexed Jamaicans commenting that the person must obviously not know what the heck they are talking about )
An evergreen native to West Africa, the ackee tree was brought to Jamaica in the 18th century most likely on a slave ship. The trees are found all over the island with Clarendon and St. Elizabeth being the main growing regions.
On a drive through Kingston one day, my mom and I noted that almost all the yards along the main road on Washington Boulevard had at least one ackee tree along with a breadfruit tree and/or a pear (avocado) tree (what a blessing when all of those are bearing! )
Whereas it is poorly exploited for food in it’s homeland; it is widely consumed in Jamaica where it is the national fruit and one of the main components in the national dish: Ackee and Saltfish.
Fun fact: Jamaica is the only country that processes ackee commercially for export! This began in the 1950s (though there were some bumps and hiccups along the way – some of these issues along with toxicity is discussed here).
In the year 2016 ackee exports to the United States were valued at US$20 million; to give a little perspective: in 2000 exports were valued at US$4.4 million, wowza!
ACKEE Fruit : Trying the Notoriously Delicious Fruit in JAMAICA (& Susumba Fruit Review + Recipe)
FAQ
What does the ackee fruit taste like?
What is Aki fruit in English?
Is it safe to eat ackee fruit?
Can you bring ackee to the US?
Does Jamaica eat ackee?
Imported to Jamaica from West Africa before 1773, the use of ackee in Jamaican cuisine is prominent. Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica, whilst ackee and saltfish is the official national dish of Jamaica. The ackee is allowed to open fully before picking in order to eliminate toxicity.
What does Ackee & Saltfish mean in Jamaica?
Across the Caribbean and especially in Jamaica, where the fruit is most widely consumed, the word “ackee” is almost always followed by the phrase “and saltfish.” Ackee and saltfish is Jamaica’s national dish and one of the most widely available breakfasts you will find on the island.
What happens if you eat tainted ackee fruit?
The illness caused by eating tainted ackee fruit is popularly called Jamaican vomiting sickness and can lead to coma and death. That being said, properly cleaned and prepared ackee poses no risk and is consumed with gusto across the Caribbean. What does ackee taste like? There’s no other way to say it: Ackee is sort of a weird fruit.
What to eat in Jamaica?
Jamaican serve ackee dish as a main dish. We eat with roasted breadfruit, fried dumpling, plain rice or hard food with cooked ackee. The ackee fruit is highly nutritious and healthy, it is rich in protein, calcium, sodium and vitamin C. And in some parts of Jamaica, the leaf of the tree is to make tea to relief cold and flu.