Breadfruit is widely believed to have been cultivated for over 3,000 years and is now widely consumed in Africa, Asia and in other tropical countries including the Caribbean.
Wherever the breadfruit is cultivated it is known to grow in abundance and while many culinary experts are known to be indifferent to its taste in terms of flavour profile, many experts believe that a time may well come when the sheer volumes in which it is cultivated may position it to help provide food security in poverty-stricken parts of the world.
What is Breadfruit?
Scientifically termed Artocarpus altilis, breadfruit is a tropical crop, characterised by its lumpy appearance and potato-like flesh. In some parts of the world, notably the Pacific, the breadfruit is considered to be a crop of considerable cultural significance and an important staple crop. Over time the breadfruit has come increasingly into its own, ‘graduating’ from a staple on the dinner plates of poor families to part of the menu in some up- market restaurants.