National Fruit Of Bangladesh And Popular Fruits List

Last Updated on January 24, 2021 by

Bangladesh is considered as the darling child of nature. Bangladesh is full of natural resources including various types of flowers, trees, fruits, etc. In Bangladesh, you will find different types of fruits that grow in different seasons. These fruits are different in color, shape, and taste. Some of these fruits are big, some are small, and some are sweet while others are sour.

The jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh. Jackfruit is considered as the largest tree-borne fruit in the world. The scientific name of jackfruit is Artocarpus heterophyllus. In Bangladesh, jackfruit is called Kathal. It is a seasonal fruit and it is mostly available in the month of Jaishtha and Ashar (May – July). The main reason Jackfruit is the National fruit of Bangladesh is the climate of this country is perfect for this fruit to grow as well as the nutritional value.

Etymology And History Of Jackfruit

The word jackfruit comes from the Portuguese word jaca. The word jaca is derived from the Malayalam language term chakka. The common English name “jackfruit” was used by physician and naturalist Garcia de Orta in his 1563 book Colóquios dos simples e drogas da India. Then centuries later; botanist Ralph Randles Stewart suggested that the jackfruit was named after William Jack. William Jack was a Scottish botanist who worked for the East India Company in Bengal, Sumatra, and Malaya. The evidence suggested that jackfruit trees were planted in Hawaii even before 1888. Moreover, the archaeologists also estimated that jackfruit has been growing in South Asia and Southeast Asia for between 3000 to 6000 years.

Nutritional Value Of Jackfruit

The edible pulp of a Jackfruit is 74% water, 23% carbohydrates, 2% protein, and 1% fat. The carbohydrate of jackfruit is a source of dietary fiber because the component is mostly sugars. Moreover, jackfruit is a source of vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, and some other essential vitamins and minerals. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a cup of raw, sliced jackfruit contains:

1. 157 calories

2. 2.84 g of protein

3. 1.06 g of fat

4. 38.36 g of carbohydrates

5. 2.5 g of dietary fiber

6 31.48 g of sugars

7. 48 mg of magnesium

8. 739 mg of potassium

9. 22.6 mg of vitamin C  

In many developing countries, jackfruit is considered as a partial solution for food security.        

List Of Popular Fruits In Bangladesh

1. Mango

2. Banana

3. Jackfruit

4. Guava

5. Litchi

6. Pineapple

7. Papaya

Mango

Mango is a seasonal fruit of Bangladesh and it is very popular among all ages of people. Mango grows in almost all parts of Bangladesh but known varietal mangoes are mostly grown in the North-Western districts of the country. The nutritional values of mango per 100 grams are:

1. Calories: 60

2. Total Fat: 0.4 g

3. Cholesterol: 0 mg

4. Sodium: 1 mg

5. Potassium: 168 mg

6. Total Carbohydrate: 15 g

7. Protein: 0.8 g

8. Vitamin A: 21%

9. Vitamin C: 60%

10. Calcium: 1%

11. Iron: 1%

12. Vitamin D: 0%

13. Vitamin B-6: 5%

14. Cobalamin: 0%

15. Magnesium: 2%

Banana

Banana is a very important fruit of Bangladesh as it comprises 42% of the total fruit production in the country. There are more than 40 types of bananas available in Bangladesh. It’s a subtropical fruit and available all year long. Popular banana kinds are Amrit Sagar, Sabri, Champa, Meher Sagar, etc. The nutritional values of mango per 100 grams are:     

1. Calories: 89

2. Water: 75%

3. Protein: 1.1 grams

4. Carbs: 22.8 grams

5. Sugar: 12.2 grams

6. Fiber: 2.6 grams

7. Fat: 0.3 grams

8. Cholesterol: 0 mg

9. Sodium: 1mg

10. Potassium: 358mg

11. Vitamin A: 1%

12. Vitamin C: 14%

13. Calcium : 0%

14. Iron: 1%

15. Vitamin D: 0%

16. Vitamin B-6: 20%

17. Cobalamin: 0%

18. Magnesium: 6%

Jackfruit

Jackfruit is originally native to the Indian sub-continent and it ranks 2^nd in production in Bangladesh. It is a very popular fruit in Bangladesh. You can eat the pulp of the ripe fruit fresh or you can preserve them in syrup or dried for later use. Jackfruit is used in many culinary preparations. There is no distinct variety available for jackfruit but in Bangladesh, you will find three types of jackfruit. They are Khaja: hard pericarp, Ghila: the pulp is very juicy and soft, Dorosa: the pulp is fairly firm and juicy. The nutritional values of jackfruit are:    

1. Calories: 157

2. Fat: 2 grams

3. Carbs: 38 grams

4. Protein: 3 grams

5. Calcium: 40 milligrams

Guava

Guava is called the apple of the tropics and it is one of the most common fruits of Bangladesh. Guava is a native of South America but in Bangladesh guava grows all over the country. In Bangladesh, guava is commercially grown in Barishal, Pirozpur, Jhalkathi, Comilla, and Chittagong. In many countries, guava is commonly used as a dessert item. However, in Bangladesh guava is used for the preparation of jelly. The nutritional values of guava per 100 grams are:

1. Calories: 68

2. Total Fat: 1 g

3. Cholesterol: 0 mg

4. Sodium: 2 mg

5. Potassium: 417 mg

6. Total Carbohydrate: 14 g

7. Protein: 2.6 g

8. Vitamin A: 12%

9. Vitamin C: 380%

10. Calcium: 1%

11. Iron: 1%

12. Vitamin D: 0%

13. Vitamin B-6: 5%

14. Cobalamin: 0%

15. Magnesium: 5%

Litchi

Litchi is a very tasty and popular fruit of Bangladesh. It is a seasonal fruit and it has a great demand among all classes of people. Litchi is grown all over Bangladesh but litchi of Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Kustia, Jessore, Dhaka, and Chittagong are very famous. It is rich in minerals and vitamins. You can eat litchi fresh, preserved, canned, and in syrup. The nutritional values of litchi per 100 grams are:

1. Calories: 66

2. Total Fat: 0.4 g

3. Cholesterol: 0 mg

4. Sodium: 1 mg

5. Potassium: 171 mg

6. Total Carbohydrate: 17 g

7. Protein: 0.8 g

8. Vitamin A: 0%

9. Vitamin C: 119%

10. Calcium: 0%

11. Iron: 1%

12. Vitamin D: 0%

13. Vitamin B-6: 5%

14. Cobalamin: 0%

15. Magnesium: 2%

Pineapple

Pineapple is a perennial crop grown for its fruits and you can eat them fresh. It is also seasonal fruit and abundantly grows in the districts of Tangail, Mymensingh, Gazipur, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Chattogram, Bandarban, Khagrachari, etc. It is a very popular tropical fruit in the world. The position of pineapple is 3^rd in terms of production in Bangladesh. The nutritional values of pineapple per 100 grams are:   

1. Calories: 50

2. Total Fat: 0.1 g

3. Cholesterol: 0 mg

4. Sodium: 1 mg

5. Potassium: 109 mg

6. Total Carbohydrate: 13 g

7. Protein: 0.5 g

8. Vitamin A: 1%

9. Vitamin C: 79%

10. Calcium: 1%

11. Iron: 1%

12. Vitamin D: 0%

13. Vitamin B-6: 5%

14. Cobalamin: 0%

15. Magnesium: 3%

Papaya

Papaya is available all year round and it is packed with lots of nutrition. The papaya tree is a quick-growing short-lived plant. Therefore, it is very easy to grow the papaya and the fruit can be produced within a short period of time. In Bangladesh, papaya mostly grow is Rajshahi, Khustia, Dhaka, and Faridpur. The nutritional values of papaya per 100 grams are:

1. Calories: 59

2. Carbohydrates: 15 grams

3. Fiber: 3 grams

4. Protein: 1 gram

5. Vitamin C: 157%

6. Vitamin A: 33%

7. Folate (vitamin B9): 14%

8. Potassium: 11%