Local Fruits - Malay Apple

Jambu/Malay Apple

Syzygium malaccense, commonly known as Malay Apple, is a species of flowering tree that is native to Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra and Java) and Southern Vietnam. It has been introduced throughout the tropics, including many Caribbean countries such as Jamaica, Suriname, Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago. It is also known as jambu bol (Indonesian, meaning "ball guava"), Malay Rose Apple, Otaheite Cashew and Pommerac (derived from pomme Malac, meaning "Malaysian Apple" in French). Highly ambiguous terms, such as "rose apple", "water apple", "mountain apple", "pomarrosa" or "plum rose" are sometimes used for this plant or its fruit; they can refer to almost any species of Syzygium grown for its fruit. 

The fruit is oblong-shaped and dark red in color, although some varieties have white or pink skin. 

The flesh is white and surrounds a large seed. But there are some species which do not have seeds at all, like the one in the picture below.

seedless Malay apple

 

 

 

 

Malay apple is good for jam too. Jam is prepared by stewing the flesh with brown sugar and ginger. 

 

Malay apple trees thrive in tropical climates with an annual rainfall of 152 cm (60 in) or more. They can grow at a variety of altitudes, from sea level up to 2,740 m (8,990 ft). The trees themselves can grow from 12–18 m (39–59 ft) in height. They flower in early summer, bearing fruit three months afterward. In Costa Rica they flower earlier, with ripe fruit in June.

The color of the fruits can be identified by the color of its flowers. If the color is light yellow, the fruits will be in light yellow or light green.

 

 

 

If the flowers are red or pink, then the fruits also will be in red or pink too.

In Hawaii Syzygium malaccense is called Mountain apple, and was brought to the islands by Polynesians probably 1000 to 1700 years ago. The Polynesians reached the Hawaiian islands bringing plants and animals that were important to them. Mountain apple was one of the 'canoe plants'.

Ripe Malay apple fruits are delicious and widely sold in Malaysian markets or at the Highway stalls.

the apple look Malay apple