At the Agriculture Heritage Park (Taman Warisan Pertanian) in Putrajaya, Malaysia, there is an extensive orchard with a wide variety of tropical fruit trees, along with information regarding their supposed health benefits and other uses.
According to the placard above, mangosteens are the best tasting fruit in the world but some people might find them a bit too strong for their taste buds as they bruise and spoil easily. As for star fruits, some folks believe they look better than they taste but they seem to have a lot of medicinal benefits.
Ciku or Sapodilla has multiple uses. The fruit is rich in vitamins and antioxidants; the seeds when crushed have a diuretic effect and can expel bladder and kidney stones. The bark on the other hand, contains chicle, the main ingredient for chewing gum.
Cempedak is also another native Malaysian fruit found at the park, known for originating from the same family as the jackfruit. The two fruits differ in that cempedak grows in bunches whereas jackfruits grow individually. The fruit has medicinal qualities and the tree’s strong timber is used in house and boat-building.
Pomelos are also grown here and they are the largest member of the citrus family, useful for losing weight as they satisfy hunger and speed up the breakdown of protein and fat. When they are in season you should eat them as often as you can to remain in perfect health.
On the flipside, rambutan is derived from the Malay word ‘rambut’ meaning hair. Most folks find them very satisfying to peel and enjoy, as they are a sweet and refreshing treat.
Dragon fruit have scaly red skin and pink or white flesh with black dots. While they’re especially a favourite at Malaysian breakfast buffets, they also tend to have a bland taste. However, they are high in vitamin C, a vital nutrient that helps reduce the risk of cancer and treat high blood pressure.
Durians, also found at the orchard, are by far, the most famous of Malaysian fruits due to its powerful aroma, distinctive taste and custardy texture. The famous 19th century naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace said ‘to eat durian is a new sensation worth a voyage to the East to experience’. And it’s difficult to disagree with him.
Also found at the park are longans, also known as mata kucing or cat eye, contains antioxidants and apparently, they can cure snake bites. Even so, it’s not very useful information unless you happen to be carrying a bunch of longan when you get bitten.
Other fruits featured in the park include guava, which has three-times more vitamin C than an orange; vitamins A and B that help treat type-2 diabetes, inhibit the growth of cancer cells and are good for anti-aging skin care.
Apart from fruit trees, the Agriculture Heritage Park has herbs and spices, rubber trees, oil palms and even a mini rice paddy field.
Lemon Grass (serai) is of course famous for dishes like tom yam soup and rendang. Not only does it add a delicious flavour, it can treat headaches, rheumatism, sore joints and urinary problems.
Pandanus or screwpine (pandan wangi) is a common food flavouring and colouring in Malaysian cuisine. It can help to relieve wind and aids digestion problems.
Citronella (serai wangi) is well known as an insect repellent (especially mosquitoes) but it is also a snake repellent. So, rub some of this on your body and you won’t need to carry a bunch of longans with you.
Java Tea or cat’s whiskers (misai kuching) is a non-descript sort of herb but it seems to have miraculous qualities. It is claimed to clean blood, treat kidney stones, lumbago, kidney inflammation, fever, diabetes, high blood pressure and urinary problems.
Another miracle plant found at the park is Ylang-Ylang (kenanga), a vine said to be an antibiotic and antiseptic, good for pimples and matte-face. It also acts as an anti-aging agent, can reduce malarial fever, cure asthma and breathing problems.
Nonetheless, a visit to this park is warranted for all fruit and nature lovers, as it gives you a good understanding of Malaysia’s rich agricultural heritage.
Taman Warisan Pertanian Putrajaya
No.7, Jalan P16,
Presint 16,
62000 Putrajaya,
Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya.
This article first appeared on Thrifty Traveller.