From Bligh To Roast And Fry Newsletter 2020 Issue 2, Volume 14

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm March 20, 2020 | Vol. 14 | Issue 2

FROM BLIGH TO
ROAST AND FRY

"The Sweet Truth About Breadfruit"

Inside this Issue

A Breadfruit Story
Types of Breadfruit
Breadfruit Anatomy
Nutritional Benefits of the Breadfruit
'Seh Breshe'
Breadfruit Products
Try These!
The Breadfruit Industry: Value Added Products
Contributors
Did You Know?
Breadfruit Activity
Upcoming Events
Project Update
Nature Vibes!

The Natural History Museum of Jamaica is the oldest division of the Institute of Jamaica. It aims to encourage the study and
dissemination of scientific knowledge of Jamaican flora and fauna, promote the conservation of the Jamaican natural environment

and maintain collections of Jamaican flora, fauna and reference books.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm A Breadfruit Story Wait A Bit!..

"From Bligh To Roast And Fry" Yuh eva hear 'bout
Breadfruit wid seed?
Imagine biting a piece of delicious breadfruit
and we never care to know what we are eating The first breadfruit that
found it's way onto our
and how it arrived here in Jamaica? Jamaican shores was the
seeded type. It was
a little 'bout the among a cargo of plants
baby!... destined for Martinique
Come mek wi tell yuh in 1793, yet it took root in
new bread our little island.

The seedless breadfruit variety was Seedless
brought to Jamaica in 1793, 1793? Variety
Yes 1793...
Two attempts were made by
Then guess why dem bring it here?.. Captain William Bligh, of the
HMS Bounty who proceeded
Why? to the South Pacific to
To feed the enslaved Africans..... collect seedless varieties of
the plants. On his second
At first the Enslaved Africans rejected it attempt, Bligh successfully
and it was used to feed pigs instead... collected the seedless
breadfruit plants from Tahiti,
But, what is dis?!.. and transported a total of
2,126 plants to Jamaica!
Yes man! But little did they know that
the same fruit that dem seh is a cross
between potato and plantain... would
today be used all over Jamaica!
and even find it's place in fi wi
Jamaican folk culture...

Yes man! Dere yuh 'ave it!
As di No-Maddz wud seh:
"Breadfruit is the New Bread Baby"

Types of Breadfruit

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm Ulu Fiti Breadfruit Yellow Heart Breadfruit

I tend to fruit in multiple Almost all Jamaicans love me!
clusters. My yellow flesh is Especially with my yellow
tender and slightly sweet creamy and tasty inside and
when mature... more so when I'm a little ripe!

White Heart Breadfruit

Most times persons use me in
their soup. They dice me into
small pieces to add flavour to
their soup pot!

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Types of Breadfruit Cont'd

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm Otea Breadfruit Puaa Breadfruit

I tend to bear more compacted than
the other varieties and I am great for
commercial use such as for making

the famous Breadfruit Chips!

Ma'afala Breadfruit Which do you prefer? I am the Puaa Breadfruit
and I'm most tasty when you steam or boil me...

Macca Breadfruit

I am spiky, but tasty.
Most persons eat me
roasted, boiled or fried.

I tend to be the shortest of all the
other varieties. I have a tender and
creamy texture when I am cooked.

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Breadfruit Anatomy

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm Roasted, boiled or fried breadfruit has taken a permanent seat in Jamaica's culture. Its anatomy is
very simple and we all can own a breadfruit tree if we wish!

Root Bark

Have you ever wondered how a Cut me and you will see a milky latex
breadfruit tree grows? Usually a substance run from my bark. My bark
breadfruit trees is propagated by is smooth and brown with warty
transplanting suckers that grow out lenticels.
from the roots.

Breadfruit root Milky latex from a cut breadfruit
cuttings tree

Male and Female Inflorescence Rind

Did you know that The skin is lime-green at first. As the
breadfruit trees act as both fruit ripens, it turns yellowish with
male and female? some brown spots and exudes small
Breadfruit flowers are drops of latex.
cross-pollinated, but
pollination is not required An immature breadfruit showing its lime green rind appearance
for fruit development.

The male infloresence of the breadfruit being burnt as insect repellent4

Nutritional Benefits of the Breadfruit

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm Breadfruit is known to have a lot of beneficial nutrients to the human body.
It is high in carbohydrates and a good source of antioxidants, calcium,
carotenoids, copper, dietary fibre, energy. iron, magnesium, niacin, omega 3,
omega 6, phosphorus, potassium, protein, thiamine, vitamin A and vitamin C!

Natural Home Remedies! This headache is really
giving me a hard time
If only we knew about all these
natural home remedies, we would aarrgh!!!
be able to fight most of those pains we feel
on a daily basis.

Yuh neva hear
'bout the
breadfruit

remedy? Just tie
a piece of

breadfruit leaf
roun' yuh head
with a piece o'
banana tree bark
and yuh good to

go!

Breadfruit is a good Oh boy! My
way to limit the heart aches are
amount of illnesses we
have on a daily basis! really bad!
seems like I'll
have to try this

breadfruit
remedy yuh

nuh!

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'SEH BRESHE'

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm That's Jamaicans For You!

Jamaicans have a fun way of twisting things. They have a way
of 'cooking up' the most hilarious stories about every food,
fruits, you name it, they have it!

Breadfruit tree grows best Breadfruit Mek Yuh Coward?!
beside a Guango tree, Fi Real?
true or false?
Yes, Suh Dem Seh!

This year is gonna
be a hard one!
Look at the
Breadfruit tree

how it bear plenty
this year!

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NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm SEH BRESHE

That's Jamaicans For You!

"Jamaican Proverbs on Breadfruit"

“Nuh mek goat watchman fi breadfruit tree... Nuh mek goat trustee fi breadfruit tree”
Goats are heavy feeders, which would rapidly devastate a small breadfruit tree
devouring all the leaves. The goat represents a dishonest person entrusted with
valuables, such as a security guard who steals the property he is supposed to
be guarding.
“Di more yuh chop breadfruit root... di more it spring up!”
Jamaicans see breadfruit as a symbol of perseverance based on observation of the
tree’s longevity and its way of propagating itself by sending up suckers from the root.

“The end of the world “
On the stem of the

breadfruit there is a C
shape seen when it is cut.
It is said that if the shape
closes and forms a zero it
is going to be the end of

the world

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Examples of Some Breadfruit Products

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm St Mary's Breadfruit Chips Breadfruit Chutney Breadfruit Jerk Seasoning

Breadfruit Hot Pepper Sauce Breadfruit Flour Breadfruit Wine

Curry Jack-Breadfruit Chutney
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NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm Try These!

Breadfruit Cream Punch

Two pegs breadfruit
Condensed milk (to taste)
½ teaspoon grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon rum
2 tablespoons wine

4 cups water
Method

Wash breadfruit and cut into
pieces. Boil until tender in
lightly salted water.

Put all ingredients in blender
and blend well.

Serve on crushed ice

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NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm Try These!

Ingredients
  1 lb Bread,
sliced, buttered and cut into 1 inches
cubes(use the bread you have available)
  4-5 Cups Hot
Milk (Regular, coconut evaporated, rice or
almond milk)
½ Cup packed
Breadfruit (Shredded)
  1 Cup Brown

Sugar
  1 Tsp Cinnamon
  ½ Tsp Nutmeg

  1 Tsp Vanilla
  Pinch of Salt
  2 Tbsp Rum
  Orange or Lime

Rind

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NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm Breadfruit Exhibition Overview

The Breadfruit exhibition, put on by the Natural History Museum of
Jamaica (NHMJ) was launched on October 26, 2018 and remained
mounted until March 2019. It was aptly titled  "From Bligh to Roast and
Fry--Celebrating 225 Years of the Breadfruit" as we sought to showcase
the historical, cultural, anatomical, medicinal and nutritional aspects of
this very versatile fruit. Over 2000 persons visited the exhibition and
opened doors for the promotion and encouragement of further
scholarship on the breadfruit.

Featured Publications on Breadfruit From Jamaicans

Seymour Webster, Doctor of Philosophy, College Of
Agriculture, Science & Education, Department of Agriculture

Andrea Whyte, Author of Breadfruit Recipes Sweet and Savoury, Launched her
book at the Institute of Jamaica on Monday, September 23, 2019

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NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm The Breadfruit Industry: Value Added Products & the Breadfruit Network

Trees that Feed Foundation (Breadfruit Network)
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries
(MICAF) through the Orange River Research Station, High Gate,
St. Mary Contact Person: Mr. Zavier Gray
Jeffery Town Farmer’s Association (Mr. Gordon) “Breadfruit
Porridge Mix & Breadfruit Flour”
St. Mary’s “Breadfruit Chips”
College of Agricultural Science & Education (CASE) “Breadfruit
Flour”
Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA) “Breadfruit
Flour”
4-H Jamaica (Breadfruit: Flour, Coat ‘n’ Bake, chutney, jerk
seasoning, wine, batter mix, fruit mix, pepper sauce, lotion, soap)
Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) “Breadfruit
themed craft items & the Breadfruit flour”

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm Do You Know?

Have you ever heard about
the cousins of Breadfruit?

Here are some of them.

The Pedalai fruit The Fig fruit

The pedalai fruit has an attractive The fruits can be eaten when
bright orange skin with small soft ripe and when

curly hair protrusions. dried. Figs grow in warm
climates.
The Monkey Jack Fruit
The Fig Tree Leaves

This fruit can be consumed as an Rather than two leaves growing
alternative nutritional food. Its plant directly opposite each other on the

can be used as raw materials of branch, fig leaves are staggered.
pharmaceuticals due to its
pharmacological properties. 14

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm Do You Know these
Breadfruit Relatives?

The Jack fruit

The Rubber Plant Fruit

The jackfruit, also known as jack tree, is a
species in the fig, mulberry, and
breadfruit family.

The Mulberry Fruit

The rubber tree starts
bearing fruit at four years of age.
Each fruit contains three or four
seeds, which fall to the ground
when the fruit ripens and splits.

Mulberries are the fruits of mulberry trees 
(Morus sp.) and related to figs and breadfruit

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NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm Activity

Draw a line linking the
description on the left with the

correct image

My skin is spiky and green, yet still they White Heart Breadfruit
eat me boiled or steamed! Who am I?

Soup it up! your soup pot is what I Yellow Heart Breadfruit
do best in, chopped up nice and
then add a little spice! Who am I?

We look similar in colour and texture but Macca Breadfruit
inside of me I have large yellow pegs and
seeds! Who am I?

I am naturally more yellow on the Jackfruit
inside, Sometimes a little sweetness
gives persons an extra likeness for me.
Who am I?

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Natural History Museum of Jamaica (NHMJ) Project Updates

Coming Soon! You Are Welcome To Participate
Renovated Natural History Museum Every third Wednesday!

Exhibition Gallery

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm The Exhibition Gallery will be a
state of the art Interactive space
where persons will be able to view
true to life representations of a rain
forest, mangrove wetland, cave, dry
limestone forest and a coral reef.

"Look out for the grand opening 
coming soon!"

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NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm NATURE VIBES

Produced by:
The Education & Outreach
Department
Natural History Museum of
Jamaica
Institute of Jamaica
March, 2020

Featured Contents:
Kareen Parks, Assistant
Education Outreach Officer,
NHMJ

Editors & Graphic Designs:
Eartha Cole, Education
Outreach Officer, NHMJ

Kareen Parks, Assistant
Education Outreach Officer,
NHMJ

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