We ate 22 lbs (~10kg) of Snake Skin fruit!
That’s how much my family and I (6 of us) ate over a period of a week while we were in Bali earlier this year.
Beware though – the outside of this fruit looks rather intimidating (it’s named Snake Skin Fruit because of the reddish-brown-scaly-skin) and unless you know how to properly peel these things, you might end up with cuts on your fingers!
Once you know how to properly peel the fruit, it’ll be a breeze and it’ll all be worth it because the inside is sweet, juicy and addictive!
Local fruits on our kitchen counter while we were in Bali – including the Snake Skin Fruit aka Salak!
Specifically look for “Salak Gula Pasir” when in Bali
As Malaysians, we are very familiar with this fruit which is also known locally as “Salak” because there are plenty in Malaysia (you can also find them in Thailand, Singapore and other south east Asian countries).
Salak Gula Pasir – make sure you look specifically for this “Gula Pasir” type of Salak when in Bali!
However, the unique thing about the Salak in Bali is that this is the only place where we have ever found a specific variety of Salak called the “Salak Gula Pasir”.
There are different varieties of Snake Skin Fruit and the “Salak Gula Pasir” is the sweetest of them all. Some describe the taste as a cross between an apple and pineapple. The taste is rather unique and hard to describe but it’s definitely a close comparison!
Probably also the most expensive variety. When in Bali in January (they are in season around February), we were able to purchase these for around 60,000 IDR/kg (~USD$5/kg).
If you know of anywhere else that has this besides Bali, please do let us know!
With the other types of Salak we’ve had in Malaysia and Thailand, there’s a chance that you may end up with a dry, sometimes not-so-juicy, starchy tasting inside. With the Salak Gula Pasir that we encountered in Bali, it was always juicy and delicious!
So, how do you peel this fruit? It’s very simple…
Step 1: Grab the fruit with a tissue
If you’re peeling just a couple, not using a tissue is fine. If you’re peeling many, we’d highly recommend using a tissue. The skin is rather tough and scaly, hence the name “Snake Skin” fruit 🙂
Step 2: Grab the top pointy end of the fruit and peel back
Grab the pointy end of the fruit and peel back.
Step 3: Proceed to peeling the rest of the skin off of the fruit
The skin is pretty thin and can be easily peeled off.
Garlic clove-like white meat of the fruit awaits you once you’re done peeling!
Step 4: Rub/peel off any thin film over the meat if any. Then EAT!
Sometimes, there may still be a thin film over the fruit. Just rub/peel it off. Then, separate the individual “cloves” of the fruit and eat it!
They do look like garlic cloves don’t they! Just bigger and juicier and is a fruit 🙂
Some might even say they look like giant molars!
Word of Caution: There is sometimes an inedible seed inside the fruit. Just eat the white flesh and not the seed!
Some have also told us that you can become constipated if you eat too much! We did not have that problem (probably because we have “native” stomachs) but you should start out with just a few first and see how it goes!
Have you had Snake Skin Fruit before?
Hope this will inspire you to try it out next time you’re in South East Asia (especially Bali!)!
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11 Comments
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I think the way you peel is quite complicated. You can just press the tip upward to make a scratch then press or pop the fruit with your hands.
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Yes, I would be concerned about peeling the fruit, so thanks for the tips.
Cheers Sharon…
Sharon recently posted..PowerBreather Snorkel – Laps & snorkeling will never be the same!
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I love this fruit, there are many kinds of Salak in Bali, but i love only two of them. Salak Gula and Salak Karangasem. They are sooo sweet.
Komang Gede recently posted..Jatiluwih: A Place with Beautiful View of Rice Terraces in Bali-
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We miss it now! Wishing they’d export it to the US 🙂
Jeremy & Shirlene recently posted..{Reviews} Car Seats and Cares Harness when Flying with Kids
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I have never had salak in that color – i had it while visiting bali…and we also get it …. The snake fruit (salak) I ate in Bali was wonderful.hhhh
ElizabethK.Lowery recently posted..Cut down your travel expense and use comfortable Limo service at once -
These remind me of lychees!! Thanks for the information…we will definitely try them 🙂
Rekha Devarapalli recently posted..Our anniversary trip to Maui, Hawaii-
They do look like lychees! You’re right! But tastes completely opposite of a lychee I’d say! I hope you get to try it!
Jeremy & Shirlene recently posted..{Croatia} Plitvice National Park, a One of a Kind Must Visit Destination
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Ohhh I love salak! While I was doing my film in Indonesia last year one of the scenes was filmed in a salak plantation. Ate plenty of snake fruit in between takes hehehe 🙂
Derek Freal recently posted..The Ultimate Indonesia Food Guide: Regional Dishes
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How lucky that you got to visit a salak plantation! I hope you got to eat the Salak Pasir (sweetest of them all!)!
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Ooooooohhhhhh that is a good question, I honestly don’t know….didn’t even know there were different varieties of salak. Guess I’ll have to ask some of my local friends who were there with us 🙂
Derek Freal recently posted..Best New Travel Blogs Of September 2014-
I wish they’d have them imported here! I can eat a lb a day! lol
Jeremy & Shirlene recently posted..{USA} Where to eat in Oahu – Our list of favorite eats
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