Sala (Snake Fruit)

Spice Level

Description

Sala, or snake fruit (salak), is a tropical fruit recognizable by its scaly brown skin resembling snake skin. Beneath this skin lies white-yellow flesh, firm and crunchy, with a sweet-sour taste with notes of pineapple and lemon. The fruit is peeled and eaten fresh. It is rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene. The Thai variety is generally sweeter than Indonesian varieties.

History & Origin

Sala is native to Indonesia and Malaysia, and is grown in Thailand mainly in southern provinces. Sala syrup is used to give the characteristic pink color to Nom Yen (Thai pink milk). The fruit is often sold peeled and ready to eat at markets.

Main Ingredients

• Snake fruit