When Goa-based Sairaj Dhond was a child, he couldn’t differentiate between jackfruit and chicken for the longest time. He’d savour his grandmother’s prized recipe of chickanchi bhaaji (chicken gravy), without realising that the gravy contained pieces of the fruit.
The jackfruit is the king of underappreciated fruits, and it is not uncommon to find its blends in a myriad of food items including flour, juices, chocolates, coffees, and so on. Indians have been smitten by the giant fruit for decades now, but it is only in the recent past that it has caught the world’s attention, albeit as a vegan alternative to meat.
Jackfruits have many health benefits, such as being high in potassium and fibre content, which helps lower elevated blood pressure, and having high antioxidant properties, as well as the capacity to absorb iron. When Sairaj, formerly a criminal lawyer, learned of these benefits, he decided to launch Wakao Foods during the COVID-19 lockdown. The 32-year-old…