Sarawakian Local Delights : Buah Salak

buah salak (Salacca zalacca) is a palm tree species, native to Java and Sumatra. Years ago when the Indonesians first came to Sarawak, they brought the seedlings to their new land. Hence we can find buah salak growing in Bekenu and Lambir as early as the 1960's when many of them came to help cultivate oil palm.

The palm is not very tall, about 20 feet tall. The fruits grow in clusters at the base of the palm.


The skin of the fruit is hard but can be opened by finger nails. The local Sarawakians have also grown to love this fruit. Some are really sweet and aromatic. Some are sour and a little tart to say the least.

Because of it being a delicacy to the Indonesians, this fruit has quite a high value.

Some people call it snake fruit.