That gummy substance the article mentions is definitely a bit of a problem, though, even when eating the ripe jackfruit. It gets onto your hands and takes some time and work to wash off.
BTW, the seeds of the jackfruit are also eaten, and are supposed to be nutritious, IIRC (part of that wonder plant stuff). Got a nutty taste. It's added to some curries in Indian cuisine, both North and South, I think. Had it a few times.
Right, good point, I missed that earlier. Not really spikes. Even the photo at the top of the article sort of shows that. They are sharp protrusions on the surface of the skin of the fruit, but since they are not really hard, you can handle the fruit even with them being there. I've picked up heavy jackfruit a few times and not had any problem of being poked by the "spikes". And they get pretty heavy - I think 45 kg is not uncommon for a single fruit.
I'd definitely consider them spike-covered, though so densely packed it's perhaps not so defining.
But their mass and weight sure set them apart! They grow so god damn big it's awe-inspiring to see them on trees along side of the road or beach. As if they are the cocoons of a giant jurassic-era butterfly.
Hard not to wonder how many small animals must have been obliterated by one falling from the tree.
But also how amazing it must have been for an early human or settler to find one in the wild. The amount of fruit you can harvest from one is incredible. Thankfully people would collect them, pluck out all the meat "nodes", and sell them in little bags of 4-6 nodules. I could never eat more than 4 nodules without rummaging for something else in the pantry, they're quite boring.
Durian is very spiky on the other hand. I've had and seen them both and the rest of the article seems spot-on from what I can tell. It's a weird slip in something that reads so well-informed otherwise.
Jackfruit has a mild, taste with a hint of banana and is odorless. Durian reeks like a trash heap but has a sweet and a little bit sour flavour with a hint of canned pears.
Yeah, force of habit. Never heard of jackfruit until HN where we get an article about them every few months as people discover them.
Two other fruits I think more Americans should try are guyaba/guava and guanabana. Both are somewhat annoying to eat due to the seeds, but they have some unique flavors. Those are my two go-to icecream flavors.
Unfortunately the lack of demand makes them expensive in the US where I was astounded. They almost give them away where I live in Mexico.
Same with dragon fruit. A single fruit was $8 in Texas. Meanwhile I get them from the pitaya guy who rolls down my street 4x for <$1.
Guavas are great. We have them a lot in India. Yes, the seeds are a bit of a problem, though not big, I guess. Used to eat them a lot as a kid with salt. Also, the ones with pink flesh are extra good, though white is more common. Litchis are another great fruit. Don't get them much in many parts of India, though. Not sure why. Maybe not popular, or maybe only grows in some parts. IIRC, had them in Bengal when visiting relatives there.
All those fruits you mentioned are sorta common here in Brazil under the names jaca, goiaba and graviola. You can find them int he supermarket but they're present in many backyards too. They're even used to make flavored beverages like licors and beers and that's before any vegan food trend I can think of.
BTW, the seeds of the jackfruit are also eaten, and are supposed to be nutritious, IIRC (part of that wonder plant stuff). Got a nutty taste. It's added to some curries in Indian cuisine, both North and South, I think. Had it a few times.