Cat’s Eye Fruit (Mata Kuching)

Another of Borneo’s unique tropical fruit, the Mata Kuching (Cat’s Eye Fruit) is a cousin of the Longan (Dragon Eye Fruit).
Mata Kuching – Cat’s Eye Fruit

Yellow Mata Kuching Cats Eye Fruit

On the day we went to the market in Serian, we found this fruit which we had never seen before. It was round, about the diameter of a dime, and covered in tough, bumpy, leathery, yellow skin. We asked the vendor what it was, and she said “mata kuching”.

“Is it good?” we asked. Oh, yes, she replied. She let us peel open a few to taste. The fragrance and taste reminded me exactly of longan (dragon eye fruit). I thought to myself, why not give it a shot? So we came home with a kilogram of these fruit.


The Eye of the Cat

In the Bahasa Malaysia language, “mata” means “eyes” and “kuching” means “cat”. The fruit is called Cat’s Eyes because when you peel off the skin and expose the dark seed under the flesh, it looks like a cat’s eye.
Peeled Mata Kuching

Peeled Mata Kuching Cats Eye Fruit

Mata Kuching trees grow prolifically here in Sarawak and Sabah on Borneo. One of the explanations for how our city of Kuching got its name is that the city started along the banks of the river where many of these mata kuching trees were growing.

According to International Society for Horticultural Science, the mata kuching is actually a close relative of the longan (hence the similar smell and taste). There are 3 varieties of mata kuching fruit which have “warty” skins and a 4th variety which is smooth and most closely resembles the longan.

The yellow-skinned variety has skin which feels very bumpy on the outside, almost like a lychee. This fruit with a large seed pit and very little flesh. When I found out how little meat was on the “bone” of the fruit, I was put off and a little upset at paying so much for so little edible meat. I ended up tossing the rest.
A Second Eye

Our friend Mike recently gave us some mata kuching which he brought back from Sibu, a town about 6 hour’s drive away. These fruit were the same size, but greener in color, and less bumpy.
Mata Kuching from Sibu

cats eye fruit

They also had considerably more meat on them, and were sweeter than the Serian variety.
Peeled Mata Kuching from Sibu

cats eye fruit peeled

These we finished eating in one sitting! ;-)

Aloha, Nate

This post was entered into the Weekend Herb Blogging roundup, hosted this week by Mele Cotte and organized by Haalo of Cook Almost Anything.
Hungry for more? Click below:

    Contact
    Vi’s Fruit Pastry
    Welcome to Kuching
    Fruit Ice Jellies
    Buah Tarap – Borneo’s Unique Tropical Fruit

Dragon fruit

Dragon fruit is a beautiful fruit grown in Southeast Asia, Mexico, Central and South America, and Israel. The plant is actually a type of cactus, and the fruit comes in 3 colors: 2 have pink skin, but with different colored flesh (one white, the other red), while another type is yellow with white flesh. Dragon fruit is low in calories and offers numerous nutrients, including Vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium, plus fiber and antioxidants.

Dragon fruit tastes wonderful! - sweet and crunchy, with a flavor that's like a cross between kiwi and pear.

Step #1 - To choose a ripe dragon fruit: look for bright, even-colored skin. If the fruit has a lot of blotches, it may be over-ripe (a few is normal). Another sign of over-ripe dragon fruit is a very dry, brittle brown stem, or brown on the tips of the "leaves". Hold the dragon fruit in your palm and try pressing the skin with your thumb or fingers - it should give a little (like a ripe kiwi), but shouldn't be too soft or mushy. If it's very firm, it will need to ripen for a few days.

Durian

Contrary to popular belief, you will not have a big spike in your cholesterol level after eating a durian. In fact, this king of fruits has good monounsaturated fats that can actually lower your harmful cholesterol levels and moderate your high blood pressure.

But feasting on this highly nutritious fruit will certainly not benefit your waistline. A durian can have anywhere from 885 calories to 1,500 calories depending on its size.

“Durians may be a very good source of nutrients, but they are also high in calories and carbohydrates and thus must be consumed with moderation,” says Magdalin Cheong, Chief Dietitian at CGH.
Facts about durians

1. Durians can cause weight gain

With an average 1 kg sized durian having close to 1,350 calories, eating one durian can rack up as much as 68 per cent per cent of the daily 2,000 calories recommended for an average adult! One seed durian (about 40 g) has 54 calories.

2. Durians are rich in nutrients

Durians are naturally rich in potassium, dietary fibre, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin B complex. The king of fruits is thus excellent for improving muscle strength and blood pressure, bowel movements and skin health. It also supports the nervous and immune systems, and enhances red blood cell formation.

Nutritional composition of one small durian (602g)                                         Dietitian’s Comments
Calories                                        885     
Total fat                                         32.1g (mostly monounsaturated fats)      ● That’s nearly 50% of the
                                                                                                                    daily nutritional requirement.
Cholesterol                                    NIL    
Sodium                                          13mg                                                            Low sodium
Total carbohydrates                       163.1g                                                   ● That’s over 50% of the
                                                                                                                  daily    nutritional requirement.
Dietary fibre                                  22.9g                                                ● Good. That’s 92% of                                                                                                                        the         daily       nutritional requirement.
Protein                                           8.8g     


Percentage of daily nutritional requirements    
Vitamin C                                    198% 
Iron                                             14% 
Vitamin A                                      5% 
Calcium                                         4%  

Source

3. People with diabetes must limit their durian intake

If you have diabetes and must count your carbs, you cannot feast on durians because of the fruit’s high sugar content. Durians contain simple sugars – sucrose, fructoseand glucose.

4. Durians are instant energisers

Because of their high carbohydrate content, durians can help replenish low energy levels quickly (in healthy individuals). The fruit’s high potassium content can also help reduce fatigue and relieve mental stress and anxiety.
Myths about durians

1. Durians are loaded with cholesterol     

Not true. Durians have zero cholesterol. Cholesterol is found in foods containing saturated fats such as red meats, seafood and dairy products. Durians have heart-healthy monounsaturated fats which help to lower your levels of bad LDL cholesterol.

2. Mangosteens must be eaten with durians to reduce heatiness

According to conventional Chinese wisdom, a mangosteen, being a cooling fruit, will reduce the heatiness associated with durians. However, there is no scientific research to support this. The habit of eating durians and mangosteens together probably stems from the fact that the two fruits are harvested at about the same time.

3. Eating durians and drinking beer at the same time may kill you

There is no scientific evidence to show that this is a lethal combination. It is more likely to cause bloating, indigestion and discomfort as your liver has to work extra hard to metabolise both fats and sugars in the durians and the alcohol, especially if you have consumed both in excessive amounts.

4.  Eating durians can boost your libibo

The heatiness in the durian may cause your body temperature to rise, but this does not make the fruit an aphrodisiac.

Despite the myths associated with the durian, it remains a highly prized fruit.

“The durian is a highly nutritious fruit which, when eaten in moderation, will provide the body with many minerals, vitamins and good fats. Eating two to three seeds of durian at one sitting is sufficient, but because durians can become so addictive, people tend to eat more than they should,” says Ms Cheong.