Jackfruits have become trendy in recent years in Western cuisine, thanks to its multi-faceted texture and deep flavor. But did you know this Jack-of-all-trades Jackfruit (Mít) comes with a folklore? The legend has it….

Once upon a time, there lived Mrs. Mít (Jackfruit) and Mrs. Đa (Banyan). Mrs. Mít was disabled, which limited her mobility. Since they were neighbors, every month, when Mrs. Đa made a trip to the Buddhist temple, Mrs. Mít would send some money with Mrs. Đa to donate to the temple.

Mrs. Đa was not an honest person so she would reduce most of the money from Mrs. Mít’s offering to add to her own offering, hoping to gain favor with Buddha.

When both women died, there were two mysterious trees that grew up from next to their graves. Next to Mrs. Mít’s grave, a tree grew that is known for its sturdy, durable wood and large, flavorful fruits. This tree is known as the Jackfruit Tree (Cây Mít). The Jackfruit trees are grown in temples.  The sturdy wood is used in long-term constructions, such as carving Buddha statues. The fruits are abundant and widely popular.

Next to Mrs. Đa’s grave, a tree grew up that is known as the Banyan Tree (“Cây Đa”). This tree’s spongy and flimsy wood cannot be used for anything long-term. The fruits are small and edible, but flavorless and tend to be eaten by ants  before they reach maturity.

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Through this story, the ancestors want to remind us of this proverb: “Tiền mất Phật biết,” which can be loosely translated to “The Creator sees all.”  They want to remind us that the legacy we leave behind is much more important than the instant gratification most of us chase after.