In 1776 the English ship, Bounty, under Captain William Blight, brought fruta de pan to the Antilles from Polynesia. During a trip of many months, a storm off the coast of Tahiti forced them to throw the young plants overboard which were set adrift in the ocean along with the captain and many other sailors.
An interesting fact: this story has been made into a movie called �The Bounty� with three versions: in 1935 with Charles Laughton and Clark Gable, in 1962 with Marlon Brandon and Trevor Howard, and in 1984 with Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson. The second attempt to bring the fruta de pan to Antilles in 1793 was successful and at last the plants arrived at Antilles where they adapted and spread to all the tropical regions.
The tree is very beautiful and can reach heights of 10-15 meters, and it has a smooth, brown trunk. Canoes and oars can be made from its wood which is very light. Because of its height and foliage, it is often an ornamental tree, inspiring artists such as Paul Gauguin who painted it in Orana Maria while he was in Tahiti.
The roots, leaves and flowers of this tree all have medicinal applications, but it is mostly known for its fruit. The fruta de pan is green and is covered with bumps. The mature fruit turns yellow, but it loses its flavor. It is about 10-15 centimeters in diameter and can weigh around 1 or 2 kilos. It is a high energy fruit with a high daily percentage of carbohydrates (20-30%), rich in calcium, iron, phosphorous, and vitamins C and B.
It can be eaten fried, toasted, boiled or as a traditional ingredient. The name comes from the fact that it often replaces bread in the breakfast meal among the population in the Caribbean and Antilles regions.
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