Salak

salak the Malay name for the fruit of several kinds of small, stemless palms which grow in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Burma. The best is Salacca edulis. The fruit is shaped like but smaller than a pear, and has a shiny brown scaly skin. The yellowish flesh is described as being slightly crisp in texture, with a pleasant blend of sugar and acid in the flavour. These palm fruits are cultivated in Bali, where at least two cultivars are especially prized.

The young fruit may be pickled. According to Uphof (1968) fruits preserved in cans, with salt water and sugar, are eaten by Muhammadan pilgrims during their journeys to Mecca.