Bon Bon Vietnamese Fruit: All You Need to Know

What is Bon Bon Vietnamese fruit?

The Bon Bon Vietnamese fruit, known as ‘bòn bon’ and in some regions as ‘lòn bon,’ is a tropical fruit. The tree typically reaches a height of 10-15 meters, and the fruit itself is round with a diameter ranging from 3-5 cm.

A Bon Bon tree in Tien Phuoc, Quang Nam, Vietnam. Photo by Le Trung/tuoitre.vn

Bon Bon fruits grow in clusters, usually with 20 to 40 fruits per cluster. When they ripen, the skin of the Bon Bon fruit turns a light brown color. When you peel the skin of the Bon Bon fruit, you’ll find 5-6 translucent white segments inside. In each segment, there is one seed.

Bon Bon fruits are usually picked during September and October annually. They tend to crack when exposed to heavy rain or intense sunlight.

Picking Bon Bon fruits in Tien Phuoc, Quang Nam, Vietnam. Photo by Le Trung/tuoitre.vn

In Vietnam, where are Bon Bon fruits primarily grown?

The Bon Bon tree is mainly grown in mountainous areas and the midlands of Quang Nam province, with Tien Phuoc being considered the ‘capital’ of this plant. The Bon Bon fruit from Tien Phuoc is known for its unique flavor and sweetness, and it was historically offered to the king as a special delicacy. Additionally, the tree is also cultivated in the Mekong Delta provinces of Ben Tre, Can Tho, and Hau Giang.

Tasting the Bon Bon Vietnamese fruit

To enjoy a Bon Bon fruit, you’ll first need to remove its outer skin, as it’s not edible. Once peeled, you need to separate the seeds from the flesh because they are very bitter. The flesh offers a delightful combination of sweetness with subtle sourness, creating a unique and refreshing flavor profile.

The legend of Bon Bon fruit in Vietnam

Image: thanhnien.vn

In the past, Bon Bon fruit was also known by the name “Nam trân”. This name originated from a legend about King Gia Long.

Legend has it that during the Tay Son Rebellion, commonly known as the Vietnamese Civil War from 1771 to 1802, when the Tay Son troops attacked the capital city of Phu Xuan, Lord Nguyen Phuc Anh, pursued by the Tay Son forces, fled into the forests of Dai Loc, Quang Nam. In a state of hunger and thirst, he stumbled upon a wild fruit that helped him endure his hunger. After ascending to the throne and adopting the title Gia Long, he remembered the fruit that had saved him and decided to name it “Nam trân”, which means “the precious fruit of the South” in Vietnamese

Tips for selecting ripe and chemical-free Bon Bon

Naturally ripened Bon Bon fruit (Image: VITA MARKET)

Size: Opt for Bon Bon fruit that is medium-sized, about the size of your thumb. These are naturally ripened and delicious.

Skin: Naturally ripened Bon Bon fruit usually has less attractive skin with blackish spots at the bottom and no sap oozing out when peeled. Avoid fruit with unnaturally shiny, yellowish skin and excessive sap.

Stem: The stems of naturally ripened fruit typically have minimal or no sap, appearing fresh and green. In contrast, stems of artificially ripened fruit may have excessive sap and appear dark.

Flesh: When buying from markets, ask the vendor to peel one fruit for you to inspect the quality inside. Naturally ripened fruit has translucent flesh with tightly adhering segments and a sweet-sour taste. Artificially ripened fruit, harvested prematurely, has cloudy white flesh with less sweetness and more acidity.

Seeds: Deep inside the flesh, seeds of naturally ripened Bon Bon fruit are black, while those of artificially ripened fruit are white with a slight pinkish hue.

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Tips for storing Bon Bon fruit

Fresh Bon Bon Vietnamese fruit can only be kept at room temperature for a maximum of 4 days. If you want to store them for up to 2 weeks, it’s best to keep them in the refrigerator at 12°C. However, it’s recommended to consume them within about 7 days from the time of harvest for the best flavor.

Tips for eating Bon Bon fruit

Avoid chewing Bon Bon seeds: Bon Bon seeds are bitter and contain alkaloids that can be harmful to health. It’s best to remove the seeds before eating and avoid chewing them.

Avoid biting Bon Bon peel: The peel of Bon Bon contains white resin and lansium acid, which can be harmful to the heart and intestinal health. Instead of biting directly into the peel, it’s better to peel it with your hands.

Caution for diabetics: Bon Bon is a type of fruit high in sugar content. Therefore, people with diabetes should not eat this type of fruit

The special Bon Bon fruit salad

Image: Thanh Ly/ tuoitre.vn

Ingredients

How to make Bon Bon fruit salad

Image: Thanh Ly/ tuoitre.vn

Peel the Bon Bon fruit and separate the segments. Remove the seeds from each segment.

Boil the pork belly until cooked, then slice it into small pieces that are similar in size to the Bon Bon segments.

Sauté the shrimp until cooked.

Prepare a bowl of fish sauce by mixing one tablespoon of fish sauce with two tablespoons of sugar, one tablespoon of lime juice, and one finely chopped chili. Whisk the mixture until it becomes fragrant and well-combined.

Thinly slice the shallots and garlic.

In a large bowl, mix together the Bon Bon fruit, cooked shrimp, sliced pork belly, fish sauce mixture, sliced shallots and garlic, and a bit of oil.

Transfer the mixture onto a serving plate.

Sprinkle roasted peanuts, Vietnamese coriander, and coriander over the top of the salad.

Serve and enjoy your delicious Bon Bon fruit salad!

Introducing wine made from Bon Bon Vietnamese fruit

The Bon Bon wine from Tien Phuoc is the culmination of years of research by farmers in Tien Phuoc, Quang Nam.

Crafted using traditional methods, it undergoes natural fermentation and aging in oak barrels under carefully controlled temperature and humidity conditions to develop its unique flavor and exceptional purity.