Not quite the pineapple: Is the 'hala' fruit safe to eat?

Netizens are getting curious about the “hala,” a fruit in Daet, Camarines Norte that has a tough skin and “eyes” just like the pineapple. But is it safe to eat?

In an episode of “Dami Mong Alam, Kuya Kim!” Kim Atienza said the “hala” is a tropical fruit from the Pandanus tree.

It is also known as the screwpine or exploding planet because it resembles a planet that is split in half when cracked open.

In the Philippines, locals refer to it as the “pandan dagat.” It is often found in tropical regions and islands near the Pacific Ocean.

Aldrin Villagracia, a resident of Daet, Camarines Norte, has been harvesting the “hala” fruit for a long time.

“Matagal na po kaming nakatira rito sa gilid po ng dagat o tabing dagat. Meron siyang bunga, na kapag overripe na, usually talaga noon, ‘yun ‘yung kinakain namin, ‘yung nuts sa loob,” he said.

(We’ve been living here near the shore for a long time. It has a fruit, and we eat the nuts inside when it is already overripe.)

The “hala” tree is a relative of the pandan. The “hala” or “pandan dagat” tree has longer, stiffer, and thorny leaves unlike the pandan.

Its leaves cannot be used to add fragrance to dishes, unlike the pandan. The “hala” leaves are often used for crafts making of household items.

It is easy to pick the “hala” fruit, but quite difficult to open it. One needs to slam it against a rock a few times to crack it open.

The edible part of the “hala” fruit is the meat at the end of each segment or key. After chewing and savoring the juice of the fruit, its remaining pulp should be spit out – similar to how one chews on sugarcane.

Aldrin – a vlogger who has featured various recipes and dishes of Camarines Norte – has also created content about the “hala” fruit.

This proved to be a hit among his followers, especially his content that showed him making a fruit soda out of the “hala” fruit’s juices.

“Kasi tinikman namin ‘yung flesh niya, may tamis siya. Sa pag-experiment ng mga prutas, sinubukan kong gawin ‘yun. Hala fruit wine ‘yung tawag ko noon. It turns out na okay siya. Sinubukan namin ihalo siya sa pagluluto and puwede-puwede rin pala,” Aldrin said.

(We tasted its flesh and it turned to be sweet. I experimented with fruits and I tried doing that. I called it the hala fruit wine. It turned out okay. We also tried using it for cooking and it also worked.)

Netizens became curious about the “hala” fruit when he featured it on his vlogs and even wanted to buy the fruit wine from him.

But is it safe to eat the “hala” fruit?

Lois Anne Manansala, a nutritionist-dietician, assured that it is safe and edible.

“Safe naman po siyang kainin. Actually, ‘pag tiningnan niyo nga po siya para lang din po siyang pinya, may matigas po siyang balat na kailangan niyo lang pong tanggalin,” Manansala said.

(It is safe to eat. Actually, if you look at it, it’s like the pineapple. It has a hard skin that you have to remove.)

She added that the fruit is also packed with nutrients.

“Mayaman po ito sa vitamins o sa mga anti-oxidants. Mayroon po itong fiber na nakakatulong po sa ating pagtunaw,” Manansala said.

(It is rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants. It has fiber that helps in digestion.)

Herbal extracts from the “hala” roots can help cleanse the kidneys, while its leaves can ease headaches, arthritis, and stomach spasms. The “hala” fruit is also considered an aphrodisiac. — JMA, GMA News