Pometia pinnata is a large tropical hardwood and fruit tree species, with common names including matoa, taun tree, island lychee, tava, and of the plant family Sapindaceae (maple and lychee family). Naturally widespread, the trees grow through south east Asia,Malesia and the Pacific region. They grow up to tall canopy trees of 40 m (130 ft) tall.[1] They have pinnate leaves and green, yellow, or dark red fruits up to 4 cm (1.6 in) long, each with three seeds, surrounded by a fleshy arilsomewhat like a lychee, edible and popular fruit for eating.
The first time we came across this fruit was at Pak Awang’s orchard in Biawak, Lundu. An Indonesian friend told us this fruit was called ‘matoa’ meaning crystal and that it was native to Iran Jaya. Lately we have also come across fruit vendors at the 3rd Mile Market in Kuching selling this fruit too. But surprisingly it did not taste anywhere near Pak Awang’s.
- Thick yellow flesh
- Crystal fruit
- Compare with lime
- Compare with longan
- Green matoa
- Crystal “Matoa” tree
Local Name: Kasai, Matoa, Dawa
Botanical Name: Pometia pinnata
Family : Sapindaceae
Matoa is a tropical fruit mainly from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Philippines, East Indonesia, Papua and the Pacific Islands. It is not a very common fruit found elsewhere.
The fruit is much bigger than longan & has a hard shell. It is green when immature and will turn purplish red, green, dull brown or almost black, depending on the various varieties. The yellowish white pulp is also much thicker, sweeter & the texture is chewy. It has a single seed which looks like a type of nuts. The seed is edible too and it is usually consumed roasted or boiled.
This is the crystal fruit of Kuching city. It is not a new fruit. It is an old native fruit of Malaysia known as 'kasai' or 'matoa'. This fruit is also known as the crystal longan or the crystal lychee. Some local people call it 'dragon's eyes'. Some say it tastes like longan. Some say it tastes like rambutan. The fruit looks like the colour of mangosteen with its dark red purplish colour. To eat it, fruit sellers will teach us to crush two fruit in the palm of our hand. Some would break its shell with a mortar or hammer. The name 'crystal' stuck with us as the flesh is yellowish translucent, like a citrine crystal. The fruit has moderate sweetness. That is why it is popular with people who have diabetes. This fruit has high economic potential with a kilo fetching a price of RM15.00 a kilo. The seed is like a longan-hard and enamel like.
Because of its catchy name, a young sapling will fetch a price of RM25.00. People are keen to try out new fruit trees. Unknown to them, the kasai fruit tree can grow to great heights with its fruits perched very high on top of the trees. This fruit is widely cultivated in Lundu, a coastal village at the southern tip of Sarawak, probably because a timberman was so taken in by the fruit in Papua New Guinea that he came back and grew it. This fruit is known as the Fijian longan in this neighbouring country. The scientific name for this fruit is pometia pinnata from the sapindaceae family.
