Kubal: The Exotic and Rare Fruit of Borneo

Kubal is one of Borneo’s remarkable natural treasures. This fruit grows from roots and climbs onto nearby trees, thriving freely without needing specific hosts. Photo credit: Tanto Yakobus.

BORNEOTRAVEL - SEKADAU: If you ever get the chance to visit Borneo, don’t miss out on seeking, discovering, and savoring the exotic tropical fruit unique to its lush rainforests: Kubal.

Kubal, Jantak, or Jetak —different regions of the Dayak people have different names for this exotic fruit, but its charm and unique flavor remain the same. This wild tropical fruit, native to the lush forests of Borneo, comes from tall trees.

When unripe, Kubal has a green skin that gradually transforms into a vibrant yellow-orange as it ripens, revealing its fibrous, orange flesh with a distinctive and delightful aroma. However, peeling Kubal requires caution, as its sap is sticky and can be challenging to handle.

Read Bajakah: A Unique Souvenir from West Kalimantan with Remarkable Health Benefits

Kubal is one of Borneo’s remarkable natural treasures. This fruit grows from roots and climbs onto nearby trees, thriving freely without needing specific hosts. 

During fruiting season, the trees where Kubal grows become vibrant, adorned with colorful clusters of fruit—a true spectacle of nature. Sadly, if we fail to protect Borneo’s environment, treasures like Kubal may disappear forever.

The Unique Taste and Tradition of Kubal

Kubal offers a variety of flavors depending on its ripeness, from tangy and sour when young to sweet and satisfying when fully ripe. Its sticky sap adds a layer of complexity to eating it, but traditional techniques make peeling easier. A unique Dayak method involves gently tapping the fruit until the sap liquefies—an ingenious trick passed down from ancestors who thrived in harmony with the forest, despite lacking formal education.

Read Mentawa: The Uniqueness and Delight of an Unmatched Tropical Fruit

Interestingly, Kubal isn’t just popular with humans; animals like monkeys, squirrels, and bats are also drawn to its delicious taste. Yet, despite its appeal, Kubal often gets overlooked during its season, left to rot or even trampled underfoot. It’s only after the season ends that people begin to crave it again, regretting the wasted opportunity to enjoy this rare delicacy.

Preserving Kubal for Future Generations

As someone born and raised in Borneo, I take immense pride in the island’s rich biodiversity, especially in my hometown of Belitang Hulu. Kubal is one of my all-time favorite fruits. There’s nothing quite like climbing a tree and eating fresh, sun-ripened Kubal straight from the branch—a uniquely Bornean experience. However, this beloved fruit is now at risk of disappearing. Without serious efforts to preserve it, future generations might only hear stories about Kubal without ever tasting its magic.

The good news is that preserving Kubal doesn’t require complicated steps. Simply planting its seeds or allowing the trees to grow naturally is enough, as Kubal thrives without fertilizers or special care. By doing this, we can ensure that the enchanting taste and beauty of Kubal remain a legacy for our children and grandchildren.

An Invitation to Experience Borneo’s Tropical Wonders

If you’ve never tasted Kubal, consider this your invitation to visit Borneo—particularly West Kalimantan—during the fruiting season. The island becomes an open-air fruit market, brimming with tropical delicacies like Kubal that you can’t find anywhere else. It’s a feast for the senses and a reminder of the rich gifts nature has to offer.

Happiness, after all, can be as simple as savoring a rare fruit like Kubal while appreciating the incredible biodiversity of Borneo. Together, let’s cherish and protect this natural wealth—not just for the people of Borneo, but for the world.

Reviving Borneo’s Rare Tropical Fruits

Realizing that many of Borneo’s unique tropical fruits are becoming increasingly rare, several prominent Dayak figures —Yansen TP, Masri Sareb, Tanto Yakobus, Fidel Saputra, Munaldus, and others—have taken action. They are actively replanting these native fruit trees to ensure future generations can still enjoy them.

Read Kalimantan's Rainforest and Dayak Heritage

“If we don’t act now, these fruits could disappear forever. At the very least, our grandchildren should know about them,” said Yansen TP, a well-known farmer and planter from North Kalimantan. He has dedicated himself to restoring not only rare fruit-bearing trees but also other native plants that are slowly vanishing from the island’s tropical forests.

Borneo is home to countless exotic fruits, many of which are unfamiliar to people outside the region. With rapid deforestation, expanding palm oil plantations, and urbanization, these species face an uncertain future. By planting and preserving them, these Dayak leaders are not only protecting biodiversity but also preserving an essential part of their cultural heritage.

This initiative serves as a reminder that conservation isn’t just about forests—it’s also about the fruits, flavors, and traditions that define a land and its people. Through their efforts, the taste of Borneo will live on.

-- Masri Sareb Putra