It is called the fruit of love because the shape of the fruit resembles a heart, but it is up side down. The fruit is usually consumed by the people of Tanjungbira, South Sulawesi, while they were looking for firewood in the forest. According to Dr Tukirin Partmohiardjo, the fruit is classified as a member of Apocynaceae, Ochrosia oppositifolia species. The plant grows on rocky soil at the sea side.
The fruit of love has crunchy flesh just like apple and tastes sweet a little bit astringent which exuded from the latex. The fruit of love is just one species among other species of Apocynacea family which is consumable. Other species that can be consumed is gitaan Willughbeia sp, endemic in Kalimantan. The flavor is the unification of 3 tastes: sweet, fresh, and tasty. Dr Mohamad Reza Tirtawinata, the director of Mekarsari Tourism Park, calls it the missing fruit of paradise. (Imam Wiguna)
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