| Latin Name | Observation date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Averrhoa bilimbi | 2 Jul, 2025 | Kabupaten Aceh Utara, Aceh, Indonesia |
In a corner of the yard of an old stilt house in the interior of Aceh, there grows a belimbing wuluh tree that seems to never tire of bearing fruit. The fruit hangs directly from the trunk, fresh green, with the shine of morning dew still attached. This tree is not just an ordinary plant, it is a silent witness to the generations that have passed.
For the Acehnese, belimbing wuluh is not just a sour fruit that bites the tongue. It is part of collective memory, from mother's cooking in the wooden kitchen, to herbal medicine when a fever strikes. Who doesn't know asam sunti, belimbing wuluh fruit that is dried until black, then becomes a mandatory spice in Acehnese dishes such as kuah pliek u and asam keueung? The taste not only touches the tongue, but also the heart.
In childhood, children were often asked to pick belimbing wuluh with bamboo poles. Their laughter erupted every time the fruit fell to the ground and they competed to pick it up. Sometimes, starfruit is made into an extreme snack, dipped in salt or chili, the face grimacing but the hands never stop feeding. Those little memories are now just nostalgia, but the starfruit tree still stands strong, like a guardian of the past.
For Acehnese who have migrated, this tree is always a symbol of home. When returning home and seeing its trunk still bearing fruit, the heart is warm. As if all the longing, tiredness, and long distance are softened by the fresh sourness of this small fruit.
Starfruit may not be as popular as other tropical fruits, but for Acehnese it is irreplaceable. It is a taste that lingers on the tongue, and a memory that lives in the chest.
| Link to original | community |
|---|---|
| Link | https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/294757796 |
| Latitude | Longitude | Map |
|---|---|---|
| 5.1289722222 | 97.0801388889 | https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=5.1289722222&mlon=97.0801388889#map=12/5.1290/97.0801 |
