The Salak, salacca zalacca, also known as "snake fruit" due to its outer layer similar to the skin of a snake, is the fruit of a small palm tree with a short stem and long thorns. The fruit is an oval drupe 5 to 8 cm long, which grows at the base of the palm tree and contains a pulp with a core the size of a hazelnut.  

It is native to Java and Sumatra, and is grown mainly in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. 

Salak contains numerous vitamins and minerals, including calcium, phosphorous and iron. It is often used in natural medicine to improve eyesight given the large amount of beta-carotene it contains, as well as to treat diarrhoea.  

The taste of its pulp is sweet and acid, with a texture similar to that of an apple and it is usually eaten fresh once peeled. 

In hot, humid climates, the fruit can remain at room temperature for a week after harvest. In cooler climates, it can be kept for up to three weeks.