The seeds of the football fruit are a well-known spice in Indonesia and are known as kluwek, keluak or kepayang. However, both the fruit and the seeds are poisonous when fresh, so the seeds must first be fermented to make them edible. To do this, they are first boiled and then covered with ash, banana leaves and soil for 40 days. They then turn black and, after fermentation, must be soaked in water for a further two days. Finally, they can be finely ground and used in all manner of Indonesian dishes, including a black beef soup (rawon) and various stews with fish or meat. The fruits, which are also poisonous, have juicy, yellowish-white flesh and can grow up to 30 cm in size and weigh as much as 3 kg. They are eaten by flying foxes, which are immune to the poison. As they eat, the large seeds fall to the ground, after which the seeds can be dispersed by rivers or the ocean.
It is the only species in the genus Pangium and the tree is found along the coasts of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The leaves are heart-shaped and can grow up to 30 cm in size. In Indonesia, the seeds are usually collected from wild trees, as the yield from cultivated trees is low. Fruit set occurs in tropical conditions at a minimum temperature of 15°C, requiring both a male and a female tree. As a houseplant, the species can be kept for its graceful, large leaves.
Sowing instructions: First, lightly sand one side of the large, angular seed with sandpaper until a colour difference becomes visible. Please bear in mind that the seeds are poisonous. Then soak for 24 hours in water and sow in seed compost at 25–30 °C. Germination usually occurs after 3–6 weeks.
