Klungkung, Ancient Kingdoms

Sapodilla Plum from Dawan Village

Dawan village located in Klungkung Regency, about 7 km from Semarapura Town or about 37 km from Denpasar. This village is closely sited with the Goa Lawah tourism object, about 7 km distances. By entering this village, sapodilla tree spread along the street border. Sapodilla is a first-rate commodity of tree planted by Dawan villager in front of their house or at the back yard. That is why Dawan village famed with sapodilla plum central development.

According to Nengah Parta, the village secretary of Dawan Klod village, sapodilla tree already existed when he was born in 1947, and started increasing rapidly in 1974. The current increase is much related with Tenaga Kerja Suka Rela (TKS) from Udayana University doing a public service duty in Dawan village, so each family has 3-5 sapodilla trees on average.
Parta asserts, at the beginning, those sapodilla trees particularly came from Lombok Island. “A long time ago, the Lombok people came to Dawan village with sapodilla transplant, then the transplant planted and growth naturally suitable with the nature in Dawan village. In that case, Dawan villager doing transplantation continuously”, Parta explains.
A Sapodilla tree starts producing when it reaches 5 years of age. The picking process commences if the plum looks mature. After the picking process, then the plum is rubbed by the coconut fiber to leave out the latex, and then washed with clean water. Three days after the washing process, the plum is ripe and ready to consume. The weight of one big sapodilla plum can reach 90 grams, and available for juice.
For rapid development of sapodilla in Dawan village, the villager offers its plum as additional income. Moreover, sapodilla plums are commonly used as the offering supplement and are very valuable on Hindu sacred day. The Sapodilla plum of Dawan village has a peculiar taste different to anything else. “Dawan’s sapodilla is sweeter tasting rather than different sapodilla”, Parta said again. (BTN/033)