Palm heart or ‘Umbut’ as jungle food; Lessons from a Sarawak jungle trip

Our guides harvested the palm heart for the group’s dinner

I have heard a lot about harvesting the heart of palm, locally known as ‘Umbut’ as jungle food. This umbut has often been listed as one of the survival food in the jungle. In my years of traveling, I have not come across this Umbut, up until recently. During the trip to Sarawak in August 2009, I had my first encounter with Umbut.

The Umbut is actually the inner core of the palm’s growing bud. I was expecting it to taste very blend and dry but it turned out to be extra crunchy and tasty. A pleasant surprise indeed. Harvesting the Umbut is no easy task. For a big tree, the growing bud is usually located at the top where the bud is growing. This means the tree has to be chopped down and then only the Umbut can be harvested.

The heart of the growing bud or Umbut

Yes, the process probably kills the tree. But according to our guide in Sarawak, the practice of harvesting Umbut is done only when they are traveling deep into the jungle when they have limited food supply. Furthermore, on a hunting trail, a felled palm tree for Umbut will be revisited weeks later for it’s palm grubs. The grubs are a favorite local delicacy.

I manage to follow and witness a Penan guide harvesting Umbut. Will upload the video once I have compiled them together.

Lok, a Penan busy harvesting Umbut

Lok with his harvested Umbut

Oh…the Umbut is so tasty! I was expecting it to be fibrous and yucky but it is totally the opposite. It was crunchy and tasted very sweet. It was awesome! Now I am beginning to think that the Umbut is a luxury food rather than a survival food.


Continue reading other parts of this adventure below:

• First time in Miri Town, Sarawak
• Wild durian & Kolok mee at Miri.
• 5 hours on a 4WD into interior off Miri.
• Unique local houses in Sarawak interior.
• Smoked wild boar…nice!
• Loooong hike to look for an elusive waterfall.
• Sarawak river boats and a raging river.
• Jungle vines and rattan used in the jungles of Sarawak.
• Umbut or heart of palm tasting, first experience.
• Harvesting of the umbut by the Penan.
• Malat & Penat; the Penan’s blades.
• Kitchen in a traditional house.
• Video on jungle kitchen & feather stick making.

Click here to read about another rainforest adventure in Semban, Sarawak.