Sala, or salak in Indonesia and Malaysia, is the fruit of the salak palm (Salacca zalacca), which is native to Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia. The fruit is distinctive for its reddish-brown, scaly skin, which resembles snake scales, giving it the nickname "snake fruit." Each fruit is small, about the size of a fig, and has a pointed tip. Inside, the fruit contains one to three lobes of edible flesh, which are creamy in color and have a crisp, juicy texture.
The flavor of sala fruit is unique, combining sweet and tangy notes with hints of pineapple, banana, and a mild acidity. Some varieties can have a more pronounced sourness, while others are sweeter. Sala fruit is commonly eaten fresh, but it is also used in syrups, jams, desserts, and traditional Southeast Asian dishes. The fruit is particularly popular in Thailand, where it is sold in markets and incorporated into various sweet preparations and is used to prepare sala syrup, which is used to flavor drinks and iced desserts like nom yen.