Beauty, Health and Green Living
I am always on the look out for new fruits, and if there’s a health benefit to eating it then that is even better news. Lucuma or commonly called “eggfruit” is one such fruit. It is native to the cool Andean highland coast, especially in Peru. It is also a popular fruit in Chile.
When the lucuma is ripe, it has a nice orange color. Such a pretty looking fruit, if not tasty as well! Photo from Living in Peru.
“tastes like maple syrup. very mealy - no juice at all.” - The Black Azar. This would make a good and filling snack. Photo from Flickr.
It’s consider to be South American’s most precious fruit. Lucuma powder is usually exported to European and South American markets. The powders are used to flavor ice cream and other desserts. The powder is also available online at about $15 for 1 lb.
The fruit is low in sugar but has a sweet flavor. It’s been described to be sweet, fragrant and subtly maple-like in flavor. And some say taste similar to caramel too.
The fruit has been shown to grown successfully in Hawaii and Mexico. This species is not tropical, but grows at temperate elevations in Peru. It can also adapt to dry locations.
Image source: Biodiversity International. The tree blooms and fruits all year.
When the fruit mature, they fall to the ground and is collected. It is not edible until they are stored for several days until they become soft. Mariella Balbi at Living in Peru, wrote an interesting piece about lucuma. She writes, “It is also considered a medicinal plant. The leaves are used to cure skin irritations like impetigo or ringworm. In jungle fringe areas, lucuma juice is used to relieve diabetes and those who have tried it have had positive results. In addition, the leaves are an effective dye for textiles. It is therefore a symbolic, nutritious and medicinal food all in one.”
When the fruits are cut up , the inside really look like hearts. Photo from Biodiversity International.
And the folks at Natural News have these health benefits to add to this amazing fruit:
“Excellent source of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals including plentiful concentrations of beta-carotene, which makes it a powerful immune system booster. It is rich in iron, B2 and B1. It’s also high in niacin, which makes it a cholesterol and triglyceride balancer.
This naturally occurring sweetener actually gives your body healing goodness, unlike many sweeteners which offer empty calories and nothing of any value. Its low sugar content makes it a healthy alternative to sugar for people who have diabetes and other illnesses, as well as those growing numbers of people who want to enjoy delicious delights while maintaining vibrant health.”
Maybe the American ice cream business should try adding lucuma powder to their ice cream too. I would eat them!
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