Aki

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Video: Aki

Video: Aki
Video: YTD X SIXTHELLS - AKI 2024, March
Aki
Aki
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Aki (Latin Blighia sapida) - an exotic plant, which is often called delicious bligi.

Description

Aki is a very small tree, endowed with an almost smooth grayish bark and reaching a height of ten to twelve meters. And the length of its elliptical leaves can vary from fifteen to thirty centimeters. In general, aki is a stunningly beautiful plant. Its small height is perfectly compensated for by its surprisingly spreading crown, which allows it to be grown for decorative purposes as well.

Aki fruits, colored in orange or red-yellow tones, bear some resemblance to a pear. As a rule, their mass ranges from one hundred to two hundred grams, and their length is about ten centimeters.

As for the botanical name aki - bligia delicious, it was received by the plant in honor of William Bligh, the famous English navigator, who simply adored during his expeditions to take seedlings or seeds of new and very unusual crops with him. And it was he who brought the fruits of aki to Great Britain in 1793 - unusual fruits arrived there along with African slaves.

Where grows

You can taste the marvelous aki fruit in the distant and picturesque tropical zone - in Hawaii, in hot Brazil and distant Jamaica, and West Africa is designated as its homeland. It was from there that Aki was brought to Jamaica, and only then this fruit began to spread in Central America, as well as on the islands of the Bahamas and Antilles. However, single trees are sometimes found in Suriname and Colombia, as well as in Venezuela or Ecuador. At the same time, aki is considered the "national fruit" only in Jamaica, and it is there that this fruit is most often eaten.

Application

Only ripe fruits can be eaten, since unripe specimens are poisonous. It will not be difficult to determine the maturity of aki - this is done according to the degree of fruit opening: ripe fruits always burst, and their juicy creamy pulp, painted in calm beige tones, gradually peeps out. By the way, their taste is reminiscent of the taste of walnuts.

Aki must be heat treated - for this it is quite enough to boil the fruits for ten minutes. If this is not done, they will remain poisonous. It is noteworthy that it is precisely because of the toxicity of the aki that it is strictly forbidden not only to grow in the United States, but also to bring it from other states. As for the calorie content of aki, it is about 151 kcal for every 100 g.

Aki makes an excellent side dish for fish, meat or vegetables - the taste of such a side dish is similar to the well-known scrambled eggs. In addition, aki is often served with baked fruits of no less exotic breadfruit, as well as with pancakes or pancakes.

Aki fruits are very rich in oils and fatty acids that are very beneficial for the body (linoleic, as well as stearic and palmitic). There are a lot of various vitamins in this fruit, including vitamins E, A and group B. And it also contains fiber and proteins.

In some West African countries, aki fruits are successfully used instead of soap (it is made from the peel and unripe fruits), and when mashed, they are widely used as a poison for fishing. The ground, dried seeds of this exotic fruit are an excellent fever cure. And in combination with water, crushed seeds are considered a highly effective antiparasitic agent. However, for the preparation of medicines, not only aki seeds are used - the bark and dried leaves are no less actively used. Jamaicans are convinced that such medicines can cure all diseases, including cancer. And the Cubans mix the pulp of ripe fruits with cinnamon and sugar - this is done in order to subsequently use them as an anti-dysentery and antipyretic agent.