2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Kupuasu (lat.theobroma grandiflorum) - a fruit tree from the Malvovye family, called in science theobroma large-flowered.
Description
Cupuasu is a tree that grows in height from five to fifteen meters, endowed with brown bark. And wild trees sometimes grow up to twenty meters.
The leathery and rather large leaves of the cupuasu are usually grayish below, and velvety bright green above. On average, their width is from six to ten centimeters, and their length is from twenty-five to thirty-five centimeters.
Cupuacu flowers grow in bizarre bunches on thick twigs and trunks. And insects (mainly aphids and ants) pollinate them.
The fragrant and very juicy fruits of the cupuasu are oblong in shape and grow up to twelve centimeters in width and up to twenty-five centimeters in length. Each fruit is covered with a rather dense red-brown rind reaching 4-7 mm in thickness.
The flesh of the cupuasu fruit is sweet and sour and very soft, with twenty-five to fifty seeds located in five miniature nests. It smells great (its smell is somewhat reminiscent of the smell of citrus fruits) and is distinguished by the content of theacrine (a purine alkaloid).
Where grows
For the first time, the fruits of cupuasu were discovered in the forests of the Amazon. Now this crop is actively grown in Brazil. And the Japanese patented it, thereby provoking violent indignation of the Brazilians, who consider bizarre fruits to be their national product. By the way, this fruit is the most expensive in Latin America.
Application
Cupuasu is eaten fresh and is also used to make liqueurs, jams, sweets, yoghurts and juices. In addition, fruit pulp is added to various drinks and ice cream.
Seeds occupying a fifth of the total volume of each cupuacu fruit contain a large amount of white oil (up to 50%). This butter is very close in its properties to cocoa butter, but its melting point is much higher - thanks to this property, cupulat (chocolate made from cupuasu seeds) does not melt in the mouth at all.
Due to the high content of all kinds of trace elements and vitamins, the fruit of cupuacu has an excellent tonic effect, and also helps to reduce the risk of developing cancer and resist the action of a wide variety of infections. These unusual fruits are famous for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. If you eat cupuasu regularly, you can easily cleanse the body of decay products and toxins.
Ascorbic acid, which is part of this fruit, helps to strengthen the immune system and greatly enhance the protective functions of the body. And B vitamins contribute to the normalization of the nervous system.
Cupuasu fruits are also good because they can be safely eaten during the period of weight loss - they are characterized by a very low calorie content.
The rich composition of the cupuasu made it possible to actively use these fruits in cosmetology. The extract of these fruits has a moisturizing and emollient effect, which is why it is often added to various hair and skin care products. And the phytosteroids and fatty acids in cupuasu help reduce inflammation and irritation, and increase skin elasticity. Quite widely, these fruits are used in the treatment of dermatitis and eczema.
Cupuasu oil also has a positive effect on the general condition of the skin - it becomes silky and smooth. In addition, the fruit contains substances that protect the skin from the adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation.
The fruits of the cupuasu are not able to be stored for a long time, therefore, before sending them for processing, they are often frozen.
