Whole Brazil Nuts
Estimated Inventory, 5 lbs : 3.80
This item was last sold on : 11/07/24
Description/Taste
Brazil nuts are semi-circular and bulbous in shape and can range in size from 2 to 4 centimeters in length. The nuts are covered with an extremely thin rust-brown colored skin that is often stripped away from parts of the nut, revealing the beige to tan-colored flesh beneath. Brazil nuts have a smooth texture with a satisfying crunch and a subtly nutty aroma with hints of woodsy smoke. The nut has a relatively mild flavor, similar to fresh coconut, with bitter-sweet, vegetal undertones and a faint woodsy finish.
Seasons/Availability
Brazil nuts are available year-round, with fresh nuts being harvested from December to March.
Current Facts
Brazil nuts, also known as Para nuts, are not a true nut but the edible seed of a large South American tree botanically classified as Bertholletia excelsa. This tree can grow to be 50 meters tall with a canopy that can spread over 30 meters and produces a large, brown fruit that resembles a coconut in shape, size, and feel. These fruits, which fall from the tree when ripe, are collected from the forest floor and opened with a machete, revealing between 12 and 24 Brazil nuts, arranged in segments like an orange. A mature tree will produce more than 300 pods per season, potentially yielding over 7,000 nuts per tree each year. Brazil nuts are one of the only nuts harvested in the wild from trees spread throughout the less flood-prone areas of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. The oil of the nut is also used in hair products, soaps, and skin-care products.
Nutritional Value
Brazil nuts are a significant source of many essential vitamins and minerals, including thiamin, calcium, copper, phosphorus, and vitamin B. The nuts are rich in fiber and monounsaturated fats and are a source of complete protein. Brazil nuts contain high levels of selenium, a compound that can help to activate powerful antioxidants within the body that help support healthy thyroid and hormone function, and magnesium, a mineral responsible for hundreds of chemical reactions within the body. It is important to note that high levels of selenium can have adverse effects on the body, so Brazil nuts should be consumed in moderation.
Applications
Brazil nuts have a mildly sweet and woodsy flavor that lends itself to a variety of applications. The nuts are commonly enjoyed right out of hand and can be eaten raw, blanched, or roasted. The nuts can also be soaked and turned into nut milk or blended to create nut cheeses and butter. Pureed Brazil nuts add a punch of nutrition and creamy texture to fruit smoothies, cakes, and desserts. Brazil nuts pair well with dark chocolate to create delicious candy and confections and in brittle with other nuts like almonds and walnuts. The slightly bitter and vegetal qualities of the nut make them the perfect crunchy addition to fresh salads. Roast and add them to pasta with asiago cheese and broccoli rabe, or blend with basil and parsley to create a delicious pesto. Brazil nuts have high-fat content and can spoil quickly. For the best quality, purchase the nuts in smaller quantities and keep them fresh in the freezer. If the nuts taste overly bitter, are rancid, or have a molded aroma, they have likely spoiled and should be discarded immediately.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Brazil nuts are mainly collected in the wild throughout the Amazon Basin in South America from trees that can live to be 1,000 years old. The nut is a prized commodity in the region, not only for its economic value but as a food source high in protein, healthy fats, and minerals. The flower of the tree blooms for just one day and can only be pollinated by an orchid bee, a large insect that is strong enough to lift the hood of the flower to reach its nectar. The fruits resemble coconuts and can reach the size of a softball, weighing between 6 and 12 kilograms. When the fruit is ripe, it falls from the tree, reaching speeds of 50 miles per hour, often planting itself upon impact. Harvesters of the prized nuts, known as Castaneros, must proceed with caution as a falling Brazil nut fruit can result in injury and sometimes even death if they are struck. The forest is also home to many poisonous bugs and snakes, hosts of diseases like malaria and leishmaniasis, and the threat of attack by others hoping to harvest from the same tree. Despite this, thousands of Castaneros make the journey to the jungle each year, hoping to arrive in time to collect the fruits before the Agoutis, a rodent that is the only animal strong enough to open the fruits hard shell, have taken and buried them. These cat-sized rodents play a vital role in the survival of the Brazil nut tree by opening the fruit and dispersing the seeds throughout the forest. The collection of Brazil nuts is the only non-timber harvest from rainforest trees in these regions and is a vital and sustainable source of income for local and tribal people, but the ecosystem in which these trees thrive is constantly being threatened by deforestation and climate change. The smallest reduction to the Agoutis and orchid bee populations could have a rippling effect on the yield of Brazil nuts and, in turn, the local economy of the Amazon Basin.
Geography/History
Brazil nuts are native to the lowland areas of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. The nuts have been a staple part of the diet of native people in these regions for over 11,000 years, with evidence of their use tracing back to the Upper Paleolithic Era. The nuts were introduced to Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors in 1569 as they explored the area, but they were difficult to harvest and transport, so the explorers did not bring them back to Europe. The nuts were eventually introduced to Europe a few decades later by Dutch Traders but did not grow in popularity until the 19th century when the Christmas celebration in England became a lavish affair, featuring bowlfuls of raw mixed nuts. Brazil nuts were introduced to the United States in the 1800s, and over the next century, the nuts were used in tins of mixed nuts throughout the country in the early to the mid-20th century. Today, Brazil nuts are the most economically important non-timber forest products in the Amazon basin. Nearly 21,000 metric tons are exported to the United Kingdom, United States, and Germany annually. Brazil nuts can be found in containers of mixed nuts throughout the United States or at shops specializing in fresh nuts.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Pacific Coast Spirits | Oceanside CA | 925-381-5392 |
| Il Giardino di Lilli | La Jolla CA | 619-467-9897 |
| Deeply Nourished | La Jolla CA | 808-489-7366 |
| Cross Roots | San Diego CA | 858-245-1678 |
