Bacuri Fruit
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Bacurí is small to medium in size, averaging 7 to 14 centimeters in length and 7 to 8 centimeters in diameter, and has an oval to oblong shape. The fruits are harvested around 250 grams in weight and have a thick yellow-orange peel ranging from 0.7 to 1.6 centimeters wide. The skin is smooth, taut, and partially covered in a broken crack-like veining. The veining is dark brown to purple and varies in intensity, depending on growing conditions. When the skin is pressed, it releases a yellow latex. Underneath the skin, the white pulp, also known as the endocarp, is sticky, semi-firm, chewy, and divided into sections. The pulp is generally thin and envelops 3 to 5 dark brown, oily seeds. Bacurí has a robust fragrance when ripe, and only the pulp is consumed. The pulp has a refreshing, sweet, and sour flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Bacurí is available in the dry season in South America, typically harvested sometime between January through June, depending on the region.
Current Facts
Bacurí, botanically classified as Platonia insignis, is a wild species belonging to the Clusiaceae family. The tropical fruits are native to South America and are the only species within the Platonia genus. Bacurí fruits grow on deciduous trees reaching 25 to 40 meters in height, and it can take anywhere from 4 to 10 years for the trees to bear fruits. The name Bacurí is derived from the Tupi-Guarani language. "Ba" translates to "fall," and "curi" means "early," referencing the fruit's tendency to drop from the trees when ripe. Each Bacurí tree is prolific and typically produces around 400 fruits per year. Researchers also estimate that the species has the capacity to produce over 2,000 fruits per year, depending on their growing environment. Bacurí fruits are a delicacy throughout the Amazon Rainforest, their native habitat, and the fruits are traditionally gathered from wild trees and sold locally in fresh markets. Outside of their site of origin, Bacurí fruits are scarce and mostly unknown to international populations.
Nutritional Value
Bacurí is a source of vitamin C to boost the immune system, iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, and calcium to build strong bones and teeth. The fruits also provide potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, phosphorus to repair cellular tissue, magnesium to control nerve functioning, and zinc to produce genetic material in cells. Beyond the fruits, Bacurí seeds contain oil that is extracted and applied topically for insect bites and rough patches caused by eczema. The oil is also used as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory. In Brazil, the seeds are cold pressed into a butter, and the rich, dark brown mixture is slathered over the skin to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, scars, and other skin blemishes.
Applications
Bacurí has a sweet and sour flavor suited for fresh and cooked preparations. In South America, the species is consumed straight out of hand, and only the flesh is eaten, discarding the peel and seeds. Bacurí is also incorporated into juices, smoothies, and liqueurs. In addition to fresh preparations, the fruits are used to flavor desserts, candies, ice cream, and sorbet. Try simmering Bacurí into jams, jellies, and compotes or cooking it in sauces and creams. In Belém, the capital city of the state of Pará in Brazil, Bacurí is made into a sauce poured over shrimp. Bacurí pairs well with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and turmeric, herbs including mint, rosemary, and cilantro, vanilla, heavy cream, maple syrup, and brown sugar. Whole, unopened Bacurí should be immediately consumed for the best quality and flavor.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In the Brazilian Amazon, some villages believe making Bacurí trees angry will result in higher fruit production. Local superstition among these communities states that anger causes the trees to produce higher quantities of ripe and unripe fruits as an act of revenge. Farmers select trees that produce low amounts of fruits, labeled as stragglers, and these trees are aggravated in various ways. One method involves whipping the tree with a vine from Philodendron megalophyllum, and then the vine is tied around the tree at chest height. Another technique consists of farmers cutting chunks of bark off the tree. Nails are hammered into the tree where the bark once was, and jugs of water hang from the nails to irritate the tree's spirit. Once agitated, it is believed the low-producing trees will create more fruits in anger, increasing crop size. Local lore also mentions that the gods occasionally punish the farmers who angered the trees by causing the trees to drop unripe fruit. Bacurí trees are typically revered for their culinary, medicinal, and cultural properties, and when villages clear land for farming, they will leave Bacurí trees intact, cutting down all the trees surrounding them.
Geography/History
Bacurí is native to South America and has been growing wild since ancient times. The species is naturally found throughout the Amazon and in humid secondary forests throughout Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, and Argentina. In Brazil, Bacurí is widely seen growing in several regions of the state of Pará. Within Pará, the species thrives along the Amazon River's estuaries in the Eastern Amazon, specifically on Marajó island and the Salgado region. The species is also commonly found in the markets of Belém, Teresina, and São Luiz. Bacurí was first recorded in history through religious texts written in the 17th century. Portuguese geographer Antônio Ladislau Monteiro Baena mentioned "trees that produced sweet and sour fruits" in his description of the Pará region in Brazil. Throughout history, Bacurí has remained primarily a wild species, but populations have drastically decreased over time due to cutting the trees down for their wood. The trees are not replanted, and the fruits are not commercially cultivated, causing the species to be in danger of extinction. Today, Bacurí fruits are gathered from wild trees as a food and source of income. The harvested fruits are sold locally within their growing region through fresh markets. When in season, Bacurí is a rare fruit found in select areas of South America.
