Solitary Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata)

Family: Arecaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

Solitary Sugar Palm or Arenga pinnata is a monoecious feather palm of up to 20 m tall with a straight trunk that can be 30 - 65 cm in diameter. The trunk is covered with rough old leaf bases. Solitary sugar palm has a crown of large, pinnate leaves and an extensive root system. It is commonly grown in tropical Asia for many uses. Flowering stems are sources of drink and sugar from the sweet sap. It is also fermented into vinegar and wine.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves, Sap/Syrup

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

sweet sap obtained from the flowering stems. — A drink and sugar are made from the sweet sap obtained from the flowering stems.; It is obtained by beating and bruising the developing inflorescence, which is then cut and a juice is obtained from the cut end over a period.; The appical bud, known as a 'palm heart' is sometimes used for food.; It can be eaten raw in salads or cooked as a vegetable.

Habitat & North American Range

Usually found close to human settlements, often as a result of human activity. Otherwise it prefers secondary forest at the border of primary rainforests. Often found on sites poor in nutrients and mesic sites such as denuded hillsides. (Zone 10)