Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa)

Family: Lecythidaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (5/5)

Brazil nut or Berholletia excels is a large, tropical, evergreen tree up to 60 m tall and trunk diameter of 14 m. It is found in South America. Brazil nut has medicinal properties. In particular, its bark is used against liver problems and seed oil is applied to burns. The fruit can be made into a tea which is then used for gastralgia. The seed is eaten raw or cooked. It also produces edible oil that can be used like an olive oil.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Flavouring. — Edible portion: Nut, Oil, Flavouring.; Seed - raw or cooked.; A mild flavour, the nuts are a common item of food, eaten raw and also roasted, salted or used in ice cream etc.; The nuts are very nutritious, containing roughly 66% fat or oil, 17% protein and 7% carbohydrate.

Habitat & North American Range

Deep, rich, alluvial soils, on slightly raised ground that is not subject to regular or extensive flooding. (Zone 10)