Piassaba (Leopoldinia piassaba)

Family: Arecaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Piassaba, Leopoldinia piassaba, is a palm native to Brazil and Venezuela that grows about 4 or 5 m tall with a trunk diameter of 15 cm. Its crown is composed of 14 - 16 sword-shaped, yellow green leaves with each leaf measuring about 4-5 m long. The fruits are kidney shaped and flattened. The mesocarp of the fruits is eaten raw or made into a refreshing beverage.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

refreshing beverage. — The mesocarp of the fruits is eaten raw or made into a refreshing beverage.; The thin flesh of the fruit, agitated with water, makes a popular local drink.

Habitat & North American Range

Sandy soils near blackwater rivers and streams, rarely on white-water rivers. (Zone 10)