Neha Patil (Editor)

Pouteria lucuma

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Kingdom
  
Plantae

Clade
  
Eudicots

Order
  
Ericales

Scientific name
  
Pouteria lucuma

Higher classification
  
Pouteria

Clade
  
Angiosperms

Clade
  
Asterids

Family
  
Sapotaceae

Rank
  
Species

Pouteria lucuma LucumaEggfruit Pouteria Lucuma Zoom39s Edible Plants

Similar
  
Camu camu, Maca, Pouteria, Cherimoya, Pouteria campechiana

Pouteria lucuma


The lúcuma (Pouteria lucuma) is a subtropical fruit native to the Andean valleys and produced in Chile, Peru, and Ecuador.

Contents

Pouteria lucuma International Trading Lucmo Lucuma Pouteria lucuma Lucuma

Lúcuma has been found on ceramics at burial sites of the indigenous people of coastal Peru. The Moche people had a fascination with agriculture and often chose to represent fruits and vegetables, including lúcuma, in their art.

Pouteria lucuma wwwmeghantelpnercomwpcontentuploads201101l

In Peru, harvesting season is from October to March and in Chile from June to November.

Pouteria lucuma


History and characteristics

Pouteria lucuma The lcuma Pouteria lucuma

The fruit was first seen and reported by Europeans in Ecuador in 1531. It is sometimes known as lucmo. In the Philippines, it is known as tiesa and may be called "eggfruit" in English, a common name also given to the closely related canistel (Pouteria campechina). The name "eggfruit" refers to lúcuma's dry flesh, which is similar in texture to a hard-boiled egg yolk with a unique flavor of maple and sweet potato. The round or ovoid fruits are green, with a bright yellow flesh that is often fibrous.

Pouteria lucuma Forum Pouteria Lucuma

It grows at temperate elevations between 2700-3000 metres. Temperatures of its elevated native range make the species technically subtropical, even though its native region is strictly tropical. Attempts at growing lúcuma in Florida's climate typically fail. In addition to Peru, the fruit is grown also to a limited extent in Bolivia and Costa Rica. It grows well in most tropical regions, but is not widely favored.

Taxonomy

Pouteria lucuma Pouteria lucuma Images Useful Tropical Plants

Formerly known as Lucuma obovata, it is now considered a member of the genus Pouteria, and given the name Pouteria lucuma. It is not the species Pouteria obovata.

Uses

When eaten raw, the fruit has a dry texture. In Peru it is more commonly enjoyed as a flavor in juice, milk shakes, and especially ice cream. Its unique flavor in such preparations has been described variously as being similar to sweet potato, maple syrup, or butterscotch. A popular dessert called "merengue con salsa de lúcuma" is served in Chile. Also popular in Chile is "manjar con lúcuma" (dulce de leche with lúcuma purée).

Nutrients

Only limited nutritional information is available and only for lúcuma powder, indicating moderate content of protein and iron, each providing 14% of the Daily Value in a 100 gram serving which supplies 420 calories.

References

Pouteria lucuma Wikipedia