Ice Cream Bean, Jinicuil
Inga jinicuil

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

Jinucuil or Ice Cream Bean, otherwise known as Inga jinicuil, is a tropical evergreen tree with a spreading crown, bright green leaves, creamy white flowers in clusters, and pod-type fruits. It is very fast-growing and widely planted in Central America as shade tree in coffee plantations. The fruit pulp is creamy white in color and slightly sweet in flavor. The seeds can also be eaten when cooked. Other common names include Coffee-shade, Guabo, Cuajiniquil and Shimbillo.

Inga jinicuil is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 25 m (82ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. It can fix Nitrogen. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant is not wind tolerant.

Height (m): 20

Where it is found

Moist lowland slopes.

Central America - Mexico to Costa Rica.

Conservation Status: Status: Least Concern

Countries/locations it is found in

Belize; Costa Rica; Ecuador; El Salvador; Guatemala, Nicaragua, Central America, Honduras, Mexico, North America, Panama, South America,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Inside the seedpod lies a slightly sweet, creamy, white, high protein pulp surrounding the brown seeds. This pulp has a flavour likened to vanilla ice cream and is considered a delicacy by many, especially children. The seedpod is about 20cm long and 5cm wide. Seed - cooked. Traditionally eaten with Phaseolus beans and Chenopodiium leaves.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Seedpod: things such as Okra, French and Runner beans.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 1

Large shade tree. Street tree. Public open space. Xerophytic. Agroforestry Uses: Used as a shade tree in coffee plantations. This was the first species cultivated for coffee shade in Central America, but due to its susceptibility to pests it is being replaced by other Inga species. Other Uses: None known

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil

How it is grown

A plant for the lowland moist tropics. Prefers a position in full sun in a fertile, well-drained soil. Requires a position sheltered from strong winds. Plants flower irregularly throughout the year. The flowers are easily damaged by high winds or heavy rain. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby

Propagating it: Seed - Greenwood cuttings.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Ice Cream Bean, Jinicuil, Coffee-shade, Guabo, Cuajiniquil, Shimbillo, chalahuite, inga jinicuil,

Synonyms

Feuilleea jinicuil (Cham. & Schltdl.) Kuntze