Balsam of Peru
Myroxylon balsamum var. pereirae

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 34 m high. The trunk is 1 m across. The bark is grey and spotted with rough yellow areas. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk and one at the end. There are 3-11 leaflets that are 6-9 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. They have oil dots. The flowers are white.

It is used in medicine and cosmetics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows from sea level up to 700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Belize, Brazil (country/location of origin), Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Panama, Peru, South America, Sri Lanka, West Indies

How it is used for food

The resin provides a hot spicy flavouring used in chewing gum, ice cream, baked goods and other foods. The seeds are used to add a bitter flavour to drinks.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Resin, gum, seeds, flavouring

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. Seeds germinate in 15-30 days.

Its other names

Local names

Balsamito, Black balsam

Synonyms

Myroxylon pereire Royle; Myrospermum pereirae Royle; Myrospermum sonsonatense Oersted; Myroxylon pereirae Klotzsch; Myroxylon toluiferum A. Rich.; Toluifera balsamum L. var. pereirae (Royle) Baillon;