Cutia nut, Edible acioa
Acioa edulis

Family: Chrysobalanaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on non-flooded land in the Amazon.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil (country/location of origin), Central America, South America

How it is used for food

Oil is extracted from the seed leaves (cotyledons) and used in cooking. The kernel is edible. The seeds are eaten raw or cooked and also crushed and added to tapioca cakes.

Edible parts

Oil, kernels, fruit, nuts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Castanha de cotia, Castanha de cutia

Synonyms

Couepia edulis (Prance) Prance;