Organic Lucuma Powder

The Life of Lucuma


Native to Peru, Chile and Ecuador, growing well in frost free areas with seasonal rain and occasional dryness, but don't do well in humid and waterlogged areas. Lucuma is mainly grown at an Altitude of between 1000-2400m in the sub-tropical mountainous ranges of the Andes, although, Lucuma has also been known to grow in the Peruvian lowlands and at sea level.
Lucuma fruit trees are different from other fruit trees, in their ability to grow in soils that are somewhat nutrient deficient. But to get the best out the Lucuma tree with the highest yield, it loves alluvial soil rich in organic matter. The vallies in the Andes provides the perfect environment for the fruit to flourish, when fully grown, falling to the floor below the tree where they stay for several days to mature and ripen before being harvested (unlike other fruit that would mature and ripen on the tree).
It can take up to 5 years before a tree fruits, although this is a long wait, once they are fruiting 1 tree can yield upto 500 fruit per season. This coupled with its resilience when other crops may fail, makes it a great source of food and income for Peruvian farmers.

The Grove Lucuma, is cultivated by a small group of farmers, who are registered with the World Fair Trade Organisation and certified Organic with the USDA and EU by the Control Union. Through this they receive technical, social and financial assistance to ensure that they are able to continue to provide a consistent, quality product.

History

Its cultivation has been dated back to pre-incan times, possibly further than the Moche people (100-750AD), archeologists have found Moche decorated textiles, as well as ceramics and pottery either in the shape of or decorated with the Lucuma fruit (among other fruits and vegetables). Archeologists have also found some lucuma based ceramics in burial sites of the indigenous people of Peru. And so Lucuma is thought to be central to many Peruvian myths and fables and as a sacred tree.
It has been mused that the Incan culture believed Lucuma to be a symbol of fertility and new creation, but we could not find any proof that this was the case.
It was a staple for Peruvian people (manly the poor) for thousands of years, presumably this was due to its high carbohydrate content (plus the other nutritional compounds). A single tree having a yield of around 500 fruit per season, and when other crops did not survive Lucuma became the only food source for many. Leading to these communities potentially referring to Lucuma as 'the tree of life'. with at least 26 villages named after Lucuma.
Europeans first crossed paths with the fruit when they discovered it was used by the Incas.
In 1995, Scientists from the Peruvian Government submitted a report to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, indicating that the Lucuma is one of the most important plants of Peru, as a source of food and medicine (stating that "latex is used to treat skin lesions and infections").

In 2005, Peru listed Lucuma as 1 of the 10 national flagship products linked to the countries international identity. The intellectual property institute of Peru's government (INDECOPI) described these products by saying: “Flagship products of Peru are products or cultural expressions whose origin or transformation has occurred on Peruvian territory with characteristics that represent the image of Peru outside of the country.”
Interestingly an American Drug company (Rutgers) applied for an international patent (WO/2010/056908) for Lucuma Oil in 2010, specifically for the use of the seed oil on the skin, after they found that it had a wound healing application, claiming that there was “virtually no information on the effects of Lucuma on human health”. Obviously it was thrown out, as there is extensive documentation over many prior years illustrating the traditional medicinal qualities of Lucuma, not to mention the registration of Lucuma as a flagship product:

• 1864 "El Medico botanico Criollo" was published in Paris indicating that the "latex of immature fruit is used to treat skin problems, including warts and wounds".
• 1888 another French document says that the seed is used to treat stomach and urinary tract problems.
• 1888 the seed extracts was indicated to treat bladder problems by the Society of the Chemical Industry (UK).

In addition to the patent application, this same Drug company came up with a new English name for Lucuma: "Incan Golden Fruit". There does not appear to be any statements as to why, except that it may be more appealing when consumers purchase skin care products. Very controversial when it comes to history, indigenous people and then the perception of a product to make commercial sales. Lucuma has also been called the "Gold of the Incas", which is probably another 'marketing' phrase.
Also called "Lucmo", "Teissa" and curiously, "eggfruit" due to the dry orange flesh of the fruit being similar to that of a hard boiled egg. Although it has these similarities, it's flavour is very different with a unique maple and sweet potato mix - yum!