Lucuma is the fruit of a tree from the Andean region of South America (Pouteria lucuma). It has long been part of local diets, and is known to have been eaten by the Incas. It is prized both for its flavour and for the nutrients it contains. These include a 25% content of dietary fibre, a range of antioxidant carotene nutrients and a wide spectrum of B vitamins. Lucuma also has a delicious flavour, and is a popular flavour for ice cream in South America.

Dietary fibre is absolutely essential to humans, and is often lacking in modern diets. It helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as having a stabilising effect on blood sugar. Dietary fibre is also essential to the digestive process, and a sufficient supply is important to avoid gastrointestinal issues. Lucuma contains both protein and carbohydrate. It provides the fruit sugars glucose, fructose and sucrose, which are basic fuel for the human body. We require protein to build, repair and maintain muscle tissue.

Lucuma is a good source of Vitamin A, which we require for good retinal health. Vitamin A is also key for proper reproductive function, as well as general good health. Vitamin A is strongly antioxidant, protecting us from oxidative cell damage and supporting correct foetal development. Vitamin B1 is required for proper function of the nervous system and muscles, while Lucuma’s Vitamin B2 helps us extract energy from carbohydrates and produce healthy red blood cells. Vitamin B3 helps control blood sugar, is needed to maintain the digestive and nervous systems and extract energy from carbohydrates. It also promotes healthy skin.

The mineral content of Lucuma is also of value. It is a good source of calcium, which promotes the growth and maintenance of healthy, strong bones and teeth, as well as good circulatory and nerve health. The fruit’s sodium is essential for the body. It works with potassium to create electrostatic charge on the membranes of individual cells, allowing nervous impulses to be transmitted. Potassium is also present in Lucuma, as is phosphorous, which we require for general cellular function.

Lucuma is becoming popular for its lively and unique flavour, best described as a combination of caramel, butter and maple syrup. In South America the fruit is used widely as a flavouring in ice cream. The taste makes Lucuma a pleasant addition to yoghurt smoothies.

Production
Rainforest Foods raw Lucuma is organically grown on farms in the Pasco region of central Peru. The fruit is selected and cleaned by hand, before being washed and disinfected – again by organically-certified processes. It is manually peeled and the flesh of the fruit cut up, to be gently dried in hot air. The dried fruit is then milled before being packed.

Organic Certification
Rainforest Foods Lucuma is certified by the Soil Association, one of a handful of organic certification bodies in the UK. These are regulated in their turn by DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). The role of the Soil Association is to ensure that all foods sold as organic are definably so. It does this by auditing every stage of the supply chain, through growth, export and processing. Soil Association certification – indicated by the Soil Association logo and the EU organic leaf symbol on our packaging – is a guarantee that our customers are purchasing an organic product. All organically-certified products must also carry a certification code on their packaging. For UK companies such as Rainforest Foods this has the format GB-ORG-XX, XX indicating the certifying body. If this is not present, a product is not organic. The Soil Association code on our products is GB-ORG-05.

Ingredients
Organic raw Lucuma powder from Peru.

Suggested Use
We recommend that you add 1 teaspoon to water, juice or a smoothie. Lucuma can also be used as a baking ingredient in place of flour. Store your Lucuma in a cool, dark and dry place.

Nutritional Analysis
For details on nutritional content, please click on the back label image above.  For further information about Lucuma, please visit the Lucuma overview and read Lucuma articles on our blog.

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