Fruit From Palm Trees

Fruit from palm trees comes in many shapes, sizes, and textures.

Most are "drupes" - like the Fruit of the California Fan Palm.

• With a thin outer covering (epicarp). This layer varies from smooth to prickly rough.
• Plus a hard inner shell (endocarp) protecting the seed.
• The fleshy layer (mesocarp) nurtures the developing seed.

Some palm tree fruit is edible. For eating as is, making into jams or jellies, or incorporating into other tasty dishes. About 100 species out of the 2800/+ palm species in the world. So you can see most aren't suited as human food. 

Many areas and cultures Grow Palms for their fruit. You may not have heard of many of these species of fruit from palm trees, since they don't ship them from their endemic areas.

But birds, squirrels, and other wildlife need palm fruit, essential to their diet. They spread the seeds in droppings, which provides continuing generations of palm tree lives.

Birds like many palm tree fruits just fine!

Commonly called the Edible Date Palm, it's native to Northern Africa & the Middle East, where they still grow.

They're sweet & chewy, usually brownish orange, about 3 inches long. The caramel-like flavor is useful in desserts or eaten as is. Also used as a natural sweetener.

• Date fruit is nutritionally wholesome.
• They're a good source of fiber, potassium & other nutrients.

Cultivated in many dry climates for over 5000 years. It naturally grows around desert oases, and alongside rivers. It's drought tolerant, but does need a nearby groundwater source.

As a valued palm fruit for food, arid areas throughout the world commercially grow them. California & Arizona are examples in the US. We've stopped in the Arizona town called Dateland a time or two.

Lots of Date Palms in an Arizona town dedicated to growing them.

Have you heard of the acai berry?

But first of all how is acai pronounced?

• Say it: ah-sigh-EE, you emphasize the last part. 
• The fruit of the Euterpe oleracea palm.

The fruit from Acai Palm Trees have become one of the most favorable palm tree edible fruits.

Acai berries are actually drupes. Popularized as the superfood of palms. They've become popular around the world, with a unique flavor. They're native to the Amazon rainforest. Local people use fruit from the Acai palm in many of their own recipes.

Amazon has many of its "superfood" products.

• Used for acai Smoothie Bowls and Juices.
• Used for nutritional Supplements and Powders For Mixing.
• Used for Tea Infusions (which we love), a Sorbet Treat, and Puree for Your Own Creative Dishes.

We love an afternoon pick-me-up with acai infused tea.

Acai fruit contains Antioxidants, the main reason for being called a "Superfood."

• They possibly help with inflammation. 
• They have lots of good fiber, potassium & vitamin C. With healthy fats & Phytochemicals.
• But there's no validated proof they help weight loss 😟

Once picked, these small, purplish berries are only good for about 24 hours. They must be dried or flash frozen to survive shipping.

Berries ripening on the Acai Palm Tree.

Surely sounds like a palm tree with yummy fruit! Is it? 

Bactris gasipaes is found from Central to South America, where it's a food staple. Fruits are orange, yellow or red. 

• The fruit is locally called Chontaduro. Often eaten right off the palm.
• They have a potato-like consistency. 
• Growers even developed a seedless version.

Woman Prepares Orange Peach Palm Fruit in Colombia

Jubaea chilensis originated in Chile's savannahs and lower Andes' foothills. Fruits are tiny and round. May be yellow, orange or something in between. 

• It became endangered because the sap's been used for wine production. Palms were cut down for the process. Now they're protected.
• If you have a chance to sample one, drill down to the seed, that's delish! Having a coconutty taste.

Jubaea chilensis Fruit Inner Nut of Chilean Wine Palm Fruit
At Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

The moriche (Mauritia flexuosa) loves steamy, Amazonia's swamplands.

Hogging up areas where it grows. Its edible palm fruits are regionally popular.

• A typical fruit is three inches, kind-of egg-shaped. With a scaly skin. 
• People eat the dark red, ripened fruits right off the palm tree. 
• Locals make the fruits into flour. Or express the oil for cooking. Or ferment the fruit for a tipsy style drink!

The Edible Fruit of the Moriche Palm

Salacca affinis is from the islands of Southeast Asia.

Likes swampy rain forests.

• It has locally eaten, teardrop shaped, red fruits. 
• In Thailand it's called Luk sala, or written in Thai: ลูกสละ. You may hear it called Snake Fruit. 
• Some say it tastes kind of sour. Others think it's like a smoothie with dried bananas & dates mashed with jackfruit.

What Do You Think About Trying Snake Fruit?

Hyphaene petersiana is native to central areas of Southern Africa. It can grow quickly.

• People like its sweet fruit. After getting rid of the prickly outer shell!

• Other Palm Parts are useful locally.

Vegetable Ivory Palm has some good fruit inside that prickly shell!