The fruit found atop tall palms near the banks of the Amazon grows in clusters averaging 800 berries. It is harvested by locals that shinny up the trunks of 15 -25 meter palms, in often less than a minute, making the great skill almost appear to be easy. There are about 50-60 berries on a sprig from a cluster. The berry is about the size of a grape and dark purple in color when ripe, an inner pulp is only about 20% of the fruit with a large making up the rest of it.
The natives of the area have long appreciated this palm for its many resources, including its nutrient rich berry.
Berry
- In its simplest form the fruit is chewed off the seed when picked fresh from the tree
- A thick juice made by crushing the berries is very popular with locals of the Amazon
- Berry pulp is used to make sauces in meat & fish dishes native to the area
- A mixture of acai, sugar, and manioc (cassava)
Trunk
- Wood used in construction
Leaves
- As is common with other varieties of palms the leaves are often found traditional used in house hold items such as brooms, baskets, mats and for thatched roofs
Seed
- A single seed can produce over 20 individual shoots
- Used in the making of local jewelry
Palm Hearts
- The tree must be felled for this portion of the palm that is a local vegetable staple as well as an exported product (hearts of palm are harvested from approximately 20 varieties of palm, but mainly in the acai)
