Where and how does macadamia nut grow and how is it used

Macadam nuts are the most expensive in the world. Growing it is a real challenge for plantation owners. Demanding climate and care, the plant is constantly attacked by pests, and begins to bear fruit only in the tenth year after planting. All these difficulties make its fruits so expensive.

Despite the high cost and difficulty of growing, macadamia is popular all over the world. This nut with an amazing delicate taste contains many useful and rare substances. Its presence in the diet has a positive effect on health, the core and oil of the product is used in medicine, cooking and cosmetology.

Features of macadamia nut

Macadam nut is also called royal... This is due not only to its high cost, but also to its amazing taste and useful biochemical composition.

The fruits are round nuts covered with two layers of shell... The upper rind is soft, dark green in color. Under it is a very hard and durable chocolate-colored shell.

The most valuable thing in a nut is its kernel... It is white or cream in color, with a delicate oily consistency. The taste is sweet, with a nutty vanilla aroma. Describing its taste, some say that it is similar to baked chestnuts and hazelnuts at the same time.

It is interesting! Not only macadamia kernels are useful, but also its shell with leaves.

general description

Macadamia is an evergreen tree of the genus Protein... To grow it, you need a warm tropical climate with frequent rainfall.

The tree grows in height from 2 to 15 m. At the same time, it has a weak and superficial root system.

The leaves are elongated, like a feather, dark green. The edges are jagged. The texture is dense, there is a glossy sheen.

The plant blooms in early spring... The flowers are small, pale pink or pale lilac. Collected in long pendant type clusters up to 20 cm long. Flowering is accompanied by a delicate sweetish aroma.

The macadam nut begins to bear fruit at the age of 7-10 and continues up to 40 years., yielding about 100 kg of nuts per tree annually. On average, the ripening period for nuts lasts six months.

There are nine types of macadam nuts in total.... Moreover, seven of them do not produce edible fruits, and some are even considered poisonous.

For gastronomic purposes, macadamia four-leafed and three-leafed are grown... There are many varieties of this plant. The taste may vary depending on the variety. Some of them have notes of chocolate, spices, cashews, etc.

Growing a tree is difficult... It is demanding not only on climatic conditions, but also on the composition of the soil, watering and fertilizing. If the rules of care are violated, it gets sick and is often attacked by pests.

Origin story

The macadamia nut owes its origin to Australia... It is there that his historical homeland is.

The natives considered this plant sacred. He was called Kindal Kindal, Boomer and Mullimbimbi.

The nut was named Macadamia by the Australian botanist Von Mueller after his chemist friend Macadam.

Where does macadamia nut grow?

The distribution area of ​​macadamia is very narrow... The tree can only grow in humid and warm tropical climates.In addition to the homeland of Australia, it is grown in several other countries with suitable conditions: in Brazil, Hawaii, Mexico, China and the USA.

Major importer of macadamia - Hawaiiwhich are famous for their volcanic soil. Australia ranks second.

In Russia, macadamia is grown only in heated greenhouses or winter gardens., since during cold snaps even up to + 3 ° С it dies. Under these conditions, the plant looks more like a bush than a tree, and rarely bears fruit.

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Composition and properties of macadamia

Macadamia is prized for its rich chemical composition... This is one of the most healthy nuts... With its regular use, the state of health improves significantly.

Chemical composition and nutritional value

It is a high-calorie product - its nutritional value is 715 kcal... The high rate is explained by the fact that the nut consists of 80% fat and 6% sugar.

100 g of nuts contain 75 g of fat, 8 g of protein and 5 g of carbohydrates... Fats in macadamia should not be afraid. They are useful and necessary for the body. In addition, the product does not contain cholesterol.

Macadamia has a rich biochemical composition. It contains many substances useful for the body.:

• minerals: chromium, selenium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, molybdenum, manganese;
• fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, oleic;
• vitamins: C, B1, E, B2, B6, B3, B9, A, PP, K;
• omega-3 and omega-6;
• phytosterols;
• essential oils;
• beta phytosterols.

Benefit

Eating macadamia nuts helps with many health problems. Royal nut has a number of beneficial properties:

• strengthens the immune system;
• stabilizes hormonal balance;
• removes toxins and harmful cholesterol from the body;
• promotes collagen production;
• normalizes the digestive tract, in particular, eliminates flatulence;
• relieves inflammation;
• accelerates tissue regeneration;
• strengthens the musculoskeletal system;
• positively affects the condition of the heart and blood vessels;
• improves the color and condition of the skin and strengthens the hair follicles;
• strengthens the nervous system;
• activates the work of the brain;
• speeds up metabolism;
• improves vision;
• improves liver function;
• improves mood;
• tones up the body;
• prolongs youth.

Harm and contraindications

When consumed in excessive amounts the product is able to bring the body not only benefit, but harm. The main reason why you can't eat too much macadamia is being overweight. If there is more than the daily allowance (40-60 g per day), unnecessary kilograms will very soon make themselves felt.

To lose weight, consume up to 20 g of nuts per day... In this amount, they will not turn into body fat, but they will improve metabolism and suppress the desire to eat sweets, which will contribute to weight loss.

Macadamia has the following contraindications:

• an allergic reaction to nuts;
• age up to 3 years;
• inflammatory processes in the stomach and intestines.

The product should not be given to animals... It is not life threatening, but it does cause unpleasant side effects.

Application

Macadamia nut has found its application in cooking, medicine and cosmetology... It is added to various dishes, medicinal and cosmetic products are prepared, and also consumed raw.

In cooking

Due to its delicate aroma and taste, macadamia fruits are good on their own. They are often added to various dishes, especially often used in expensive restaurants.

Often nuts are added to desserts... They go well with pastries, cakes, pastries and chocolate. They are used to decorate desserts both in whole and in crushed form.

Those who do not like sweets sprinkle salads with nuts. The product goes well with chicken, fish and vegetables.

Macadamia recipes:

1. Fruit and nut salad... Cut strawberries, apples and pear into small cubes. Banana is interrupted with a blender.A handful of chopped macadamia is added to the banana mass. The resulting sauce is poured over the fruit.
2. Quick macadamia cheesecake... Unsweetened baked goods or crackers are ground into crumbs, mixed with a little oil and a crust is formed in a baking dish. Cottage cheese, egg yolk, sweetener, vanillin and agar-agar are mixed into a homogeneous mass. Spread the curd filling on the cake. Sprinkle with chopped nuts on top of the still not frozen curd mass. The cheesecake is placed in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours.

In cosmetology

Macadamia helps you look prettier. The positive effect is noticeable even if you just include the product in the diet. However various home remedies are prepared with walnut oil:

1. For stretch marks... Macadamia oil accelerates tissue regeneration. To even out the relief of the skin, it is rubbed into new stretch marks daily. It is useful to carry out this procedure during pregnancy to avoid skin injuries.
2. For hair... In a plastic or glass container, mix the yolk of one egg and 1 tbsp. l. macadamia oil. The resulting mixture is applied to the hair, covered with a towel and left for an hour. The mask is washed off with cool water. To avoid split ends and to protect hair from ultraviolet radiation and high temperatures, rub a few drops of pure macadamia oil into the ends.
3. Cellulite... Mix for 1 s. l. blue clay, 1 tsp. macadamia oil and 1 tsp. pepper. Water is added to the ingredients to make a mass with a creamy consistency. It is applied to problem areas and wrapped in a film. Stand for 40 minutes. warm, then washed off.
4. From wrinkles and pigmentation... 1 tsp white clay is mixed with 1 tsp. macadamia oil and 1 tsp. thick sour cream. The mixture is applied to the face. Wash off after 15-20 minutes. For those with dry skin, you can add a little extra oil to the cream or apply it on your face 1-2 times a week.

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In folk medicine

The product is also used in folk medicine. Macadamia helps to cope with the following diseases and problems:

1. Dystrophy... The rich composition and high calorie content normalize the vitamin and mineral balance and help the body recover faster.
2. Diabetes... The product helps to lower blood sugar levels.
3. Atherosclerosis, thrombosis... Walnut helps to cope with these problems due to its ability to remove harmful cholesterol from the body.
4. Headaches and migraines (unless they are caused by other dangerous diseases).
5. Obesity... Macadamia activates the metabolism, which promotes weight loss. It also helps to cope with sugar cravings and replenish the vitamin and mineral balance.
6. Endocrine Disorders... This problem is solved due to the normalization of hormonal levels when eating nuts.
7. Indigestion... The plant fibers in macadamia improve digestion.
8. Colds and viral diseases... When eating a nut, immunity is activated. Thanks to this, the body copes with the disease faster.
9. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system... Macadamia contains all the nutrients needed to maintain and build bones. Moreover, in this form, each of them is assimilated.

Also macadamia has anti-tumor properties.as it promotes the destruction and removal of free radicals.

Important! Folk remedies are not used as an independent treatment. They are used as an addition to the main course with the permission of a doctor.

Eating a few nuts a day is already good for your health. However macadamia is also used to prepare medicines:

1. For migraine... Macadamia oil is rubbed into the whiskey in a circular motion.
2. With arthritis and osteochondrosis... The oil is rubbed into problem areas to relieve pain.
3. To improve immunity... 3 tbsp. l. honey is mixed with 3 tbsp. l. ground macadamia. In the morning before eating, consume 1 tsp. facilities.

How to choose nuts

For macadamia to be beneficial, it is important to be able to choose the right product. Basic rules are presented in the list:

• the seller must have certificates;
• the nuts should emit a pleasant sweetish aroma without acid and mustiness;
• kernels should be light and uniform in color;
• kernels and shells must be free of stains, mold and damage;
• it is better if the nuts are vacuum packed.

Buy nuts from health food stores or exotic food stores, dried fruits. Macadamia can also be ordered online.

When buying nuts in shell, you should pay attention to the presence of a cut (split) in the coating along the seam. Without it, getting the core is problematic.

Note! Macadamia cannot be cheap. The average price for 1 kilogram of nuts is $ 30.

How to store them correctly

The walnut is stored in the refrigerator... If the kernels are shelled, it is best to keep them vacuum packed as they oxidize in air.

If you plan to store nuts for more than two months, they are frozen.... In the freezer, subject to a stable low temperature, the product is stored for up to a year.

Conclusion

Macadamia nut is one of the healthiest and most expensive in the world. Its high cost is explained not only by its valuable composition, but also by the difficulties of growing. The plant is demanding to care, bears fruit only in the tenth year of life and is often exposed to pests. It grows only in countries with a tropical climate.

Macadamia nut is used in folk medicine, cosmetology and cooking. It improves health and appearance both when taken internally in its natural form and as an ingredient in topical products.