The Tough Nut: The Enduring Journey of the Brazil Nut

Deep in the heart of South America, between the majestic peaks of the Andes and the endless expanses of the Amazon, Bolivia hides a treasure as valuable as a precious gem: the Brazil nut. This little wonder begins its journey in the steaming heart of the Bolivian rainforest, where Brazil nut trees tower into the sky in wild harmony with their surroundings.

Anna Moscagiuri

24.04.2024

in #Produkt-Stories

Lesedauer: 5 minutes

Why the Wilderness Matters

Brazil nut trees aren’t meant for domestication: they can only survive in the wild and can’t be cultivated on typical agricultural land. Why? Because they live in extraordinary symbiosis with animals that avoid plantations altogether. The tree’s flowers have a complex mechanism that must be mastered to access the valuable nectar. Only a few insect species are strong enough to overcome this challenge. Therefore, the trees can only be pollinated by these specific insects. The catch? These insects would never wander into a man-made plantation; they love the diversity of the jungle too much. They seek nectar where vibrant flowers bloom in all directions – making plantations with Brazil nut trees practically impossible.

Fleeting Beauty

The blooming period of the Brazil nut tree is a story in itself. After the rainy season, the tree begins to bloom for 6 to 8 weeks – but each individual flower opens for just one day. If it’s not pollinated during this time, the flower falls to the ground, and the opportunity is lost. However, if an insect catches this brief window and pollinates the flower, a capsule begins to form, containing around 18 Brazil nut seeds. Over the course of the summer, this capsule develops into a heavy fruit with substantial seeds, which falls to the ground in autumn – where it’s eagerly awaited.

Forest Architects on Four Paws

Besides the strong insects, small jungle rodents called agoutis play a crucial role in the Brazil nut tree population. Agoutis love Brazil nuts, so they eagerly crack and eat them – and they’re the only ones who can manage it. They even bury some of their treasures for harder times, only to forget where they left them. In doing so, much like our native squirrels, they help spread the trees. Brazil nuts, power insects, agoutis – this trio is a perfect example of the delicate interplay between flora and fauna, in which humans are completely left out.

Tropical Jungle Giants

The Brazil nut tree, often referred to as the "dinosaur of primeval trees," is a true colossus – in many ways. Fully grown, it towers up to 40 meters high and bears a crown that reaches an impressive diameter of 50 meters. Besides its size, the tree also impresses with biblical age: It's not uncommon for a Brazil nut tree to live 400 years. Measured against this, the amount of nuts it produces during this time seems astonishingly small. However, this is only true at first glance.

Quality Over Quantity

If all goes well, a Brazil nut tree can produce up to 8,000 capsules during its long life, each about the size of a coconut. This amounts to just over 140,000 nuts or 700 kilograms. When averaged over the years, this translates to less than two kilos of pure nuts per year. For a tree of this size, that might seem like a modest yield, but it’s important to remember: Each Brazil nut is a powerhouse of the highest order, and producing them is no easy task.

Powerhouse with a Surprise

Brazil nuts are exceptionally rich in vitamins and minerals – especially when it comes to selenium, they outdo any other food plant. Additionally, they are packed with high-quality proteins and valuable fatty acids. Containing about 66 percent fat, Brazil nuts rank third behind macadamias and pecans. They're so energy-packed that locals even "repurpose" them: They not only collect the nuts for food but also use their combustible fat as candles to bring light into the darkness of the forest, among other things. The Brazil nut is thus a cornerstone of life in the Bolivian rainforest.

When the Rain Calls

The harvest begins at the end of the dry season and lasts for about six months. When the heavy capsules ripen, they fall to the ground with the rain, signaling the start of the collection period. The collectors are usually locals who are well-versed in the ways of the jungle. During the harvest season, they live with their families in small wooden huts called baraccas, built in the traditional Amazonian style.

Machete-Sharp Quality

Using machetes, the nuts are freed from their capsules and packed into sacks to be taken to collection points. From there, they are transported to the nearest large town, Riberalta. Upon arrival, the first quality check takes place: spoiled kernels are discarded, while the rest are washed and sorted by size.

Fresh or Finished

Next, it's all about preserving the nuts. These special treasures require a bit of extra care: their quality depends entirely on their freshness. Since the nuts come directly from the wet rainforest and have a high fat content, they need to be dried as quickly as possible. Otherwise, they’ll quickly become moldy, rancid, or both.

Softening the Shell

Brazil nuts also have an incredibly hard shell that’s nearly impossible to crack without the right tools and expertise. Our trick? The so-called steam-cooking process, which works similarly to a traditional steamer using water vapor and pressure. Just one minute is enough to make the nuts – after an additional drying – ready to be cracked open.

From Tiny to Large

In the final processing step, the harvesters sort the kernels by size – the only class distinction when it comes to Brazil nuts. They are classified from smallest to largest as "Tiny," "Midget," "Small," "Medium," and "Large," with Seeberger selecting the two largest sizes. Just before our delicate nuts are packed in light-proof vacuum bags and shipped to us in Ulm, they undergo one last round of drying to reach the perfect moisture level, ensuring a smooth journey across the ocean.

Between Tradition and Future

The hard work of the local people also yields life-sustaining benefits: in the regions where Brazil nuts are collected and processed, hundreds of thousands of people make a living from the work surrounding the kernels. Cracking the nuts with machines would be more cost-effective, but jobs for manual cracking are still being maintained. This way, workers can continue to be employed, which secures their livelihood. This even extends beyond the harvest season, as workers find steady employment in the processing facilities.

From Jungle Canopy to Snack Shelf

Cultivation, pollination, growth, harvest, processing, packaging – Brazil nuts involve serious effort from insects, farmers, processing facilities, and us as importers. And quality control doesn’t stop there: We take a close look to ensure the nuts are in perfect condition before they make it into your snack bags. We’ve learned that while this delicious treat may fall from the sky, the journey to your enjoyment is a long one – but it’s a journey we’re all happy to take.

Enjoyment with a Clear Conscience

You are what you eat. As such, it only makes sense for us to show you how and where your snacks come to life. But enough talk – where are the stars? Grab your energy-packed Brazil nuts from the untouched jungles of Bolivia. Guaranteed from a good home and raised with love. <3

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Collection: The Tough Nut: The Enduring Journey of the Brazil Nut