Pacay
Encyclopedia
Inga feuilleei commonly known as pacay or ice-cream bean, is a perennial tree that contains a podded fruit cultivated often for its edible white pulp surrounding large seeds. It is a legume tree native to Central
and South America
. All legumes have their seed encased in pods, a few of which are eaten as vegetables, green beans and snow pea
s, for example. A few lesser known legumes produce sweet pulpy fruits such as carob, tamarind, honey mesquite, and honey locust. Similarly, trees of genus Inga also produce sweet pods, a favorite snack of Central and South Americans.
, lentils, and peanuts
etc. Being in this family, it bears an unusual fruit for a tree that resembles a giant bean pod, with a sweet, refreshing, cotton-like edible fiber on the inside. The pods are generally narrow, straight, and sometimes as long as a person's forearm. They can easily be cracked open to expose the white, sugar-rich pulp, similar to cotton candy, surrounding the seeds. In English they have been called “ice-cream beans” due to the sweet flavor and smooth texture of the pulp. Naturally growing Inga trees produce abundant root nodules, which fix nitrogen, thus adding nitrogen to the soil rather than taking it away, hence benefitting the land by increasing fertility levels. Inga feuilleei is a legume tree that is medium to large in length. Its height can reach an average of 60 feet or taller and will stand temperatures as high as 30 degree Celsius when mature. At low temperatures, these trees are often damaged. These trees generally occur near river banks, so it has year round irrigation. Inga species are dependable, they produce in abundance, and they provide sustenance in bad times. A family can produce food without occupying the farmland used for food crops, because they can grow on sites neglected by agriculture. They grow rapidly, are tolerant of diverse soils, and are resistant to disease and fire. These trees are easy to establish, spread their shade quickly, and provide fruit for years. The fruits of the trees are quite edible and are often consumed by people of regions where this fruit grows. In Mexico, coffee-plantation workers can double their annual salary by selling the pods from the Inga trees used to shade the coffee plants. In Central America, the seeds are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. In Mexico, the seeds are roasted and sold outside theaters to moviegoers.
reported that the Inca emperor Atahualpa
sent to Francisco Pizarro
a basketful of guamas as a gift.
are by-products of trees whose main purpose is to shade plantations of coffee and cacao. Examples of these species include: I. edulis
, I. vera, I. adenophylla, and I. densiflora. The fruits of I. densiflora are sold in markets and fruit stalls, especially in Colombia. In regions such as the Andean mountains, the tree produces crop twice a year.
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. All legumes have their seed encased in pods, a few of which are eaten as vegetables, green beans and snow pea
Snow pea
The snow pea is a legume, more specifically a variety of pea eaten whole in its pod while still unripe...
s, for example. A few lesser known legumes produce sweet pulpy fruits such as carob, tamarind, honey mesquite, and honey locust. Similarly, trees of genus Inga also produce sweet pods, a favorite snack of Central and South Americans.
Description
Pacay is a legume, meaning it is a relative of green beans, snap peas, alfalfaAlfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
, lentils, and peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
etc. Being in this family, it bears an unusual fruit for a tree that resembles a giant bean pod, with a sweet, refreshing, cotton-like edible fiber on the inside. The pods are generally narrow, straight, and sometimes as long as a person's forearm. They can easily be cracked open to expose the white, sugar-rich pulp, similar to cotton candy, surrounding the seeds. In English they have been called “ice-cream beans” due to the sweet flavor and smooth texture of the pulp. Naturally growing Inga trees produce abundant root nodules, which fix nitrogen, thus adding nitrogen to the soil rather than taking it away, hence benefitting the land by increasing fertility levels. Inga feuilleei is a legume tree that is medium to large in length. Its height can reach an average of 60 feet or taller and will stand temperatures as high as 30 degree Celsius when mature. At low temperatures, these trees are often damaged. These trees generally occur near river banks, so it has year round irrigation. Inga species are dependable, they produce in abundance, and they provide sustenance in bad times. A family can produce food without occupying the farmland used for food crops, because they can grow on sites neglected by agriculture. They grow rapidly, are tolerant of diverse soils, and are resistant to disease and fire. These trees are easy to establish, spread their shade quickly, and provide fruit for years. The fruits of the trees are quite edible and are often consumed by people of regions where this fruit grows. In Mexico, coffee-plantation workers can double their annual salary by selling the pods from the Inga trees used to shade the coffee plants. In Central America, the seeds are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. In Mexico, the seeds are roasted and sold outside theaters to moviegoers.
Early classification
Aside from pacay another common name for this species is “guama." Well known for its sweet taste, the pods have been around for a long time. They have been depicted in ancient ceramics. The Incas had pacay pods carried to their mountain capital of Cuzco. Pedro PizarroPedro Pizarro
Pedro Pizarro was a Spanish chronicler and conquistador. He took part in most events of the Spanish conquest of Peru and wrote an extensive chronicle of them under the title Relación del descubrimiento y conquista de los reinos del Perú , which he finished in 1571.-Biography:Pedro Pizarro was...
reported that the Inca emperor Atahualpa
Atahualpa
Atahualpa, Atahuallpa, Atabalipa, or Atawallpa , was the last Sapa Inca or sovereign emperor of the Tahuantinsuyu, or the Inca Empire, prior to the Spanish conquest of Peru...
sent to Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro González, Marquess was a Spanish conquistador, conqueror of the Incan Empire, and founder of Lima, the modern-day capital of the Republic of Peru.-Early life:...
a basketful of guamas as a gift.
Cultivation
Pacay is cultivated mainly for its fruits; the fruits of other Inga species in areas such as the AndesAndes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
are by-products of trees whose main purpose is to shade plantations of coffee and cacao. Examples of these species include: I. edulis
Inga edulis
Inga edulis is a fruit native to South America. It is widely grown, especially by indigenous Amazonians, for shade, food, timber, medicine, and production of the alcoholic beverage cachiri...
, I. vera, I. adenophylla, and I. densiflora. The fruits of I. densiflora are sold in markets and fruit stalls, especially in Colombia. In regions such as the Andean mountains, the tree produces crop twice a year.