​Brazil Nut

​Brazil Nut

Brazil nuts, formerly known as Cream Nuts and Para Nuts (they were shipped out from the river of Para), are the large extremely hard-shelled seeds of the Brazil nut tree which frequently grow in groups of six or more

​The Brazil nut is a large tree, reaching 50 metres (160 ft) tall and 1 to 2 metres (3.3 to 6.6 ft) trunk diameter, among the largest of trees in the Amazon Rainforests. It may live for 500 years or more, and according to some authorities often reaches an age of 1,000 years.

​Brazil nuts are high in calories, contains good quantities of vitamins, anti-oxidants and minerals. Brazil nuts also contain exceptionally high levels of selenium.

​The fruit takes 14 months to mature after pollination of the flowers. The fruit itself is a large capsule 10- 15 centimeters diameter resembling a coconut endocarp in size and weighing up to 3 kilograms, and inside contains 8-30 triangular seeds

​When the large fruits ripen they fall to the ground. Shelling of Brazil nuts

is much easier than harder-shelled nuts such as the Macadamia Nut.