Cupuacu (Theobroma grandiflorum) is a fruit that grows on an evergreen tree native to Brazil. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/1492/cupuacu.html The large, oblong pods have an aromatic pulp and many seeds. The plant belongs to the Sterculiaceae family whose well-known members are cacao (chocolate) and kola nuts. http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/sterculi.htm http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/v3-431.html Cupuacu is high in protein, fat, fatty acids, and minerals. http://www.springerlink.com/content/w21p893a7jukfl1p/fulltext.html It has many flavor profiles. Some say the pulp tastes like a combination of chocolate and pineapple or sweet gum. http://flavorsofbrazil.blogspot.com/2010/07/ingredients-cupuacu-chocolates-upstart.html Others say it has a distinctive citrus flavor. http://baking-management.com/news/making-sense-flavor-trends-0110/

For centuries, the inhabitants of the Amazon rainforest have used cupuacu as a primary food source and pain regulator. Now, the fruit is cultivated for food, cosmetic, and medical uses.Ice cream, yogurt, jelly, pie fillings, candies, liquor, and juice are made from cupuacu pulp. http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/bzf/oknu/theobroma.htm http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1990/v1-372.html Cupulate, similar to cocoa, is extracted from the seeds. http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/y5360e/y5360e02.htm#5 Cosmetic companies manufacture skin moisturizers, facial cleansers, hand creams, shampoos, and hair conditioners from cupuacu fat. http://www.cosmeticdatabase.org/ingredient.php?ingred06=724492 Health industries call it the next super fruit. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/top-food-trends-for-2007 http://www.copper.org/consumers/health/homepage.html It has potassium to balance salt levels in body tissue. http://www.springerlink.com/content/w21p893a7jukfl1p/fulltext.html It has zinc to boost the immune system. http://www.springerlink.com/content/w21p893a7jukfl1p/fulltext.html It also has copper for the nervous and cardiovascular system. http://www.springerlink.com/content/w21p893a7jukfl1p/fulltext.html Researchers have documented cupuacu's cardioprotective antioxidant and skin healing properties. http://www.personalcaremagazine.com/Story.aspx?Story=4685

The growing demand for cupuacu is raising concerns about the health of the Amazon rainforest. Scientists speculate increased harvesting will degrade the ecosystems and negatively impact the water systems. http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/bzf/oknu/proceedingsneotropecosys/p0661_reisdorff.pdf In 2002, the indigenous peoples charged foreign businesses with biopiracy. http://www.amazonlink.org/biopiracy/cupuacu.htm They want an end to patents and trademarks on living organisms and century-old processes. http://www.grain.org/seedling/?id=234 http://www.amazonlink.org/biopiracy/cupuacu.htm http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/y5360e/y5360e02.htm#5

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