Cupuaçu
Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) is native to the Amazon and well known to the region’s indigenous people as a source of food and medicine. This tradition has spread and won over the world. Today the fruit is exported to Japan and the United States.
Cupuaçu cultivation is widespread in the Brazilian Amazon. There are more than 20,000 hectares planted in the region, producing around 55,000 tons of fruit that yield some 17,000 tons of pulp.
Properties
Cupuaçu has good amounts of vitamins A, B1, B2, and C, as well as minerals and pectin, which improve cholesterol levels in the body. The butter, which comes from the seed, can be used on the skin, hair, lips, and nails. In hair it promotes softness and smoothness, increasing natural moisture and elasticity.
Versatility
Pulp, juice, oil, and butter can be extracted from cupuaçu. The fruit is used in a variety of products, including juices, sweets, ice cream, wine, and liqueurs. It is also used in the cosmetics industry, because it is quickly absorbed by the skin. It has a high water absorption power—about 240% higher than that of lanolin—and thus is an excellent plant-based alternative ingredient. It contains phytosterols, notably beta-sitosterol, which act at the cellular level to regulate water balance and lipid activity of the skin’s superficial layer.