What does macadamia nut taste and smell like, and how to eat it correctly

Macadamia is an exotic nut that is included in the list of the most expensive products in the world. The high cost is associated with the complexity and duration of growing the plant. Several years must pass before the plant begins to bear fruit. The nut has a delicate sweetish taste, delicate aroma and rich chemical composition.

What kind of nut is this

Macadamia nuts are supplied to Russia from countries with tropical climates. The plant grows only in hot and humid environments.

Round nuts resemble small brown balls. They are easily recognized by their strong shell with a small cut in the middle, which helps open the fruit.

A nut growing on a tree has 2 layers of shell. The upper dark green part, protecting the kernel, is leathery, but soft to the touch. When it cracks in the center, the fruit is considered ripe. The second chocolate-colored layer protects the kernel and forms an unusually strong shell. In the absence of a cut, it will be extremely difficult to extract the core yourself.

Ripe macadamia fruits are picked by hand and taken to the factory, where they undergo several stages of processing:

1. Removing the top layer. The nuts are sent to a special device in which pumps pull out the green peel. Workers check the peeled kernels for any remaining peel.
2. Drying. The fruits are dried at a temperature of +25°C.With such indicators, the beneficial substances in the kernels are not destroyed, but over 60% of the moisture is removed, due to which macadamia does not germinate during transportation. Drying at +30°C is used for another 10 days.
3. Shell cutting. When dried, the kernel shrinks and separates from the shell. This allows you to make a cut without damaging the valuable pulp. The cuts are made with special devices, after which the nuts are sent to vibrating grids to separate the kernels.

In some cases, the last steps are removing shells, drying and checking kernels for quality. However, unshelled nuts are more often transported: in this form they retain their pleasant taste longer.

What does a macadamia nut look like and what does it smell like?

Australian the nuts are round in shape with a slightly elongated tip. Unpeeled fruits are hard to the touch and cannot be broken or crushed.

The kernel is delicate white or cream in color. The structure is dense, but loose, crumbles when pressed or bitten. When fresh it has a characteristic crunch.

Kernel structure is oily, reminds many people of cream. The nut has a sweet taste and most often a vanilla aroma.

Attention! Not everyone will agree that macadamia nuts have a vanilla-like scent. Some compare it to the aroma of Brazil nuts, a mixture of cashews and hazelnuts, or hazelnuts with roasted chestnuts. Some fruits smell like chocolate.

I wonder what Not only the kernel has a sweet taste, but also the shell itself. It feels a little sticky to the touch.

What does it taste and smell like in the wild and before sale?

Freshly picked fruits have a less intense taste and aroma, unlike those dried in production, since they contain a large amount of water.

Fresh, unshelled nuts from a store that have been stored under all conditions do not differ in taste from dried fruits in the exporting country.

Reference! In nature, only the powerful beak of a parrot can crack a macadamia shell.

When interacting with air, the kernels oxidize and acquire a rancid taste., and the sweetness and characteristic aroma become less intense. To prevent this from happening, unshelled nuts are stored in a vacuum. However, even in this case, the taste differs from the uncleaned ones for the worse.

Why does it taste sweet and smell like vanilla?

The reason for the sweetness is not that fruits are coated with sugar syrup or vanilla extract. The most expensive nut does not need such an addition.

Macadamia nuts contain a large amount of sugars, which give the product a sweetish taste. A vanilla-like aroma is natural to the fruit.

Attention! Unscrupulous manufacturers sometimes use vanilla or chocolate extract to enhance the natural aroma of macadamia nuts.

Several varieties of edible macadamia have been developed, among which there are nuts with vanilla, chocolate and even coffee aroma.

How and where it grows

Macadamia is a tree that grows up to 15 m in height.. Its leaves are oblong, leathery, smooth, and the crown is dense. During flowering, the plant is covered with small cream flowers, collected in long inflorescences resembling “earrings”.

Fruits appear only 7–10 years after planting. The nuts are collected in long clusters. On average, six months pass from their formation to maturity.

Macadamia unpretentious, grows in tropical warm and humid climates. The root system is weak and superficial and is not able to support the plant in strong winds.In addition, the tree is subject to attacks by pests, which significantly complicates its cultivation.

Macadamia growing V:

• Australia;
• New Zealand;
• South Africa;
• China;
• Costa Rica;
• Brazil;
• India;
• Mediterranean.

Found in Jamaica and the Hawaiian Islands. Honey made from macadamia nut flowers is sold in Australia.

Composition and properties

Macadamia is valued not only for its unusual aroma and sweet taste - it has rich chemical composition:

• unsaturated fatty acids: omega-3, 6, 7, 9, 11;
• saturated fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, arachidic and others;
• minerals: phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, sulfur, potassium, calcium, silicon, sodium, zinc, copper, iron, manganese, boron, vanadium;
• vitamins: B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, C, E, PP, K.

In macadamia high concentration of fatty acids:

• unsaturated - 147.3% (omega-3 - 20.6%, omega-6 - 13%);
• saturated - 48.2%.

Macadamia nuts contain no cholesterol, has a high protein content (up to 10% of the daily value). It contains up to 12% of replaceable and essential amino acids.

Nuts are high in calories: per 100 g there are 720 kcal. This amount of product contains 75.8 g of fat, 7.9 g of protein and 5.2 g of carbohydrates.

Fatty acids in fruits useful for the full functioning of the endocrine and digestive systems, prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Health benefits and harms

Macadamia is valued for beneficial features:

1. Improving the condition of the heart and blood vessels. Oleic acid helps dissolve cholesterol plaques on blood vessels. The high content of potassium and omega-9 in the product lowers blood pressure, and monounsaturated fatty acids thin the blood, preventing thrombosis.
2. Lower blood sugar levels. Monounsaturated fatty acids increase the body's sensitivity to insulin.
3. Beneficial effects on the brain. Minerals and vitamins, particularly B vitamins, stimulate the production of neurotransmitters.
4. Preventing musculoskeletal diseases. Potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium protect bones from destruction and demineralization.
5. Improved bowel function. Insoluble fiber improves digestion and is involved in removing waste and toxins from the body.
6. Relieving inflammation. Alpha-linolenic acid reduces inflammatory reactions.
7. Treatment of anemia. Macadamia nuts contain large amounts of iron.
8. Long-lasting energy boost. It comes from a combination of complex carbohydrates and healthy fats.
9. Acceleration of metabolism. Monounsaturated fatty acids contribute to this.
10. Hair strengthening, moisturizing and rejuvenating the skin. The product accelerates tissue regeneration, prevents age spots, and promotes collagen production. Walnut oil prevents the destruction of cell membranes, protects the skin from UV radiation, restores and strengthens damaged hair.
11. Improved vision and prevention of eye disease thanks to fatty acids, B vitamins and beta-carotene.
12. Prevention of cancer. The antioxidant properties of selenium help with this.

Macadamia will only cause harm if there are contraindications. or consumed in excessive quantities.

Beneficial properties for men and women

Nuts are healthy for the male body:

• increase potency due to blood microcirculation and the presence of zinc;
• prevent inflammation of the prostate gland and diseases of the genitourinary system.

The product is no less useful for women. It helps balance hormonal levels, get rid of PMS and pain during menstruation. Nuts normalize metabolism, and therefore, when consumed regularly in moderation, promote weight loss.

Fruits are especially useful during pregnancy:

• relieve headaches;
• improve mood and eliminate irritability;
• strengthen the nervous system and immunity;
• reduce the risk of varicose veins;
• regulate pressure.

How to eat it correctly

Macadamias are eaten as a snack on their own or added to desserts.. The nut goes best with coffee, liqueur and chocolate.

Eaten per day no more than 50 g of nuts. Due to its high calorie content, excessive consumption of the product leads to obesity.

Using the shell

Applications have been found not only for macadamia kernels, but also for the shells. Her used for:

1. Fuel. The shell contains a lot of oils, so it burns for a long time and generates a lot of heat. Nut processing factories run on energy from macadamia waste. The shells are also used as grilling fuel.
2. Fertilizers. The shell contains a lot of nutrients and slows down the growth of weeds.
3. Creation of environmentally friendly plastic. It is made from crushed nut shells, but it is expensive and difficult to produce.
4. DIY. The aromatic shells are used to make decorative items and aromatic sachets.

How to choose and store nuts correctly

Low-quality nuts have a rancid taste and weak aroma. In order not to make a mistake when purchasing, it is important to know what parameters to pay attention to:

1. Appearance. There should be no damage to the shell other than the factory cut. High-quality kernels have a uniform white or cream color, they are free from stains, traces of mold, and insect holes.
2. Aroma and taste. High-quality fruits have a pronounced sweetish aroma. Sweetness is also present in the taste. Rancidity indicates that the product was stored incorrectly or has passed its expiration date. Some manufacturers add salt to the nuts, so the taste is sweet and salty.
3. Texture. Fresh kernels are dense, and with strong pressure or impact they crumble into small crispy pieces.
4. Package. The nuts in the shell are considered the most delicious and aromatic. This type of casing best preserves the taste and aroma. Cleaned kernels should be stored in vacuum packaging.
5. Price. The average cost is from $30 per 1 kg.

Keep fruits in the refrigerator. The shelf life of nuts in shell is 2 years, shelled kernels - 1 year. The longer a product is stored, the less pronounced its taste and aroma.

Contraindications

Macadamia nuts are not recommended for people with nut allergies and children under 3 years of age.. It is better to avoid the product during lactation.

Nut is dangerous for dogs: leads to weakness and stomach upset, short-term paralysis. In rare cases, death can occur.

Reviews

Most people like the sweet taste of the Australian nut. However, it is not suitable for those who prefer less exotic and unsweetened fruits.

Alisa, Tver: “Recently I saw round nuts with a cut in the shell in the supermarket. I decided to try it, despite the high price. These are really very tasty and fatty fruits. Vanilla aroma and sweetish taste are present. The shell is sticky and sweet and does not lose its flavor for a long time.”.

Alexander, Moscow: “I saw macadamia on the Internet and decided to try it. Nuts are sweet and fatty. If you love cashews and brazil nuts, you'll love this. I prefer pine nuts and salted peanuts.”.

Conclusion

Macadamia nut is one of the most expensive products in the world. The high cost is associated with the complexity of cultivation, the long wait for the first harvest and the difficulty of processing the fruits of an exotic tree. The kernels contain many vitamins and minerals, healthy fats, and proteins. Regular inclusion of this product in the diet has a positive effect on health and prolongs youth.