Brazil nut

Bertholletia excelsa

nuts & seeds

Seeds of an Amazon forest giant, packed like orange segments in a round, hard shell; almost the whole harvest comes from wild trees, since plantations are not profitable. They are very rich in selenium, with magnesium and vitamin E.

Origin

Amazon

Season (United States)

imported · all year round

Preparation

They are eaten raw, shelled, or roasted for a few minutes. Two or three a day are enough: that already exceeds your selenium needs, and many every day give too much. Soaking, sprouting or sourdough bring its phytates down — and release the zinc and iron they were holding.

Molecules

Vitamin E · Magnesium · Selenium · Methionine · Omega-6 (linoleic acid) · PhosphorusIn small amounts, not counted Vitamin B1 (thiamine) · Protein · Monounsaturated fatty acidsWhat slows things down Phytates

Did you know?

Only the agouti, a large rodent, can gnaw open the shell; it buries the seeds as stores, and the saplings sometimes wait years for a tree to fall and let in the light.