Lucuma is known in the Peruvian Andes and it is compared to a proud woman, it is a sensual shaped fruit and it has a woman’s breast like appearance.
It is also known under the name "lugma" or "semen" or "mamón" and it is a beautiful and delicious fruit having a yellow-orange pulp, starchy, dry and very sweet taste, coming from the Lucumo tree (Pouteria lucuma) of the Sapotaceae family, and it grows in the Andean valleys (1.000 to 3.000 masl) in Peru.
LUCUMA’S PROPERTIES AND BENEFITS:
Lucuma is not only appreciated for being a gastronomic product but also for its high nutritious content. It is rich in fiber, iron and carotene, all these three substances are key for the proper functioning of the body:
-Presence of iron in this plant stimulates the immune system and physical endurance.
-Carotene decreases the chance of heart attack and it also improves the immune system.
-Its high niacin content makes it highly recommended for depression as it works effectively in the metabolism of proteins and in the body energy production process. It also helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
-Latex from the lucumo tree is used for herpes and warts.
For marketing the Lucuma is offered in flour, in concentrated capsules and atomized extracts.
Because of its high starch content, the pulp is dried and prepared with flour that is very sweet and nutritious focusing on its composition the nutritional values set out in the table below.
Nutritional value of 100 gr. of Lucuma fresh pulp and flour.
Lucuma is known in the Peruvian Andes and it is compared to a proud woman, it is a sensual shaped fruit and it has a woman's breast like appearance.
It is also known under the name "lugma" or "semen" or "mamón" and it is a beautiful and delicious fruit having a yellow-orange pulp, starchy, dry and very sweet taste, coming from the Lucumo tree (Pouteria lucuma) of the Sapotaceae family, and it grows in the Andean valleys (1.000 to 3.000 masl) in Peru.
LUCUMA'S PROPERTIES AND BENEFITS:
Lucuma is not only appreciated for being a gastronomic product but also for its high nutritious content. It is rich in fiber, iron and carotene, all these three substances are key for the proper functioning of the body:
-Presence of iron in this plant stimulates the immune system and physical endurance.
-Carotene decreases the chance of heart attack and it also improves the immune system.
-Its high niacin content makes it highly recommended for depression as it works effectively in the metabolism of proteins and in the body energy production process. It also helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
-Latex from the lucumo tree is used for herpes and warts.
For marketing the Lucuma is offered in flour, in concentrated capsules and atomized extracts.
Because of its high starch content, the pulp is dried and prepared with flour that is very sweet and nutritious focusing on its composition the nutritional values set out in the table below.
Nutritional value of 100 gr. of Lucuma fresh pulp and flour.
Constituent Unit Fresh pulp Flour
Water g 72.3 9.3
Energetic value Cal 99 329
Proteins g 1.5 4
Fiber g 1.3 2.3
Lipids g 0.5 2.4
Ashes g 0.7 2.3
Calcium Mg. 16 92
Phosphorus Mg. 26 186
Iron Mg. 0.4 4.6
Carotene Mg. 2.3 0
Thiamine Mg. 0.01 0.2
Niacin Mg. 1.96 ----
Ascorbic Acid Mg. 2.2 11.6
Riboflavin Mg. 0.14 0.3
Lucuma is known from the Pre-Inca times, it was the Moche culture that expressed in its huacos fascination with this fruit.
There are many legends about Lucuma but the best known is this: According to legend, Huatio – the Agriculture god – liked to dress like a dirty and ragged Indian, fell in love with the goddess Lucuma, a beautiful, proud and contemptuous woman who did not pay attention to any man.Upon being rejected by her, he decides to come in the form of a beautiful sparrow, flies above her and drops a fruit that has his semen hidden; she eats it and becomes pregnant without being touched by any man.
When her child is born and is one year old, she decided to find the father of her child and gathered together all her former admirers and potential fathers on the slopes of Punchao, she asked them who the father was.
Faced with their silent, she decided that her boy would be the one who may recognize his father.
To her surprise and shame, she sees her child hugging Huatio – the dirty and ragged Indian; upon being distressed and ashamed, she flees to the top of the mountain, being followed by a regretted Huatio who had already taken his true form, dressed in his riches robes, she does not turn for any reason her head to look back and reaches the top where she took her grief out by crying black tears, out of these bitter tears – according to the legend – is born a highly nutritious seaweed which is known as the Andean caviar called as Cushuro or Murmunta a or Llullucha.
THE LEGEND OF LUCUMA
Lucuma is known from the Pre-Inca times, it was the Moche culture that expressed in its huacos fascination with this fruit.
There are many legends about Lucuma but the best known is this: According to legend, Huatio – the Agriculture god – liked to dress like a dirty and ragged Indian, fell in love with the goddess Lucuma, a beautiful, proud and contemptuous woman who did not pay attention to any man.
Upon being rejected by her, he decides to come in the form of a beautiful sparrow, flies above her and drops a fruit that has his semen hidden; she eats it and becomes pregnant without being touched by any man.
When her child is born and is one year old, she decided to find the father of her child and gathered together all her former admirers and potential fathers on the slopes of Punchao, she asked them who the father was.
Faced with their silent, she decided that her boy would be the one who may recognize his father.
To her surprise and shame, she sees her child hugging Huatio – the dirty and ragged Indian; upon being distressed and ashamed, she flees to the top of the mountain, being followed by a regretted Huatio who had already taken his true form, dressed in his riches robes, she does not turn for any reason her head to look back and reaches the top where she took her grief out by crying black tears, out of these bitter tears – according to the legend – is born a highly nutritious seaweed which is known as the Andean caviar called as Cushuro or Murmunta a or Llullucha.