Bread nut is the seed of Brosimum alicastrum, a tropical rain forest tree native to Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. This tropical American tree although from the same family, is not to be confused with the Breadnut fruit (Artocarpus altilis). The bread nut tree or Maya nut as it is also known is the largest tree in the tropical rain forest, growing up to 48 meters tall.

Maya nut is a member of the Moraceae or mulberry Family. The tree bears fruits that fall to the ground around April. They contain large almost round nuts that come single or in pairs and are enclosed in paper-thin but strong shells with a citrus flavor. The nuts have a granular but smooth surface and yellow or brown color.

Bread Nut Fruit and Nuts

The fresh seeds of the bread nut can be cooked and eaten or can be set out to dry in the sun and eaten later, after they have been roosted. The nuts can also be leached and ground into a meal for porridge or flat bread. Their flavor resembles that of chestnuts, and is often used like potatoes. They can also be ground to a meal and mixed with maize to make tortillas. The Maya bake them with green plantain when their supply of corn runs low. In some areas, the locals are making and selling Maya nut products like sweets.

White or yellow breadnut (Trophis sp. — Family Moraceae) comes from a type of tree grown in Mexico, Madagascar, Malaysia, and the West Indies. These fruits have large seeds which are boiled and used for human consumption. Maya Nut is extremely high in fiber, protein, many minerals such as calcium potassium, folic acid, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, E, C and B. When stewed the nut tastes like mashed potato, roasted it tastes like chocolate or coffee and can be prepared in numerous other dishes.

In Guatemala, is being cultivated for exportation and local consumption as powder, for hot beverages, and bread. It is also a favorite food by a number of forest creatures. Domesticated animal especially horses are particularly fond of the foliage.

Bread Nut Propagation Methods

Tree propagation is by seed and young seedlings are irrigated until they are established. Irrigation gives a many fold increase in growth rate of seedlings, aiding early establishment.

bread nut, Brosimum alicastrum

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