The Cupuassu, Theobroma grandiflorum, also spelled Copoasu, is a tropical rainforest, fruit bearing tree, a large relative of the Cacao tree, Theobroma cacao. It is indigenous to the Amazon basin and it is widely cultivated in North of Brazil. The Cupuassu trees normally range from 5 to 15 meters in height, although some could reach 20 meters.

Theobroma grandiflorum leaves are 25-35cm long and 6-10cm wide, with 9 or 10 pairs of veins. Leaves on young trees are pink-tinted but as they mature, their leaves change to green. In general leaves are simple, alternate and tough but pliable, bright-green, pubescent on the upper surface and with grey under surface. Inflorescence is flat-topped flower clusters with three to five flowers with five dark-purple petals.

Cupuassu Fruit

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The Cupuassu fruits are oblong, brown, and fuzzy, 20cm long and 1-2 kg in weight, wrapped up with a thick, 5-7mm, hard exocarp. The white pulp of the Cupuassu is soft somewhat sour-tasting but uniquely fragrant said as a mix of chocolate and pineapple.

This highly perfumed pulp, surrounding 25 to 50 superposed seeds in five rows, is much prized in the Amazon region and it is used in making sweetened juice, ice cream and desserts. The fruit brings the highest price of all fruits in the local markets.

Fruit yields are not high and there is only about 40% pulp, in most fruit, but, seedless fruit are known and they have larger amounts of pulp. However, the seeds can be made into a number of chocolate-like products and so could turn into a useful byproduct if large scale of growth and development becomes viable.

The aroma of the fruit could be extracted for the market in the flavor and fragrance industry and the pulp used in cosmetic products such as body lotions, as is highly hydrating, akin to cocoa butter.

Cupuassu Propagation Methods

Tree propagation is by seed but seedless varieties are propagated from cuttings or grafts. The plant favors fertile, well-drained soils and requires mean annual temperatures of between 21 and 27°C. Young trees need dense shade in the first few years. Theobroma grandiflorum is a member of the family Malvaceae the genus Theobroma.

Cupuassu, Theobroma grandiflorum

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