The heart of palm, also called palmito, is a fresh food with a delicate flavor that recalls that of white asparagus. In this guide we review its distinctive characteristics and the uses that can be made of it in the kitchen, but also its considerable ecological impact. In addition to being good and widely used to flavor salads or accompany meat dishes, the heart of palm is also known for its many nutritional properties thanks to the contribution of fibre, potassium, iron, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, copper, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 and vitamin C.
Palmito is the central part of the upper trunk of several palms. It has a delicate, pleasant flavor and low calorie content. It is rich in fiber and mineral salts, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and vitamins.
With the extraction of the "palmito" the palm dies, thus the açaí (Euterpe oleraceae Martius) and Juçara (Euterpe edulis Martius) varieties, which have been widely exploited in the form of extraction, today present legal restrictions and risk of extinction. The sustainable alternative found to the production of "palmito" is the culture of the palm variety known as pupunheira (Bactris gasipaes Kunth), also in depressed areas of southeast Brazil.
Heart of palm is a very exotic "gourmet" type product and therefore has a
relatively high monetary value. This plant has a high fiber content.
and it lacks cholesterol. In addition, it contains high amounts of iron and calcium.
The hearts of palm are soft, ivory in color, firm in texture and flavor
delicate. They can be used in salads, ceviches, and even stir-fried or
fried as main.
These species of palms are grown mainly in Latin America, between Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay. It loves the humid, hot and rainy tropical climate.In recent years, production in Ecuador has also established itself.
We recall that the palmito represents a great ecological waste: from a large tree even 20 meters high it is possible to obtain not even a kilo of palmito. Some species of palms is then doomed to die.
The world's leading importer of palmito is France.
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