Would you like to know a food that is rich in protein, carbohydrates, calcium and iron? A food that can be consumed in many ways and that also has medicinal and environmental properties? Well, let me introduce you to the Porotón o Chachafruto, a legume that grows in the temperate climates of South America and is considered a superfood for its multiple benefits.
Porotón is a legume that grows on a tree native to South America, especially in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Porotón is the fruit of the Erythrina edulis tree, which can reach up to 25 meters in height and produces large pods containing white bean-like seeds. These seeds can be eaten cooked or fried, or can be processed to make cakes, arepas, meringues, ice cream, juices, coladas, custards, jams and more. Its flavor is pleasant and its nutritional value is impressive: it contains 21% protein (more than most legumes), 51% carbohydrates (a good source of energy), 16 mg of calcium (good for bones), 78 mg of phosphorus (good for the brain) and iron (good for the blood). It also has vitamins C, B1, B2 and niacin.
But the porotón not only feeds people but also animals. Its leaves and branches are excellent fodder for cattle and sheep because of their high protein content (up to 28%). It can also be used as a living fence to delimit paddocks and provide shade for animals. In addition, porotón helps protect soils from erosion due to its deep root system and its ability to fix nitrogen.
Porotón also has traditional medicinal uses. The water from the decoction of the flowers is used to relieve eye irritation. The decoction of the seeds is used to cure cystitis or difficulty urinating. And the ground seeds are applied on wounds to heal them.
The chachafruto is an ancient tree that was cultivated by the Incas and other Andean cultures. Today it is still cultivated in countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela. It is a species native to the inter-Andean valleys of northern South America where it grows between 1300 and 2600 meters above sea level.
I hope you liked this article about the chachafruit. If you have tried it or want to try it, leave me a comment below. And if you found it interesting share it with your friends on social networks.
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