Lucuma (Loo-Ku-Mah) is a popular South American fruit with a full-bodied maple and butterscotch flavor and a rich, orange/yellow pulp like a cross between sweet potato and avocado. Honored both spiritually and culinarily in Peru since ancient times, it is rarely left out of celebrations and is an extremely versatile and tasty ingredient which is used extensively in ice creams, baby food, yogurts, pies, cakes, cookie fillings and desserts.
Reintroduced to North America in 1989 by the definitive book "Lost Crops of the Incas," lucuma has become a popular health food ingredient used in smoothies and RAW desserts. It imparts sweetness and flavor while adding a dose of beta carotene, fiber, and complex carbohydrates—so it provides long-lasting energy without spiking your blood sugar.
Visit our Organic Lucuma Farm with CEO Kipp Stroden
About Lucuma
• Remarkable concentrations of antioxidant beta-carotene, niacin, calcium, and iron
• Excellent source of complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals
• Low-glycemic: only 2 grams of natural fruit sugar for every 11 grams of carbohydrate
• Dried & powder fruit for use in smoothies and dessert recipes
• Adds Maple and Butterscotch flavor
• Adds mild low-glycemic sweetness
Usage Notes : Lucuma Powder For added flavor and low-glycemic sweetness, add a tablespoon to smoothies or hot chocolate, or
experiment with recipes for homemade ice cream, yogurt, pies, cakes, cookies, and nut milks.
The Essential Living Foods Difference
Direct from the source—a pristine, certified organic farm just south of Lima, Peru—this lucuma powder is grown on a mixed product farm, which provides soil balance, food source diversity, and naturally reduces insect problems. All workers are paid according to fair trade practices. Processing the lucuma in Peru creates jobs and benefits their local economy.
Processing
During peak ripeness, fresh lucuma fruits are harvested and transported to an organic and NOP certified processing facility, where the fruit is washed, skinned and the seeds and flesh are separated by hand. The lucuma flesh is sliced and placed in a low-temp drier kept between 104 and 122F.
Once the dried lucuma reaches the optimum moisture level, it is machine-ground to a fine powder and sealed in moisture-proof bags for shipping to our facility.
Contents & Benefits
Like many tree fruits, lucuma is a great source of antioxidant vitamins, fiber, minerals, and carbohydrates. Like carrots and sweet potatoes, lucuma flesh is a deep orange/yellow color due to its high levels of antioxidant beta-carotene. It's also particularly noted for providing niacin, calcium, and iron.
Because lucuma provides only 2 grams of fruit sugars for every 11 grams of carbohydrate, it's considered an excellent source of complex carbohydrates and an tasty low-glycemic addition to smoothies and desert recipes.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, nor is this information meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or
prevent any disease.
