Author Topic: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)  (Read 7970 times)

fruitlovers

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First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« on: April 24, 2016, 07:17:49 AM »
I've been fruiting this one for a while but hadn't tried eating any of them till today. The exterior is a bit hard to crack. It is spongy, kind of like tropical almond (Terminalia catapa). I did finally crack it with a hammer. The interior is much bigger than tropical almond, or even regular almond, so more than worth the work. The taste was sweet, crunchy, and juicy. Quite good even in raw state. All in all quite worth growing, especially given the tree is very ornamental, and the long spiked flowers spectacular.



Sorry did not take any photos of interior of fruit as i ended up smashing the nut with the hammer.
Oscar

gunnar429

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2016, 09:50:25 AM »
any damage from squirrels and other vermin trying to get at the nuts?  Also, will you be selling seeds of this species?
~Jeff

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HIfarm

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2016, 01:24:07 PM »
Thanks for posting, Oscar.  How long did it take for them to start to bear?

I've got a few planted but ran one over with the bush hog the other day -- hope it recovers...

John

fruitlovers

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2016, 06:39:28 PM »
any damage from squirrels and other vermin trying to get at the nuts?  Also, will you be selling seeds of this species?
We don't have squirrels here....thank the powers that be!  8) Will add them to my seed list once the tree starts producing enough. Planted 2 trees, but one died out. So only have one tree that is about 8 years old. It's been producing for 3-4 years.
Oscar

fruitlovers

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2016, 06:41:37 PM »
Thanks for posting, Oscar.  How long did it take for them to start to bear?

I've got a few planted but ran one over with the bush hog the other day -- hope it recovers...

John
Like i posted above, they took 4-5 years to start fruiting. Big problem here has been rose beetles. They really like this plant, especially when it is young.
Oscar

fruitlovers

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2016, 03:00:22 AM »
Flower spike is very fragrant and attracts bees:

Oscar

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2016, 03:23:54 AM »
Very beautiful indeed and big size nuts.!
Søren
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HIfarm

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2016, 11:49:30 AM »
I am assume that this is "fragrant" in a good way.   :)  Is the fragrance very localized or does it travel a good distance?  I knew the flowers were showy so I planted mine so that they are nearby my house, maybe I'll have the added bonus of fragrance as well.

John

Flower spike is very fragrant and attracts bees:


fruitlovers

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2016, 06:43:14 PM »
I am assume that this is "fragrant" in a good way.   :)  Is the fragrance very localized or does it travel a good distance?  I knew the flowers were showy so I planted mine so that they are nearby my house, maybe I'll have the added bonus of fragrance as well.

John

Flower spike is very fragrant and attracts bees:

Yes nice sweet fragrance. You don't have to have your nose right at the flowers to smell them, but doesn't carry very long distance like night scented jessamine or ylang ylang.
Oscar

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2016, 12:57:24 AM »
Thanks for the review and pics, I wasn't 100% sure if it could be eaten raw, Glad you clarified.

I have one, not sure how old but its about 2 feet tall, Bought it from 7heads on ebay.  The leaves are also beautiful they feel like leather.  Ive noticed this is the most cold sensitive plant i have, it had some leaf burn at 50F but it could have also been the 25 degree temp change within a couple hours. Either way its sensitive.

fruitlovers

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2016, 01:22:19 AM »
Thanks for the review and pics, I wasn't 100% sure if it could be eaten raw, Glad you clarified.

I have one, not sure how old but its about 2 feet tall, Bought it from 7heads on ebay.  The leaves are also beautiful they feel like leather.  Ive noticed this is the most cold sensitive plant i have, it had some leaf burn at 50F but it could have also been the 25 degree temp change within a couple hours. Either way its sensitive.
No problem eating this one raw. Have to be careful with this genus as there are species that are poisonous, like the Barringtonia asiatica. Also known as fish poison tree, often used here along coast as an ornamental tree.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barringtonia_asiatica

The cut nut trees can be very productive:



They are also handsome upright trees that don't take much space:
Oscar

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2016, 01:51:47 AM »
I wasn't really interested, but now I'm :). Unusual and very handsome tree Oscar!

Edit: which common nut would be closest in flavor: walnut, peanut, etc...?
« Last Edit: April 26, 2016, 02:07:55 AM by DurianLover »

fruitlovers

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2016, 03:34:51 AM »
I wasn't really interested, but now I'm :). Unusual and very handsome tree Oscar!

Edit: which common nut would be closest in flavor: walnut, peanut, etc...?
Raw I'd put it closer to a water chestnut. Might be quite different if roasted. I haven't tried roasting them yet.
Oscar

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2016, 04:09:03 AM »
Great Picture Oscar, Beautiful tree.

PahoaJo

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2016, 05:05:13 AM »
Oscar, do you ever do tours of your place? I'm amazed by everything you grow.

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #15 on: April 26, 2016, 05:55:22 AM »
Oscar, do you ever do tours of your place? I'm amazed by everything you grow.
Don't do a lot of tours, because as you might guess i'm busy doing lots of other work. Occasionally will do tours for groups of people, or on special occasions.
Oscar

nullzero

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #16 on: April 26, 2016, 12:00:14 PM »
Oscar,

You think you will be offering seeds next year on tree?
Grow mainly fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

EvilFruit

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #17 on: April 26, 2016, 04:58:44 PM »
Congratulation Oscar. These yummy seeds must be rich in protein.

I have several seedlings from this plant and they can withstand heat quite nicely.
Moh'd

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #18 on: April 26, 2016, 05:48:34 PM »
Oscar,

You think you will be offering seeds next year on tree?
Maybe. I will see how well it produces. It's nice to see an interest. Honestly i didn't have much interest in it myself till i cracked and tasted that first nut.  ;D
Btw, this nut is produced commercially on a small scale i believe in Fiji, and also in Papua New Guinea.
Oscar

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #19 on: April 27, 2016, 08:45:36 PM »
Thank you for this thread - all I needed was yet ANOTHER rare (at least in this part of the world) plant to get hooked on to add to my endless list of cool things I really, really, really want... This one seems to have an awful lot of positives that really sell it to me. I'm not sure where it would fit in to my landscape, but I'm sure I would find a place if I got the chance!

shaneatwell

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #20 on: April 27, 2016, 10:05:00 PM »
Cool Oscar. Any idea of cold sensitivity?
Shane

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #21 on: April 27, 2016, 10:19:14 PM »
Cool Oscar. Any idea of cold sensitivity?
Very cold and humidity sensitive in my experience

fruitlovers

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Re: First Tasting of Cut Nut (Barringtonia edulis)
« Reply #22 on: April 28, 2016, 12:28:32 AM »
Cool Oscar. Any idea of cold sensitivity?

I don't know, but would guess they are ultra tropical due to ultra tropical lands of origin.
Oscar