Theobroma grandiflorum, commonly known as cupuaçu (pronounced koo-poo-ah-SOO), is a tropical fruit tree native to the Amazon rainforest, especially in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia. It's a close relative of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao).
🌱 Overview
Family: Malvaceae (previously Sterculiaceae)
Genus: Theobroma
Common Name: Cupuaçu
Native Range: Amazon Basin
Growth Habit: Small to medium-sized tree, typically 5–20 meters tall
🌸 Flowers
Cupuaçu trees produce small, fragrant, creamy white to pinkish flowers.
The flowers are pollinated primarily by small insects, especially midges.
🍈 Fruit
Shape: Oval or oblong, like a cacao pod
Size: 20–25 cm long, weighing up to 1–2 kg
Rind: Thick and brown, leathery texture
Pulp: Creamy, fragrant, tangy, and sweet — often described as a mix of chocolate, pineapple, and banana
Seeds: Large and numerous, similar to cacao seeds
Liqueur
🌿 Uses
Culinary:
The pulp is used in juices, ice cream, candies, jams, and desserts.
Cupuaçu butter (from seeds) is rich in fatty acids and used as a substitute for cocoa butter in chocolate-like products.
Cosmetic:
Cupuaçu butter is valued in skincare for its moisturizing and emollient properties.
🌍 Ecological & Economic Importance
Often grown in agroforestry systems in Brazil.
Increasingly popular in international markets for both food and cosmetics.
Promotes biodiversity-friendly cultivation in Amazonian communities.
