Macadamia

Australian walnut and its relationship with the Scottish chemist

Macadamia, also known as the Australian walnut, is an extremely tasty and nutritious meal that is useful both for adolescents and those who want to lower the level of cholesterol in their blood.



With a light hazelnut flavor and especially rich in protein and calcium, macadamia is a product that fits perfectly into any weight loss diet.

Macadamia (Macadamia ternifolia) is a tree cultivated in Australia and transported to many other countries. Macadamia is a tree reaching up to 15 meters high, with evergreen, shiny and sharp-toothed leaves.
It is characterized by the fact that different macadamia varieties bloom at different times and, depending on the time of flowering, the fruits ripen once or more times a year.

The fruit of these trees resembles the appearance of a walnut with a soft green flake which, on maturing, falls on its own. Below it is the very fruit bearing the name macadamia walnut.
Tinted in brown, it has a round shape and reaches a diameter of up to 3.5 cm. It is well known that the walnut shell is extremely hard and its removal is a serious challenge.A fact that determines the high price of the product.



As a tropical plant, macadamia requires fertile soil, year-round high temperatures, and relatively high humidity.

How many types of macadamia are known?

There are nine species of this family of evergreen trees that reach up to 18 m tall. But of these nine types of edible only two, the other seven are poisonous. However, the local population in Hawaii has been able to find an effective way to extract the poison.
The main disadvantage of the macadamia is the rapid processes of ranching, which require mechanical cleaning immediately after harvesting the nuts and subsequent sealing in order to preserve their beneficial and taste qualities.



Growing macadamia is a relatively difficult process - trees multiply by grafting, and in the first eight to ten years they do not yield any produce, and then provide a good harvest in the next hundred years.

Few of the history of the most expensive walnut in the world ...
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-two is the year the Australian walnut was transported to Hawaii. At first, it finds use as a decorative plant, then becomes one of the most popular products in Hawaii.



The name of the expensive nut is given by a Scottish chemist - John Macadam, who first tries to cultivate the plant.

Current history, however, gives him the second place. It is believed that the Aboriginal millenniums ago were aware of the valuable nutritional properties of macadamia, calling it the exotic name of a cinema.

Demand for nuts, as well as their consumption, is an extremely big and lucrative business, namely Hawaii is the one that provides more than half of the world production of Australian walnut. Subsequently, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, Costa Rica, Israel and the United States joined the producing countries.



Food composition of macadamia

The macadamia nut contains a very high amount of fatty acids (about 66 to 86%, depending on the type of macadamia), approximately 9% carbohydrates and about 9% proteins, nearly 2% fiber, group B and PP vitamins, and phosphorus, potassium, Sodium, selenium, iron, and calcium.

Macadamia oil contains approximately 22% omega-7-palmitic acid, with a well-expressed antioxidant effect. Experts say it has a major role in reducing cell aging processes.



Health Benefits of Macadamia Consumption

• Macadamia nuts help treat a migraine, bone diseases, and avitaminosis.
• Recommended for angina, arthritis, diseases of the urinary system.
• Consumption of 100 g of macadamia reduces the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood, an effect due to the high amount of unsaturated fatty acids.

Ideas for using macadamia

Macadamia is a product that is widely used in many areas of culinary art.
It can be successfully added to different sweets, fish, poultry, muesli or cottage cheese, garnished with enough fruit. It is also suitable for addition to protein blocks or for direct consumption - a handful of nuts are an ideal means of overcoming hunger between the main meals of the day.

Each of us strives to consume healthy and nutritious food. There is no doubt that macadamia is just that - an exotic delicacy that combines a unique taste with hazelnuts and a high amount of beneficial substances.