Barùkas nuts (occasionally referred to as baru nuts in Brazil) grow in the savanna ecoregion of Brazil known as the “Cerrado”. Baru nuts are very high in protein with 24% of their weight being highly digestible protein, and they contain essential fatty-acids and antioxidants. They have fewer calories and fat than other traditional nuts and are also very rich in fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium and zinc. We decided to try some of these even though Rita who is from Brazil had never heard of them. The nuts are similar in shape to a pine nut but are larger and with a brown papery skin.
The nuts are very crunchy and not at all mealy like a Brazil nut. The flavor is reminiscent of peanuts and cashews and I thought they had a slight coffee or mocha flavor as well. Rita and Alex did not like them saying that they were not terrible but not something they would go back to either.
Not my favorite nut either but not bad for a change of pace.
