Considered to be the world’s most delightful nuts, macadamia nuts are small, crispy buttery flavored nuts loved by many of us. They are nuts from the macadamia trees, that are grown in tropical climates and in soil rich in minerals like potassium and phosphorus. Apart from being delicious, these nuts are good sources of protein and minerals and are considered to be an essential nutritional component in many diets and recipes. These nuts are sweeter and larger than many nuts and can be consumed either raw from the shell, dry roasted or cooked in oil. Macadamia nuts are a high energy food, commonly used in preparations of cakes, confectionery, ice cream, salads, roasts and casseroles to enhance the savor.
| Name | Macadamia nut |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Macadamia integrifolia |
| Native | Native to coastal rainforests of central eastern Australia. |
| Common/English Name | Australian Bush Nut, Bauple Nut, Bopple Nut, Bush Nut, Macadamia Nut, Nut Oak, Queensland Nut; Smooth Macadamia, Smooth-Shelled Macadamia, Smooth-Shelled Queensland-Nut. |
| Name in Other Languages | Chinese : Ao Zhou Jian Guo Taiwan : Ao Zhou Hu Tao Czech : Makadámie Celolistá Portuguese : Macadâmia French : Macadamia À Coque Lisse Swedish : Macadamia German : Australische Haselnuß Spanish : Macadamia Hungarian : Makadámdió Russian : Avstralijskij Orech Japanese : Kuinsurandonatto Nattsu Slovašcina : Makadamija Eastonian : Tervelehine Makadaamia |
| Plant Growth Habit | Evergreen tree |
| Growing Climate | Grows in a mild, frost-free climate with abundant rainfall distributed throughout the year |
| Soil | Deep, well drained, moist soil rich in organic matter and sandy loams. |
| Plant Size | 20 m |
| Root | Deep tap root and relatively few lateral roots |
| Trunk | Diameter of 30 cm |
| Leaf | Usually in whorls of 3, pale green or bronze when young becoming dark green; petiole 4–18 mm. Lamina is simple, narrow-elliptical to oblanceolate, 10–30 cm long, leathery, base attenuate, margin irregularly spiny toothed when young becoming smooth, entire, apex acute to obtuse and sometimes retuse. |
| Flower | Creamy white, zygomorphic, bisexual, apetalous, scented, borne in groups of 3 or 4 along a long axis in pendant axillary racemes. |
| Fruit Shape & Size | Globular follicle, with an apical horn, 25 mm diameter, consisting of a fleshy green pericarp 3 mm thick, enclosing a globular to broadly ovoid smooth-testa seed |
| Fruit Color | Green pericarp enclosing globular brown seed |
| Fruit Skin | Hard brown |
| Flesh Color | Creamy White |
| Flavor/Aroma | Nutty aroma |
| Taste | Sweet in taste |
| Seed | Seed is 20–30 mm across, hard, brown, smooth |
| Varieties/Types |
|
| Major Nutrition | Total Fat (lipid) 101.53 g (290.09%) Manganese, Mn 5.536 mg (240.70%) Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) 1.601 mg (133.42%) Copper, Cu 1.013 mg (112.56%) Iron, Fe 4.94 mg (61.75%) Magnesium, Mg 174 mg (41.43%) Phosphorus, P 252 mg (36.00%) Total dietary Fiber 11.5 g (30.26%) Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 0.368 mg (28.31%) Threonine 0.496 g (28.18%) Isoleucine 0.421 g (25.18%) Valine 0.486 g (23.01%) Leucine 0.807 g (21.83%) Protein 10.6 g (21.20%) Histidine 0.261 g (21.19%) Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 3.314 mg (20.71%) Tryptophan 0.09 g (20.45%) Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) 1.016 mg (20.32%) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.217 mg (16.69%) Zinc, Zn 1.74 mg (15.82%) Carbohydrate 18.52 g (14.25%) Calcium, Ca 114 mg (11.40%) Potassium, K 493 mg (10.49%) |
| Health Benefits |
|
| Calories in 1 cup (134 gm) | 962 K cal |