Seeds of the Barùkas fruit
It’s always fun to discover new superfoods. While the Baru Nuts (or seeds from the Barùkas fruit) aren’t new to nature, they haven’t been in the market all that long.
There’s so much to learn about these roasted Baru seeds (nuts/seeds…the packaging seems to use the terms interchangeably).
First, the nutritional value is exceptional. They have 25% fewer fat calories than other nuts, and…
6 grams of protein per serving with all essential amino acids
3x more antioxidants than other nuts
more fiber and loads of micronutrients (e.g. magnesium).
All that information is according to an article from the Daily Harvest Express. The packaging claims on the Baru Nuts we purchased indicate they are a good source of fiber, protein, iron and zinc. One serving (1/4 cup) gives you 7 grams of protein, 6 grams of carbs, and 4 grams of fiber. Keto-friendly? Check. Paleo-friendly? Check. Vegan? Check.
Additionally, and probably the most fascinating part of the Baruzerior tree that produces the Barùkas fruit is that it’s wild grown, found in “the Cerrado, a 500 million acre region (that’s 3x bigger than Texas for reference) of Brazil that is regarded as the most biologically rich savanna in the world.” (DHE)
The tap roots of this tree are so deep, it requires zero irrigation. So growing these nuts takes no water, the tree creates its own fertilizer via the biological process of “nitrogen fixation”, and it produces superfood for people. IMBHO-yes!
These nuts may be nature’s gift to humankind. Many say the flavor of the nut is somewhere between a cashew and a peanut, but we found the taste was more like peanuts. They are definitely crunchy, but we absolutely loved them in their roasted form (no salt). Also, the package claims these nuts are produced in a peanut-free facility.
The company:
Tio Berto Inc. is the company behind the baru nuts we tried. Finding information on this company was difficult. The website glosses over the company in the About section, so we did some additional research. According to the Justia Trademarks website, Tio Berto filed for its trademark in April 2020, where it states the company sells “processed nut oils for food and pastes; dried fruit and vegetable extracts for use in prepared meals or food”. It is a Quebec, Canada company.
From there we found more information through the serial number, where it lists its goods and services as “unprocessed and raw edible seeds and unprocessed and raw berries and nuts, namely, acai berries, baru nuts, brazil nuts”.
So the company is still a bit of a mystery, which doesn’t really suit our curious nature. Still—the Baru nuts are good. The company has received 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon, which is where we purchased our nuts for $12.35 (10 oz).
