Content
- The Kemirinuss fruit of the light walnut tree
- No nut but a drupe
- This is how the Kemirinuss tastes
- Uses of Kemirinuss
- The light walnut - a spurge plant
- Can Kemirin nuts be grown in Germany?
- Tips & Tricks
The Kemirinuss fruit of the light walnut tree
Light nut trees are planted from New Zealand to India. The trees carry drupes whose seeds are called Kemirinuss. In Germany the fruits are still relatively unknown.In Southeast Asia, they are valued for their taste-enhancing effect and as an additional source of light.
No nut but a drupe
The Kemirinuss is not - as the name suggests - a nut, but a stone fruit that grows on the light walnut tree. It is up to five inches long and has a spherical shape.
Often it is mistaken for the macadamia nut, because it looks similar to this and is also very large. The two fruits have nothing else in common.
Under the dark shell is the whitish flesh, in each of which two cores, the kemiri nuts, are embedded.
This is how the Kemirinuss tastes
The taste is described as sweet with a nutty undertone. Due to the high amount of fat, the fruit has an unpleasant oily aftertaste.
Uses of Kemirinuss
The seeds are not just a seasoning or a snack. They contain a lot of oil. The fruits can be lit and then serve as a lamp replacement. This usage also explains the name of the tree.
In Indonesia, kemir nuts are used primarily for thickening food. The fruits can be used for many purposes:
The light walnut - a spurge plant
The light walnut tree is an evergreen tree that can reach a height of 20 meters. Striking is his broad treetop. The leaves can grow up to 25 centimeters long.
Can Kemirin nuts be grown in Germany?
Light nut trees thrive in tropical climates up to a height of 1,200 meters. They are heat loving and tolerate no frost.
In Germany, the climatic conditions are therefore not suitable to grow these trees. At best, light nut trees can be kept in the greenhouse.
However, the use of the fruit has not yet prevailed here.
Tips & Tricks
Because of their hydrocyanic acid content, raw kemirin nuts are poisonous. When consumed raw, the pits cause severe abdominal cramping, vomiting and diarrhea. By roasting the poison is neutralized and the fruit can be processed into a snack or ground as a spice.