Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) originated in the tropical forests of Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela. The Brazil nut tree has hardly been domesticated, and hence nearly all nuts are harvested by hand from wild trees. Indigenous peoples in South America ate Brazil nuts from their forests. Europeans first encountered them in the sixteenth century. The earliest known shipment of Brazil nuts to the United States occurred in 1810, when a small quantity was exported to New York. Larger quantities were imported after the Civil War. By 1873, 3 million pounds of Brazil nuts were imported into the United States. Large, meaty Brazil nuts, which are very high in fat, are eaten raw, roasted, and salted and are an important component in mixed nuts. They are used in bakery and confectionery items.