The brazil nut tree is grown for it's edible seeds. The brazil trees are among the largest of trees in the Amazon Rainforests, and grows high up to 100 feet. These trees can live upto 500 years and more.The fruit of the tree is a large capsule with round shape, which is size about 6 inches in diameter, and weighing around 2 kg(4-5 pounds). The outer skin of the fruit is a hard woody shell, which has thickness about 0.5 inch (8 to 12 mm). The capsule contains a small hole at one end. The inside of the fruit capsule contains about 8 to 24 3-sided angular nuts, each with size about 4 to 5 cm long, and are packed compfortably very similar to that of the segments of an orange. The shell of each of these individual 3-sided angular thin nuts are woody and, are fully filled with a white and creamy kernel.
Brazil nuts are often substituted for macadamia nuts and sometimes coconuts in recipes. An oil pressed from these nuts are used as a lubricant in clocks, for making artist's paints, and also in the cosmetics industry.
Nutrition facts: The Brazil nuts are rich in lipid and protein content.
Other facts: Brazil nuts are contains barium and small amounts of radioactive radium. The shell of the nuts contains high levl of aflatoxins, which can lead to liver cancer; and hence restrictions imposed for importing to some countries.
[image: a cut open view of brazil nut pod]
