Yes, this is a little bit of a quirky article…
And as you can see there are a number of parts to a palm
tree… and yes, this has all come about because of some
inquiries in this direction!
While it’s true that nearly every palm fruit can be eaten,
personally, it is not recommend you do so unless you know
what to do. And that’s because in most cases, the fibrous,
mostly inedible seed coating surrounding the nut or seed is all
that constitutes the fruit of the ‘ornamental’ palms.
To start with you’ll soon discover that like other trees, palms
generate fruit from flowers. Each of the fruit’s one, two, or
three seeds is protected by a hard, woody shell and has a
kernel that is typically compact and rigid, with or without a
central cavity; and the kernel may be quite fibrous.
And then you have this… that some palm fruits can be unpleasant and inedible due to the presence of
calcium oxalate crystals. Many palm fruits are barely edible raw, or after cooking, but only a select few
varieties are good enough to be eaten like for example a plum, peach, or mango.
Okay, so let’s focus on some of the best palms that potentially can produce edible fruits; these are also
referred to or known as dessert fruits. Emphasis is placed on the five palms listed below, since they all have
fruit that can be eaten. Important Note: Despite the date palm’;s exceptional quality and considerable
economic and social relevance, it is not included in this discussion.
Palm Trees as a Source of Fruit.
Worldwide in special places, particularly in any warm, tropical region, palms mostly always are a stunning
and distinctive part of landscape. Some Palm trees produce the wonderful coconut and then others their
date fruits.
1. Coconuts and Coconut Palms:
They can be found flourishing in the tropics everywhere there is sandy soil, plenty of sunshine, warm to hot
temperatures, and high humidity. And due to extensive consumption of its fruit, this palm has become one
of the most well-known species.
Did you know that the coconut is not a nut but referred to as a ‘drupe’, a type of fruit having a fleshy layer?
2. The Date Palm and Its Fruit:
Dates, those delicious fruits of the Date Palm; firstly are high in fibre, sweet and healthy nutrients and are
produced specifically for their fruit. They have been referenced frequently in books such as the Bible and
have been a Middle Eastern staple for many generations, and are said to have originated in the Persian
Gulf region, yet you can now find them anywhere there’s a temperate to tropical environment.
Conclusion.
As was said, nearly every palm fruit can be eaten raw or after cooking, but only a select few are of good
enough quality to be eaten like a plum, peach, or mango. Yet, some palm fruits can be unpleasant and
inedible due to calcium oxalate crystals, despite being among the very few palm fruits known to be
harmful.
And with the coconut palms, the water is a delicious and healthy beverage because of the high levels of
sugar, vitamins, minerals, and fibre it contains. Coconut is one of the most adaptable fruits, with a wide
variety of uses throughout cultures.
Date palms are said to have originated in the Persian Gulf, but can now be found in any region with a
temperate to tropical environment and are excellent for anything from basket-weaving to fans, and are
also employed in creating sheltering houses. And then there’s Palm oil, which can be extracted from the
fleshy fruit in. Whilst jelly and jam can be made from the fruit without the addition of any additional pectin
or solidifiers due to its naturally high Pectin content.
The fruits of a surprising number of palm species are widely valued, with some being crucial to the survival
of entire communities. Although coconuts and dates are the most common palm-harvested fruits, there
are many additional delights we are missing out on by not trying them. They also grow anywhere from sea
level to roughly 900+ meters (about 3,000 feet).
Trust all this has been of some interest!
As you’ve read before, ABC Palms is committed to the palms business…
Which means for you, that’s for all your palm servicing and purchasing (and if possible your selling) needs;
and as such it’s suggested that it may be best for you to receive an obligation free estimate of what can be
done for your palm tree(s) and their needs.
Because of this, ABC Palms invites you to contact us at inquiries@abcpalms.com or call on 0477 002 110
for your free no-obligation assessment and quote.
