MY HERBARIUM Cupuaçu, generosity incarnate

It is all around us, it has been with us since our childhood, it is in our products and on our plates. Eva Dumaine, botanist, tells us about plants in her own words. And exceptional natural assets.

Its name alone invites you on a journey: “ coupouassou ", “ a joia da fioresta ", the jewel of the Amazonian forest. The first time I was told about it I thought it was a local dish! But I wasn’t far off as it is used in cooking as well as in cosmetics! Even though the first smoothie seduced my taste buds, it was when I put it under the microscope that I really fell in love with it! A fruit so full of goodness that it has been made into a festival.

It's a real love story between Brazilians and the Cupuaçu. A giant of infinite possibilities, this enormous fruit grows directly on the trunk of trees up to 20 metres high in the heart of the lush Amazonian forest. Its pods hide a creamy, fragrant pulp that is used to make juices, sorbets and cakes. The seeds are a treasure trove of medicinal and cosmetic properties that Brazilians have passed down for generations. Loaded with antioxidants, minerals and essential fatty acids, they help fight the effects of ageing on the skin and scalp. They are real fighters, blocking free radicals and preventing water from evaporating.

It is so loved in the land around Corcovado that every year in April, 300,000 festival-goers come to celebrate it in Presidente Figueiredo, in the heart of its forest. And it's worth the trip, even if you have two left feet like me. Small but mighty, the super fruit of this dwarf tree: behind its small size lies a real hero with strong shoulders, capable of fighting against the deforestation that threatens the Amazon. By encouraging its cultivation, Brazilians are maintaining a positive cycle that stabilises and regenerates the soil.