Sacha Inchi Nuts One of the Superfoods of the Amazon
Plukenetia volubilis, commonly known a sacha inchi, sacha peanut, mountain peanut or Inca-peanut, is a perennial plant with somewhat hairy leaves. In indigenous amazonian language “Sacha” means “looks like” and “inchi” means “nuts” – literally “looks like a nut” – although they are actually toasted seeds. The virtues of Sacha Inchi have been known by the indigenous peoples of Peru for many generations. Long revered as the “Inca nut”, lithographs recovered from Incan pottery suggest a tradition of Sacha Inchi use that extends back thousands of years.
Chancas Indians and other tribal groups of the region extract oil from the seeds which is used for the preparation of various meals. Roasted seeds and cooked leaves are also an important component of their diets.
Sacha Inchi seeds produce an extraordinary quantity of oil, yielding nearly 50% of their initial mass as high-quality raw oil. An analysis of the EFA (Essential Fatty Acid) profile of Sachi Inchi reveals balanced lipids with significant amounts of Omega 3, 6, and 9. Sacha Inchi is also rich in protein, fiber, antioxidant Vitamins A (Beta Carotene) and Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocopherol). Sacha Inchi is highly digestible and it contains no additives, preservatives or cholesterol.
Sacha Inchi Nuts have a crisp nutty flavor. The nut is not overpowering when used with other food buts still give you that added benefit of being high in Omegas.
If you want to try Sacha Inchi but do not want to try the seeds you can also try our Sacha Inchi Oil. All the same benefits, but can be used in baking and other cooking applications.
