Ikako: what is this fruit and why is it useful?

Ikako is a tropical fruit called the golden or coconut plum. It is similar in appearance to other varieties of plums and also has many health benefits that allow it to be used for medicinal or cosmetic purposes.

What kind of fruit is it?

The golden plum (or ikako) belongs to the chrysobalan family. Despite their outward resemblance to the common, garden plum, they are two completely different fruits. Each fruit contains many healthful substances. Many different dishes are prepared from the golden plum, it is used in cosmetology and folk medicine.

Today, the coconut plum is increasingly chosen by gardeners as a fruit tree. This is due to the fact that the plant is unpretentious and does not require careful care.

What does it look like

Golden plum is a tree of small size, distinguished by a dense crown. The height of the plant can reach one meter. Often ikako grows in tropical latitudes near coastal areas. But today it is also cultivated in Russia.

The peculiarity of the plant is its resistance to salty soil. That is why it is used for planting near the shore. This allows not only to protect itself from the wind from the water, but also to decorate the area.

The way the golden plum grows can be compared to grapes. First of all, it is formed in bunches. Also the fruits, like grapes, ripen in late summer.

Ikako gets its name because of the golden color of the fruit. The flesh is distinguished by its pale yellow color. The fruit grows in clusters on the trees. The plum has a regular, rounded shape. When the fruit reaches full maturity, it has a tart and sweet taste with a slight sourness. The coconut plum has a large pit, from which the flesh is separated with difficulty.

Where does it grow

The ikako is native to Africa. The plant can also be found in America. It grows in coastal areas. The golden plum also grows in South America, the Bahamas, southern Florida, and the Caribbean islands.

Coconut plum is also grown for ornamental purposes. The plant likes moist soil, sandy shores and marshes.

The benefits of ikako

The fruit contains many useful trace elements, vitamins. Its composition includes potassium, calcium, magnesium. All of them have a positive effect on bone tissue and heart muscle.

The composition includes B vitamins, which have a complex effect on the body, help maintain the nervous, digestive, urinary system, the visual apparatus.

Thanks to all the constituent substances golden plum has the following beneficial properties:

1. Excretion of radionuclides. The process is facilitated by pectin, which also helps to remove salts, heavy metals.
2. Reducing cholesterol levels. Ikako allows you to lower the content of harmful cholesterol, which is deposited on the vascular walls and leads to circulatory disorders.
3. Restoration of water metabolism. Such a property is due to the presence of potassium in the composition.
4. Maintaining the efficiency of the heart muscle. It is positively influenced by magnesium and potassium.
5. Prevention and relief from constipation. Ikako contains a sufficient amount of fiber, which has a slight laxative effect.
6. Dilation of blood vessels and the prevention of thrombosis. This occurs through the effect of coumarin, which is part of the coconut plum.

The presence of certain components in the fruit helps to cope with diseases such as atherosclerosis and gout.

In addition, regular consumption of ikako helps to restore normal levels of insulin and blood sugar. This is why the fruit is recommended for diabetes.

But when using the golden plum, remember that it has a slight laxative effect. It should be given to children with caution.

Ikako even after heat treatment does not lose its useful properties. It can be canned, frozen. In this case, the amount of useful trace elements and vitamins almost does not change.

What harm can it do

Despite the fact that the golden plum brings invaluable benefits to the body due to its composition, in some cases it can cause harm.

First of all, it should not be eaten in the presence of individual intolerance. Specialists do not recommend to eat the fruit in large quantities to people who are not yet familiar with it, because an allergic reaction may occur. Most often it appears in the form of rash and redness of the skin surface, itching. But in severe cases, the allergy manifests itself as Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock. This is why you should try golden plums for the first time in small quantities, no more than one teaspoon of pulp. If there is no negative reaction, the amount is gradually increased.

Coconut plums also have a slight laxative effect, which is important to consider when giving the fruit to children and pregnant women.

It is not recommended to use ikako in dried form for people suffering from obesity. The juice of the fruit should be refused for gout and rheumatism.

When properly consumed, coconut plum will only bring benefits to the body, and negative effects will not occur.

How to eat ikako properly

Ikako is a tropical fruit, which not so long ago appeared on the shelves of large stores. That is why not everyone knows how to properly consume the golden plum.

The fruit is eaten fresh. Often ikako is also used to prepare various dishes. It is great for jelly or jam, as a filling for pies, a delicious addition to ice cream.

With its amazing flavor, coconut plums can help make desserts sweet, flavorful, and sour.

Where else is ikako used

The ikako is used in Africa to make natural black paint. The flesh of the fruit is used for this purpose. In places where the golden plum grows, the leaves, bark, and seeds are used. They are used to make soap and oils, candles and grease due to the high content of essential oils.

For the body benefit and leaves. They are used to make a healing tea. The drink helps cope with diseases of the bladder and kidneys.

In Africa, healers use the bark and leaves to prepare potions for diabetes, dysentery, and diarrhea. Some experts claim that the fruit helps reduce the risk of cancer, thanks to the special ingredients in the ikako.

Golden plum in cooking: what can be cooked

The fruit of the coconut plum is widely used in cooking for a variety of dishes. Ikako is often the main component in compotes, jams, and jams. To enhance the flavor and aroma of preserves, it is used to prepare marinades.

Golden plum is also used for baking. It is an excellent addition to pies. Ikako is also added to desserts.

The fruit is also frozen and pickled for the winter. For longer storage it can be dried. Shelf life of dried golden plums is 2 years if all the rules are followed. A popular dessert in the ikako homeland is made from salted dried plums.

In Japan, pickled plums are popular. Such a dish is called umeboshi. They are added when cooking rice balls, which gives the dish a special aroma, flavor, and adds sourness.

The following rules should be used when using golden plums in cooking:

1. The compote is made from large fruits. They contain more juice and pulp.
2. In jam, only fruits of equal ripeness are used.
3. Before stacking jam in jars it should be blanched to prevent sugaring or fermentation of the finished product.
4. For marinade take ripe and unripe fruits. They are well suited as an addition to poultry, meat dishes. Golden pickled plums are used in the preparation of pilaf.
5. Before using the fruit, the fruit is pierced with a toothpick in several places. This will help them maintain their proper round shape.
6. The ikako pips are usually removed before use in cooking. But they can also be present as a flavor and aroma enhancer.

Traditional medicinal uses

Ikako has also been widely used in folk medicine because of its rich composition. The most popular recipes are:

For colds.

Fruit contains a large number of vitamins. They help to support the body's defenses and prevent the development of complications. For this purpose, a special decoction is prepared from 10 g of tree bark and 750 ml of water. Everything is boiled over low heat for 10 minutes. Then the container with the solution is covered and allowed to stand for half an hour. After that, strain the decoction. Use throughout the day in small sips in a warm form.

From constipation

To eliminate stagnation in the intestines take 100 grams of golden plums, remove seeds, pour a glass of hot water. All insist, covering the container for an hour. Infusion is drunk warm. Fruits can also be consumed.

From pain in the lumbar spine

To eliminate pains in the lumbar region, a healing remedy is prepared from 25 g of golden plum pips. They are dried and ground into a powder. All poured a glass of vodka and leave for a week in a dark place. Use as a rubbing.

For calluses

Golden plum, previously cleaned of seeds, boiled heated milk. To the callus is applied hot fruit.

Before using the recipes of traditional medicine, you should make sure that there is no allergic reaction to the components included in the means. It is also important to remember that treatment should be comprehensive. Together with infusions, rubrics, use and medicines that are prescribed by the doctor.

Use in cosmetology

Due to the fact that ikako contains essential oils, vitamins and trace elements, it is also used in cosmetology. Golden plum is usually used to create facial masks. They can slow aging, remove fine lines and saturate the skin with vitamins.

Here are some popular masks.

For oily skin

Two plums are kneaded into a puree, add a teaspoon of protein, apple, carrots and white wine.

For wrinkles.

Mix honey and ikako pulp in equal parts, add an egg yolk. All mixed.

For freckles

The fruit is mashed to a pulp, add a teaspoon of onion juice and garlic. Infuse for 5 minutes and apply dotting.

Golden plum will help to return the natural color and luster to the skin, get rid of wrinkles and prolong youth.

How to grow

Icako can be grown in several ways. The most common is by using a seed. They are removed from the fruit, washed and dried. Then planted in seedpots or open ground.

The second way is more simple. It involves the use of a ready-made seedling. It can be purchased in specialized nurseries. Before planting in the ground, a place should be prepared. The distance between the trees should be at least 3 meters. The depth of planting the seedling is about 60 centimeters.

Immediately after planting a seedling or sapling, the soil should be regularly watered and fertilized. It should also be pruned and fertilized in a timely manner.

Ikako, or golden, coconut plum has recently been widely used in cooking, cosmetology, and folk medicine. Today it is grown in the central part and in the south of the country. The fruit is rich in vitamins, minerals, and the plant does not require special treatment. Once the plum is ripe, it can be consumed fresh, used to make jams, jams, marinades or frozen. But it is important to remember that you should not abuse it. In large quantities, the fruit can be harmful to the body. Golden plums are also given to children with caution. Ikako will bring benefits if you consume it correctly.

Photo of ikako fruit