Ice cream grows on trees in the tropics!

Even though I did not grow this in my garden (one of my customers brought it to me at work) I thought I would  share it with you.   It grows on a very large tree, and is part of the legume family, so fixes nitrogen into the soil. It is called the ice cream bean.
 You twist it to crack the hard shell open and inside are fluffy white pods that fit together perfectly.
Here you can see how big the seed is - you just eat the fluffy coating around the seed, and the best I can describe it is like candy floss but not so sweet.  Quite refreshing.
 Some of the seeds are already sprouting, but this is a huge tree so I wont be growing any in my garden....

Since it is so hot and humid here I popped some into the fridge to see how they would be cold, and they do taste good cold.  I don't think they taste like ice cream though even when cold.
Funnily enough, I had been thinking of ice cream since I discovered a very tasty recipe for banana chocolate ice cream on a blog I follow littleecofootprints and think this might be my very favourite thing this summer to beat the heat. She just takes frozen banana, plain yogurt and honey and blends it together  I love ice cream, but not the sugar and fat (not to mention the other undesirables that make it creamy and yummy)  that comes along with it.   Gosh I am thinking of some of my frozen lychees, mixed with my home made nonfat yoghurt and a little honey if necessary.
Funny how being hot and humid leads to thoughts of ice cream, but being part of the world of blogging can make that a healthy treat!

Comments

  1. GigaFri Dec 16, 08:24:00 PM

    Bardzo ciekawe drzewo i owoce. Sama bym spróbowała tej "waty". Pozdrawiam

    ReplyDelete
  2. BernieHFri Dec 16, 08:54:00 PM

    I've heard of this plant but never actually seen one up close. What a fascinating thing it is. I wonder who decided it should be called the ice cream bean? Love the sound of that banana ice-cream, and your version ... lychee! Both would go down very well in this heat.

    ReplyDelete
  3. KimSat Dec 17, 10:31:00 AM

    Thanks for this post. With all the unseasonal rain we have been getting this year on the farm, the kids have been asking to plant this tree ( mainly because it is called the 'icecream 'bean I think) . I think there is a chocolate one too, and that is the one they have really been asking about!
    Might have to have a go , even though we aren't all that tropical!

    ReplyDelete
  4. TriciaSat Dec 17, 01:38:00 PM

    That fruit sounds delicious! almost as delicious as your frozen lychee icecream!

    Thank you for linking to my banana icecream recipe. I too LOVE shopping at honesty stalls. We're forever stopping when we drive in the country. We're actually off now....for a quick overnight camping trip. I wonder what honesty stalls i'll see.

    ReplyDelete
  5. StellamarinaSat Dec 17, 08:14:00 PM

    I saw a lot of these trees in Tahiti and nearby islands last month while there. Tree originally from South Ameria.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Malay-Kadazan girlSat Dec 17, 08:25:00 PM

    Interesting this is the first time I heard about this legume. I think about ice cream a lot this week too:).

    ReplyDelete
  7. Norma ChangSat Dec 17, 10:40:00 PM

    An interesting tree. The things nature provides us. I think you will like my 2 persimmons posts.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lorraine @ Not Quite NigellaMon Dec 19, 04:31:00 PM

    I really wanted to try this when I was visiting FNQ but alas it wasn't ripe when I was there. It sounds like a fascinating fruit!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Akika (Ichigo Shortcake)Mon Dec 19, 05:43:00 PM

    That's so interesting! It looks like cotton candy XD

    ReplyDelete
  10. africanaussieTue Dec 20, 08:13:00 AM

    Giga,
    yes we do get some very interesting fruits here.
    Bernie,
    It is hot isn't it? This is the first fruit I have seen - I think they are only grown where you have lots of space. thank you for the Christmas card!
    Kim,
    really? chocolate ice cream bean! I think the kids are pulling your leg, unless they are talking about the black sapote also called the chocolate pudding fruit. I do like those - will have to do a post on those in the new year.
    Tricia,
    It always gives me a warm fuzzy feeling when I stop at farm stalls - hope you had a good trip.
    Stellamarina,
    Tahiti? gosh it is amazing how much of our fruit originated in South America.
    Malay Kadazan,
    I guess it is that time of year for us when ice cream is on our minds.
    Norma Chang,
    thanks for commenting, yes I have tried persimmons and like most tropical fruit has to be very ripe before eating.
    Lorraine,
    as with most tropical fruit it doesn't keep well. One people that hang in for the sticky summer get the rewards!
    Akika,
    it does!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Solitude RisingWed Dec 21, 06:56:00 AM

    I've never seen or heard of this plant before, tts very fascinating.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love interacting with all my readers, thank you for your comments. Have a great day!

Popular posts from this blog

Up-cycling fabrics

Image
   In our hot and humid climate, jeans are not big movers in our op shop.  We had a $1 a pair sale rack, and still have full racks..... so I decided to make up a few different bags to see if we can somehow save these items from landfill.  Re-fashioning those items into something useful.  I made a few variations just to try out the market and sold this one on the first day they were put out! Each one is individual, depending on what fabric I have available. I tend to lay things out, and then just play around a bit.   Here I am laying out all the options before I start sewing.  I have joined a facebook group which is so inspirational and supportive.      Up-Cycled Cloth Collective | Facebook So often, it is just a case of seeing what is there, and then using it in the best way possible.  I was excited to find this tote bag, which was perfect as the lining of a bag for a teenager. this was also snapped up quickly. The bags were hu...
Read more

I have something to tell you.....

Image
Come on in to my garden.... I have something to tell you  Sit down in the comfy chair  for a little while, and listen to the tinkling of the wind chimes - are you relaxed? Good!  Remember how I entered that garden competition, and the judges came, and they wandered down my paths, taking photos?  Yes! I won runner up! a Fifty dollar gift card ........ from a real nursery, not the big box store that I normally shop at.  Oh gosh, how exciting.... I wonder what I will buy? Thank you Cairns Regional Council!
Read more

Garden share collective June 2014

Image
Once again another month has rolled by and it is time to link up with  Lizzie at   strayedtable  for our monthly collective where we share what has happened in our gardens for the last month and what we hope to be working on for the next month.  Wrapping up May and heading into June. Last month I wanted to work on: Seed tape .... I did make seed tape, and did a tutorial on the processs - you can see it  here.   It was fun, and worked well, expecially with kids. Mostly though I see a space and throw a few seeds in.  I can see myself doing it at the beginning of a planting season. Worms . .... I have been adding a little of the worm castings every time I plant something, and as a side dressing when plants seem to need a bit of a boost.  It does seem to help. Sitting .... plenty of that - I like the new (original) location of the swing where we have a long view of the garden. - veggie garden is just around that corner.... Eat veggies ...
Read more