Inga laurina
Grown from seedling
Technically, a legume, the Inga laurina is a very rare type of ice-cream bean in Australia - Inga edulis is much more often found in our part of the world.
Surrounding the inedible black seeds is a thick white juicy pulp which has the texture of cotton candy and tastes very much like vanilla ice-cream.
Generally consumed when the pods have turned into shades of yellow-brown - the flesh can be eaten straight from the pod, also used to sweeten and flavour many various foods.
The seeds are toxic when eaten raw, but quite nutritious and safe to eat when fully cooked.
The longest pod ever recorded reached 2.07 meters long.
Native to Central and South America.
Grown from seedling
Technically, a legume, the Inga laurina is a very rare type of ice-cream bean in Australia - Inga edulis is much more often found in our part of the world.
Surrounding the inedible black seeds is a thick white juicy pulp which has the texture of cotton candy and tastes very much like vanilla ice-cream.
Generally consumed when the pods have turned into shades of yellow-brown - the flesh can be eaten straight from the pod, also used to sweeten and flavour many various foods.
The seeds are toxic when eaten raw, but quite nutritious and safe to eat when fully cooked.
The longest pod ever recorded reached 2.07 meters long.
Native to Central and South America.