Ice Cream Bean at LCG February 2026 (Photo credit: Jacqui Lachmann)
Ice Cream Bean
Inga laurina
Fabaceae family
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.
Tree Maintenance
Pruning
Inga laurina
Fabaceae family
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.
Tree Maintenance
Pruning
- Prune immediately after harvest (approximately early February).
- Prune down to a manageable height, about 2m. This tree can withstand heavy pruning, no need to be too fussy.
- Fruiting occurs on the tips of branches, don’t cut off all the mature branches at once.
- The tree can tolerate drought, although watering during prolonged drought will be beneficial.
- Summer: compost around drip line.
- Autumn: liquid seaweed, sulphate of potash.
- Winter: worm wee (10:1)
Ice Cream Bean at LCG December 2024 (photo credit: Jacqui Lachmann)
Ice Cream Bean at LCG August 2022 (photo credit: Graham Bond)
