Coquito Nuts

JUBAEA CHILENSIS WINE PALM IS ENDANGERED. Coquito nuts are the fruits of Jubaea chilensis wine palm, which is native to the coastal areas of Chile. Visually, the nuts look similar to tiny coconuts, while the flavor of the firm white interior is sweet and reminiscent of almonds.

The texture is crunchy, and the whole coquito can be eaten in a single bite. Locals eat them raw and cooked, and the nuts can be added to cakes, ice cream, jellies, and cookies due to their crunch texture and nutty flavors. In Chile, these nuts grow wild, but they're also available in stores and markets.

Interestingly, the wine palm that produces these nuts takes up to 50 years to achieve maturity. Also, palm sap used to be extracted from the wine palm and used for production of palm honey and palm wine. But since such practice causes the death of the wine palm, the Chilean government now protects the tree and forbids any tapping.