The Avocado (Persea americana MILL.) is a fruit vegetable from the family of the laurel plants (Lauraceae). It is up to 15 a meter high tree, which has its origin in south Mexico. It was already cultivated by the Aztecs. Today the tree in over 400 culture places is cultivated world-wide in the Tropics as well as in South Africa, Israel and California.

Etymologie and history

The designation "Avocado "comes from the Nahuatl word ahuacatl, which means also testicles. The Spaniards made from it aguacate, in addition, avocado, them familiar word nevertheless, was it an ancient name for attorney. In former times the Avocado was called occasionally also Abacata (after the Portuguese one), and in German as egg and/or - because of the consistency of the Fruchtfleisches - butter fruit. In the Spanish today also different designations are usually, about palta in Chile in South America.

The word "Guacamole "- that Mexican word, which designates a Avocadodip - comes from the Nahuatl word ahuacamolli, which means translated "Avocadosuppe "or "Avocadosauce ".

The Spaniards mention the fruit for the first time 1519 in a book.

Characteristics of the plant

The Avocadobaum is evergreen and and grows in warm, tendentious drier areas. The tree carries dark-green sheets, which become long up to 40 cm. The small yellow-greenish blooms stand for sideconstant bloom conditions in END or. After approximately 10 years the tree begins to carry fruits. The Avocadofrucht is rich at insatiated fatty acids. Certain sorts become related also medical purposes. (for example as bactericidal and against failure illnesses)

Appearance of the fruit

The Avocadofrucht, which is actually a berry, is pear-shaped to round, depending upon kind is their ledrige outer shell central to dark green (which brought in it the name "alligator pear"); on the inside is a core, which becomes about gulf ball large. The Fruchtfleisch is green yellow to gold yellow and oxidized to a dark color, as soon as it knows air suspended actual this by fast addition of an acid, as for instance lemon juice, is prevented.

The fruits offered in the trade are usually still hard, can be bought however heedlessly, since they after-mature. They rank therefore among the klimakterischen fruits. If the bowl on pressure gives way easily, the fruit is suitable for the consumption.

mature in no case at the tree out, but fall also without picking in a hard "become green to "condition on earth, where they mature rapidly. In the cultivation the fruits are therefore picked as soon as they achieve a marketable size.

In the entire plant (green plant, Fruchtfleisch, core) the Toxin Persin seems. With admission of larger plant quantities it applies to animals than poisonous. For humans Persin is harmless against it.

Use in the kitchen

While the bowl of the fruit is not enjoyable, the Fruchtfleisch is very nutritious around the large core. The not sweet meat of the Avocadofrucht is softly, from a nearly cream-like consistency, and fetthaltig for a fruit unusually. For the consumption one divides the fruit with a measurer into two parts, removes the core with a spoon and takes the buttrige Fruchtfleisch. One can enjoy, with something lemon juice with honey coat or also with a herb salt additionally pepper and as bread upstroke use it purely. As Salatdressing the Avocado can be zerstossen and be prepared with lemon juice, olive oil, rubbed Chilischoten and as desired white Balsamico.

Avocados are used also for the preparation of vegetarian Sushis in the Japanese kitchen. In the Brazilian kitchen they become Milchshakes (so-called "vitamina de abacate ") and ice processed. Avocados are in addition also in the veganen kitchen very estimated, because they are a good replacement for meat and cheese.

A well-known prescription is the Guacamole, from the Mexican kitchen of coming Dip, which added different further from Avocados and depending upon prescription exist.

ever 100 g

Further uses

The oil of the Avocadofrucht as well as other plant parts was used already by the Aztecs and also today still finds in the Kosmetik and pharmacy industry use. Of the brown wood of the tree among other things also furniture and ships are made.

Botani characteristics

Barlow and Martin identified the Avocado as a plant, which developed in an ecological relationship with large mammals. These large mammals, as for example the South American giant putrid animal, became extinct meanwhile. They ate the fruits inclusive their mild-poisonous seed and separated them at far distance of the nut/mother plant with their dung. Today the Avocadobaum does not have a natural seed spreading technology more, by humans it remained however nevertheless preserved.

Self attempt: Avocado breed

A Avocado can be bred with something patience easily. The lower third of the washed off (mold fungus formation prevents) core can be planted directly into a pot with earth. As alternative one can fasten the core also first on a glass filled with water. So that the core stands only to a third in the water, it is fastened with three Zahnstochern. The water should be kept lukewarm. After some time should split up the core then, discolour green and bring an impulse out. In order to increase the chance to success, one can fasten a plastic bag as "greenhouse" to the pot. This simulates tropicalsimilar climate.

Literature

• Nadja Biedinger: The world of the tropical plants. Cologne 2000
• Connie Barlow and Paul Martin: The Ghosts OF evolution: nonsensical, MISSING of partner and OTHER fruit ecological anachronisms. 2002

Related links

Avocado

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