On Earth, there are many amazing plants that are known only in those areas where they grow. Surely you heard about sausage or breadfruit. But today the topic of our article will be a milk tree. Why is that called? How much milk gives? What is its use? We will try to deal with these and many other issues.
In South and Central America there are huge groves of mighty trees with shiny, like polished leaves. Their fruits should not be eaten. However, locals really appreciate these trees.
Milk tree: description
This tree, which is called milk or cow (Brosimum galactodendron), belongs to the mulberry family.
Milk tree grows to a height of 30 meters. It has whole leaves, staircase flowers, with many stamens in capitate inflorescences. Milk tree grows in South America. Like other members of the family, castrum excretes milky juice. However, unlike other milky plants, it is not only not poisonous, but also completely edible, and even healthy and very tasty. Locals use this delicious and aromatic juice as a substitute for cow's milk. They often call this plant a cow tree.
This large tree belongs to the nettle family, the subfamily of artacarpous, or bakery. Their trunk can be up to one meter in diameter.
The dairy tree produces sap, which the local population calls milk. Indeed, it tastes very much like this drink familiar to us from childhood. Therefore, the inhabitants of South America drink it constantly, and now many Europeans have found it extremely tasty. Juice expires quite actively - within half an hour you can fill it with a bottle.
How to extract juice
As a rule, a small hole is drilled in the trunk for this. In some cases, the juice is extracted from a felled tree, which gives it for several weeks.
Where does such a tree grow?
It must be said that the milk tree is an unpretentious plant. It can grow on the very meager soil, but this does not change the taste of “milk” - it is always nutritious and very tasty. It grows in the hot countries of South America. In addition, the dairy tree is successfully cultivated in tropical Asia.
Fruit
The milk tree has about the size of an apple. They are considered inedible, but at the same time they contain in themselves a juicy and extremely pleasant core. In any case, so say those who managed to try it. True, the fruits of the milk tree are not as valuable as its juice.
Milk Juice Composition
Milk tree juice contains water, sugar, vegetable wax and some resins. In appearance, it is a thick and viscous liquid. It is thicker than real milk and has a balsamic aroma. The composition is very close to cow's milk, and tastes like cream with sugar.
A logical question arises: "What role does milky juice play in the life of the plant?" As scientists have found, quite diverse.
The milky vessels cover all the tissues of the tree. They are filled with a milky emulsion. Cow's milk is also an emulsion. Or, in other words, a liquid that contains particles of other substances. Proteins, fats, sugar and starch were found in the milky sap of trees and other plants. Organic substances formed in the leaves accumulate in the vessels of the plant. During the period of seed ripening, milky juice gives up its reserves for their development. At this time, it becomes watery and fluid.
Cooking use
The juice of a milk tree does not deteriorate for seven to ten days, even in the tropics, does not curl when mixed with water. Milk juice has the taste and appearance of natural cow's milk. He is completely harmless. This confirms that the locals feed them ore babies. If the juice is boiled, then it turns into a delicious curd mass.
Thick white juice flows abundantly from the cut into the placed dishes. Many people believe that the color and density of milk juice more closely resembles good cream, and if it weren’t for an unusual smell, one could decide that it was cream just brought from milk. After a short stay in the air, the juice becomes very thick, and it is eaten as cheese. If a little water is added to this “cheese mass”, then for a long time it will remain liquid.
The natives of South America drink it like regular milk, dipping maize bread in it. In addition, they use it with chocolate, coffee and tea. For many, this juice seems tastier than real cream. The fact is that it has a pleasant cinnamon smell.
The juice of this amazing tree is in great demand throughout the tropical part of South America. No matter how much it is consumed (although nutritionists advise against getting involved in this product), the juice does not harm human health, and therefore it can be considered that the milk tree is an unusual and useful gift of a generous nature.
In addition to a tasty and healthy drink from milky juice, American aborigines receive a special substance that, in consistency and composition, resembles wax. They make candles out of it.
ethnoscience
A medicinal product is made from this tree, which has proven itself in the treatment of asthma.
American nutritionists recommend it for baby food and to maintain the strength of the elderly.
Where else is milky juice used
The local population evaporates the juice and gets a thick yellow substance, which is very similar to beeswax. It has found wide application in the household - it is used for repairing dishes, for hermetically sealed vessels. In addition to "milk" from the milky juice of this tree, American natives receive a special wax-like substance, from which they then make candles.
Recently, export of milk tree juice to other countries has begun.
