Buriti Oil may be the nectar of the Gods - at least in Brazil. The Moriche Palm, Mauritia flexuosa, also known as the Buriti tree, is a palm tree that grows in and near swamps and other wet areas in tropical South America. Natives call it "the Tree of Life" which is the literal translation of Buriti. The entire tree has varied uses, and indeed may be a rare gem in the Amazonian jungle.
The Buriti (pronounced bu-REE-chee) palm grows to a towering height of up to 35 meters, with a palm spread that resembles a rounded crown. Beautiful pale yellow blooms adorn the tree from December to April, and an almost artificial-looking ridged fruit grows from December to June. The nearly perfectly shaped fruit has shiny chestnut colored scales, and the edible, yellow, fleshy fruit has a high vitamin C content.
The Buriti palm is suitable for human use in a variety of ways. The sweet fruit is used to make beverages, preserves and ice cream. Buriti oil is high in vitamin A and is cold-pressed from the pulp. Natives use the healing oil to treat burns because of its soothing qualities. The inflorescence buds are eaten as a vegetable, and the sap can be made into a juice or allowed to ferment to make a wine. Threads and cords are locally produced from the tree's fibers.
In the cosmetic world, Buriti oil is highly prized for the essential Fatty Acids and emollients that work overtime at keeping skin smooth. The antioxidant properties of Buriti oil also have skin repairing and protecting properties. In fact, the concentration of carotene in Buriti oil is even higher than that in carrot oil.
Slowly, we're seeing Buriti oil make it's way into the mainstream cosmetic market. Look for major players like The Body Shop to release a new collection of baby care products featuring Buriti oil in Fall, 2008. Dubbed "Buriti Baby", the collection touts skin softening, ultra gentle cleansing and protection for baby's delicate skin. Products range from shampoo to baby body butter, and include accesories made from organic cotton and renewable bamboo.
But Buriti oil isn't just for babies. Countless health food stores are now carrying the oil, the ground nut as an exfoliant, and even the fruit. Americans are just now learning how valuable this miracle fruit can be in terms of meeting so many diverse needs for our health and beauty.
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