The ice cream bean thrives in a wide range of climatic conditions, from the tropical regions of Central and South America to the cooler climates found in the Andes. It is adaptable to both high and low altitudes, making it a versatile plant that can withstand various environmental conditions.
Ice Cream Bean
The ice cream bean (Inga spp) is a tropical tree known for its edible beans. It can grow up to 18 meters in height and has nitrogen-fixing root associates. The beans have a sweet flavor and creamy texture, similar to ice cream. The tree is also used for shade, timber, and alley cropping purposes, and there are over 400 species of Inga, many of which are edible.
Inga spp.
Country of Origin: Mexico
The ice cream bean tree (Inga spp.) is known for its sweet and creamy flavored pulp that surrounds the seeds inside its bean. It is an evergreen tree native to Central and South America, specifically the Neo-tropics. With a height of up to 18 meters and a width of 4 meters, it is often used as a shade plant in coffee and cacao plantations in Central America and the West Indies. Additionally, it is commonly used as a street tree throughout South America. One unique aspect of the ice cream bean tree is its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through its root associates, making it available to the tree. This nitrogen-fixing capability makes it valuable as a nurse crop. The beans of the tree can grow quite large, and the white, sugar-rich pulp surrounding the seeds is scooped out and eaten fresh. The flavor and texture of the pulp are often compared to that of ice cream, hence the tree's name. In Mexico, the foliage of the ice cream bean tree is cut and used as feed for livestock. The timber of the tree is moderately heavy and finds use in furniture, boxes, and crates. However, it is not suitable for external use as it deteriorates quickly. Additionally, the wood is also utilized for charcoal production. There are over 400 different species of Inga, and while most of them are edible, they are not well adapted to the cooler conditions of the Andes. Nevertheless, the ice cream bean tree, like many plants found in the Andes, exhibits resilience and can tolerate a wide range of conditions.
The ice cream bean prefers well-drained soil.
Family: MIMOSACEAE
The ice cream bean (Inga edulis) is an evergreen tree native to the Neo - tropics (Central and South America). It grows to a height of 18 m and a width of 4 m.
The tree has root associates which fix atmospheric nitrogen and make it available to the tree. The plant can be used as a nurse crop. It is unusual to find a nurse species with an edible bean. The beans can grow to considerable size. The white sugar - rich pulp is spooned from around the seeds of the opened bean and eaten fresh. It is said to have a sweet flavour and smooth texture not unlike that of ice cream.
In Mexico, foliage is cut and fed to livestock. In Central America and the West Indies it is used as a shade plant for coffee and cacao plantations. The tree has been used in alley cropping in Chile, and is used throughout South America as a street tree.
The timber is moderately heavy and is used for furniture, boxes and crates. The wood is not suited to external use as it breaks down quickly. It is also utilised for charcoal production.
There are more than 400 different species of Inga and it appears that most of them are edible although most are not conditioned to the cool extremes of the Andes. Like most plants of the Andes, the ice cream bean seems able to withstand a large range of conditions.