Akee

Where does Akee grow?

Found in: Africa, Asia, Australia, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Mali, Martinique, Mexico, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Pohnpei, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South America, St Lucia, Sudan, Suriname, Trinidad, Togo, United States, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies

Notes: There are 4 Blighia species. It is a good source of beta-carotene and Vitamin C. Hypoglycin-A was isolated for the first time from the 'edible' aril of Blighia sapida (Ackee tree) and subsequently traced as the cause of an intoxication known as 'Jamaica vomiting sickness".

Status: In Papua New Guinea it is an introduced crop not widely grown and rarely used. The fruit is popular in Jamaica. It is part of their national dish. It is a commonly used food in West Africa.

Growing Akee

Cultivation: Trees can be grown by seeds or cuttings. They can also be grafted.

Edible Uses: The fleshy white aril around the seeds is edible after the fruit opens naturally. It is often cooked by boiling in salt water. It looks like scrambled eggs after cooking. CAUTION The seeds are poisonous. The unripe aril is inedible. The pink tissue between the aril and seed is poisonous. The aril must be fully ripe before eating. It is light on the open jacket that destroys the poison. The flowers are used in the preparation of aromatic water. The young leaves are cooked and eaten.

Production: In warm climates it grows quickly. It often bears two crops per year. It starts to produce after 4 years. Trees can keep producing for 50 years. Fruit matures in about 90 days.

Nutrition Info

Akee Photos

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