Lucuma fruit, also known as “Gold of the Incas,” is one of these healthful edibles, cherished for centuries as a staple nutrition source and touted as a South American1 superfood. Naturally gluten-free and vegan, the lucuma fruit has a dry, farinaceous texture and looks like an avocado crossed with pear. Tastewise, lucuma powder has a subtle sweet-potato-caramel flavor imbued with a maple-like profile, making it a desirable food-flavoring agent and baking staple (think lucuma ice cream or lucuma-infused chia pudding). While fresh lucuma fruit isn’t usually found outside of South America, its flour, pulp, and puréed variants are readily available across various health foods and Latin American grocery stores. The research around lucuma powder is limited. If you’re considering using this plant-based sweetener in the treatment of any health condition, make sure to consult your physician or health provider first.
