Lucuma Powder

What is lucuma powder?  The South American lucuma tree produces the lucuma fruit, also referred to as lucmo or eggfruit. The fruit, which was once referred to as the "gold of the Incas," is grown in Peru, Ecuador, and Chile. The fruit possesses a pale yellow interior, a dried consistency, and a rigid green exoskeleton, resembling a hybrid of an avocado and a mango in appearance. Although lucuma fruit is abundant in South America, Latin American food markets also carry it in fresh, refrigerated, or purée form. While lucuma powder (or flour) is widely available in health food stores in other regions, it can be quite pricey. The fruit is dehydrated and then milled into a fine powder in order to produce the powder while preserving its high nutritional value. It is immediately usable and can be incorporated into beverages and foods. How do I use lucuma powder? Utilized as a flavoring agent, lucuma powder imparts a distinct maple-like flavor and a subtle suggestion of sweetness to food. Chi