Icecream beans Inga Laurina

Inga laurina is a species of plant in the family Fabaceæ. It is found from Mexico south to Argentina. The species is present throughout most of Brazil, where it is called ingá-mirim (small ice-cream-bean) due to the relatively small pods.

Ice Cream beans widely vary in size, ranging from 50 to 100 centimeters in length, and have a cylindrical shape with curved, blunt ends, displaying several raised and longitudinal ridges extending the length of the pod. The pods hang from the tree, growing in straight, twisted, to spiraled formations, and the longest Ice Cream bean pod ever recorded reached to 2.07 meters in length. The pods have a textured, leathery, and ridged feel and are semi-thick but easy to break open with fingers. The pod’s surface also appears in hues of dark to bright green, transforming into a yellow-brown shade when the flesh is ripe. Once the pod is opened, several small sections of translucent-white flesh surround 10 to 20 seeds. The pulpy flesh is edible, airy, delicate, and cotton-like, reminiscent of the texture of cotton candy with a lightly moist, spongy, and chewier mouthfeel. The seeds are glossy, firm, hard, and smooth, appearing in dark purple, almost black hues. When the seeds are split open, they reveal a bright yellow-green interior. Ice Cream beans are generally consumed when the pods have turned into shades of yellow-brown, but the exact coloring and time will be different with each type of Ice Cream bean. The flesh is the main portion of the pod consumed, and the light and airy pulp has a sugary-sweet, delicate flavor with hints of cream, vanilla, and cinnamon. The seeds can also be consumed when cooked, developing a mild and nutty flavor, but they should never be eaten raw and are considered toxic. It is important to note that the pods are not edible and should be discarded.