Candlenut
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This article pertains to Candlenut, Candleberry, Indian walnut, Varnish tree or Kukui nut tree, Aleurites moluccana
The following quoted section is copyrighted material, which has been specially licensed for use on this page. Please do not alter it.
"In 1959 the Kukui nut tree became the official state tree of Hawaii. Botanically it is classified aleurites moluccana. Since scientists have found traces of Kukui pollen in ancient geological deposits, it is assumed that the Kukui nut tree is indigenous to Hawaii.
Of all the Hawaiian trees, the Kukui has the lightest colored foliage. Silver-grayish powder on its leaves make it quite conspicuous in the forest and it is easily spotted. Trees grow on the lower slopes of the mountains, mostly in gulches. When cramped in narrow gulches, the trunks grow straight upwards attaining heights of 80 feet or more, with diameters of about 2-1/2 feet. Trees branch 30 feet or more above the ground and at the end of the branches small greenish-tinged white flowers bloom. These flowers, along with the trees distinctive leaves, are often seen entwined in leis.
The fruit of the Kukui is about 2-inches in diameter. The outer part of the fruit is a hard green covering about 1/4-inch thick when immature and as it matures it turns a dark grayish-black and softens. This portion of the fruit decays rapidly after it falls to the ground. Enclosed within are one or two hard, stone like, wrinkled nuts. When young the shell of the nut is whitish in color, but as it matures it turns brown, then black.
THE STORY OF KUKUI NUT OIL
Hundreds of years ago, Hawaiians discovered that when the shells were removed from Kukui nuts and the kernels lightly roasted that a clear oil could be pressed out. This was an excellent penetrating oil and when smoothed on the skin it soothed and softened sunburns and irritations. New born babies were bathed in this easily absorbed oil.
This treasured health and beauty secret has been rediscovered by Oils of Alohaź and is produced today in the same pure form as it was years ago. All vegetable oils are not created equal! Kukui nut oil contains very high levels of the essential fatty acids linoleic and alpha-linolenic. Kukui nut oil is quickly absorbed by the skin. The oil relieves the symptoms of dry skin, psoriasis, eczema and acne. Contains vitamins A, C and E as antioxidants.
KUKUI NUT OIL: QUICK FACTS
* A natural moisturizer, essential for healing dry skin * Quickly penetrates the surface of the skin (not greasy) * Expeller pressed, no solvents used * Incorporates well with other ingredients * Highly polyunsaturated oil with high concentrations of essential "fatty acids" * Supplemented with Vitamin E * Provides effective relief for the symptoms of exceptionally dry skin, psoriasis and eczema"
(Oils of Aloha www.oilsofaloha.com ©1990)
Kukui nut usage:
- It is often used in Malaysian cuisine.
- Several parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicine in most of the areas where it is native. The oil is an irritant and purgative and sometimes used like castor oil; it has also been used as a hair stimulant. The seed kernels have a laxative effect. In Japan its bark has been used on tumors. In Sumatra, pounded seeds, burned with charcoal, are applied around the navel for costiveness. In Malaya, the pulped kernels or boiled leaves are used in poultices for headache, fevers, ulcers, swollen joints, and gonorrhea. In Java, the bark is used for bloody diarrhea or dysentery.
- In ancient Hawai‘i, nuts were burned to provide light. This led to their use as a measure of time. The nuts were strung in a row on a palm leaf midrib and one end lit. One could then instruct someone to return home before the second nut burned out.
In Hawai‘i—kuku‘i is the Hawaiian name—the tree has spiritual significance of hope and renewal, and was involved in many legends. One such was about a woman who, despite her best efforts to please her husband, was routinely beaten. Finally, the husband beat her to death and buried her under a kuku'i tree. Being a kind and just woman, she was given new life, and the husband was eventually killed.
Modern cultivation is mostly for the oil. In plantations, each tree will produce 30–80 kg of nuts, and the nuts yield 15 to 20% of their weight in oil. Most of the oil is used locally rather than figuring in international trade.
External links
- Oils of Aloha (http://www.oilsofaloha.com) – A Hawaii company producing kukui and macadamia nut products, their website plays host to much information about both nuts.