Brazil nut trees can produce approximately three hundred or more of these fruit pods. The monetary value of Brazil nut exportation today from Amazonian Brazil, which began in the 1600's by Dutch traders, is second only to that of rubber. Although thousands of tons of Brazil nuts are exported each year from Brazil, virtually all Brazil nut production comes from wild forest trees and wild harvesting. The trees grow very slowly and very little are actually cultivated. The United States alone imports over 10 tons annually.

Brazil Nuts are a three sided nut with white meat or flesh that consists of 70 percent fat or oil and 17 percent protein. The oil is extracted from the nuts and is commonly used in Peru and other South American countries to manufacture soap. In the Brazilian Amazon, the tree bark is brewed into tea to treat liver ailments and diseases. For centuries, the Indigeous Tribes of the rainforest have relied on Brazil Nuts as an important and significant staple of their diet. So important, that it has even been used as a trade commodity, much like money. Indigenous Tribes eat the nuts raw, or they are grated and mixed into gruels. In the Brazilian Amazon, the nuts are grated with the thorny stilt roots of Socratea palms into a white mush known as leite de castanha, and then stirred into manioc flour. It is a valuable source of calories, fat and protein for much of the Amazon's rural and urban peoples.

With such a high oil content, Brazil Nuts will even burn like miniature candles when lit. The oil is extracted from the nuts and used by Indigenous and rural people for cooking oil, lamps, soap, and livestock feed. The empty seed pods, often called "monkey's pots," are used to carry around small smokey fires to discourage attacks of black flies, and are also used as collection cups to collect rubber latex from tapped trees and as drinking cups. The husks of these seed pods have also been used in Brazilian folk medicine to brew into tea to treat stomachaches.

Brazil Nut Oil is a clear yellowish oil which has a pleasant and sweet smell and taste. In addition to protein and fat, Brazil Nuts are a substantial source of selenium, an important antioxidant. One single Brazil nut exceeds the US Recommended Daily Allowance of selenium. The proteins found in Brazil nuts are very high in sulphur-containing amino acids like cysteine (8%) and methionine (18%) and are also extremely rich in glutamine, glutamic acid, and arginine.

Brazil Nut Oil contains mainly palmitic, oleic and linoleic and alpha linolenic acids and small amounts of myristic and stearic acids and phytosterols. Today, Brazil Nut Oil is offen used in soaps, shampoos and hair conditioning/repair products. It is a wonderful hair conditioner; bringing shine, silkiness, malleability and softness to hair. It helps renew dry, lifeless hair and split-ends and allows hair to remain soft and silky. It provides stabilizing detergent properties and helps clean the hair. It can also be found in skin care products as it acts as a wonderful skin moisturizer. Brazil Nut oil in skin creams helps keep skin soft and smooth. It helps lubricate and moisturize the skin, provides antioxidant benefits, helps prevents dryness and leaves skin soft, smooth and hydrated.

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