Although the almond trees that bloom naturally around Puerto Vallarta are not the same species that produce the delicious seed used by cooks all over the world, this local species could be used to better advantage.
Although the flavor of the fruit of the almond trees growing around Vallarta is very similar to its famous cousin, this tree is not of the same family. The wild almond, Terminalia catappa, is a tree that adapts easily to coastal soil and climate, but doesn’t produce a large amount of fruit per year. It’s a species better adapted to ornamental uses than agricultural ones.
We can’t say for sure, but this “urban” almond species seems to originate from India. It’s popular in coastal towns because it grows rapidly and offers shade in soils where most other trees won’t grow. Additionally, it has various medicinal properties and its fruit and seeds are edible. Its branches grow outward in all directions from the same height and are almost horizontal. Another set of branches grows a bit further up and so on. It grows in full sunlight and its fruits can be germinated easily. Research shows that these trees are very common in India, Malaysia and most of southeastern Asia, reaching heights of 75 to 90 feet. It doesn’t grow that tall here in our city; it’s mainly a midsized or even small tree, just enough to give some shade. Sometimes people even cut off the growth apex, leaving it quite short.
There are numerous uses for different parts of the tree. It is said that the almond tree covers a wide range of beneficial qualities because of its anti-bacterial properties. In traditional medicine, its leaves are used to treat parasites, cure dysentery, and alleviate rheumatic discomfort, coughs and even asthma. If the leaves are still green, they can be used to alleviate eye problems, rheumatism, cure injuries and even stop hemorrhaging when losing a tooth. Younger sprouts are used for colic. Leaves from trees that have fallen can be used to help liver troubles.
The fruit can be used to alleviate headaches and diminish nausea during long trips. The fruit is a three-inch oval, whose color depends on its maturity: from green to yellow to a reddish color. Kids like to eat the outer part when its yellow. Some of the nutrients that can be obtained from the fruit are tannins, beta-carotene, glucose and pentosan. The seed or little “coconut” can be obtained by breaking apart the fruit. The fruit is known as an ocean almond because it grows on the coast and the fruits are commonly found on the beach as if the tides dragged them there. Actually, that’s almost impossible: the thick and fibrous covering of the fruit allows it to float on the waves without sinking for two years or more. They can travel on most of the tropical currents and are able to germinate even after a long sea voyage. The tree is very resistant to wind thanks to its growth pattern; its pagoda shape protects it. It’s not even cowed by the salt-laden sea breeze that is fatal to so many other species!
These trees are great crop protectors. Their loss of leaves, once a year, guarantees nutrients for the soil. The lateral growth of their roots helps to contain sandy soil, curtailing its erosion even after powerful storms. Young (less than three years old), wild almond trees should be planted at a distance between 20 and 30 feet to protect crops. Once they’ve passed their maturity stage, they should be removed to non-fertile lands, since they reproduce very quickly and the land could become a forest in no time.
The fruit from these trees cannot be easily marketable because their yield is quite low. However, the fruit’s cortex is quite flavorful and is included in the diet of coastal inhabitants in small amounts. Its seed’s flavor is similar to commercial almonds, but it must be consumed right after extraction because it decomposes rapidly. One way to preserve them is to smoke them immediately; they can last up to a year that way. In the Philippines, they use the mature fruit to produce liquor. The wood can be used for construction purposes, as flooring and in furniture, but it’s not very resistant.
As you can tell, this native species has not been used adequately in this area. Aside from its aesthetic attractiveness, it’s resistant and can be used as an ornamental plant in our aggressive climate. Neither the wood nor its medicinal properties have been exploited either.
