Lucuma: Rich in Retinol and Niacin
This sensual fruit from ancient Peru, with thousands of years of history, is not only steeped in feminine and fertility legends but lucuma brimming with nutritional and medicinal properties.
Discover the story behind this exotic fruit that heals both body and skin, and why it is rapidly gaining recognition in the skincare world.
The Value of Lucuma: A Gift from the Andean Gods
Lucuma is synonymous with one of the most cherished fruits in Peruvian cuisine due to its high nutritional content. It stands out for its rich supply of minerals such as iron and phosphorus, and vitamins from the A group like Carotene, and B group vitamins like Niacin (B3), Thiamine (B1), and Riboflavin (B2).
But beyond its exquisite flavor, delightful fragrance, and fibrous texture, lucuma also boasts medicinal qualities. It is recognized as an effective remedy for depression thanks to its high niacin content, which stimulates the proper functioning of the nervous system, acting as an extraordinary energizer.
Lucuma’s Big Secret for Radiant Skin!
It has a unique combination of the most prized vitamins in cosmetics, instantly revitalizing the skin and reducing the effects of aging:
Niacin: Hydrates and regulates sebum production.
Retinol: Improves skin elasticity and firmness, minimizes wrinkles, and boosts collagen production.
Riboflavin: Supports healthy cell function.
Thiamine: Strengthens the skin barrier, providing hydration and protection against external factors.
A Feminine Story Behind It
According to Andean mythology, the name Lucuma symbolically comes from a proud, beautiful, and impatient woman.
Legend has it that in an ancient Andean village in Peru, there lived a beautiful aristocratic maiden named Rukma (Lucuma). She rejected all men, treating them with disdain and refusing to marry. One day, the Andean creator god Huatio, father of agriculture in that land, disguised himself as a bird and perched on the branches of a Lucuma tree where the maiden was resting. From above, he picked a fruit and planted his seed within it. The fruit fell, and when the maiden saw it, she ate it and became pregnant.
Huatio, always dressed in rags, revealed himself as the father of her child. The maiden, ashamed, shed a tear that turned into a black spot.
It is said that from this bitter cry comes the symbolism of the lucuma, a fruit that is beautiful to behold, with green skin, yellow flesh, and a shiny brown seed. Yet, its flesh is rough, and its seed is covered by an impermeable brown film, much like a proud woman. However, once tasted, this fruit becomes the most delicious delicacy, just like any beautiful woman.
Art Reflects Its Importance
This myth highlights the symbolic importance of Lucuma for the Andean people since the origins of Peruvian agriculture (8000 BC).
The Mochica culture depicted Lucuma in their art between the 1st and 8th centuries AD, showcasing their fascination with this fruit.
Cultivation
Pouteria lucuma is the scientific name of this fruit, which grows exclusively in Peru. Archaeological research dates its domestication to the inter-Andean valleys of Peru around the 1st to 7th centuries AD. During this period, irrigation techniques and intensive farming were employed to produce unprecedented amounts of this species. In Peru, most of the production is concentrated in areas like Lima, Ayacucho, La Libertad, Cajamarca, and Huancavelica, at altitudes ranging from sea level to 3,000 meters.
Now that you’ve discovered its benefits and learned about the energy it carries from the land it comes from, we invite you to experience it through Aypa’s products:
