Ice Cream Beans
These are pods on the icecream bean tree. It tastes nothing like its name to me; it’s like tiny pieces of slightly sweet cotton wool around a huge seed. Not my favourite fruit, but it’s a good permaculture plant because it grows fast, provides shade and is a nitrogen fixer.
Tags: fruit, ice cream bean
February 10th, 2010 at 10:15 am
ARE THESE SEED PODS GOOD FOOD FOR CHOOKS? IM CONSIDERING PLANTING ONE NEAR MY COOP
ALONG WITH PIGEON PEAS
June 5th, 2011 at 3:42 am
Hi there,
I’m Steve (permaculture designer/gardener in Bermuda).
On the subject of edibility of the white fluff around the seeds; I would hasten to add that this seems to depend on climate, and that perhaps a heavier rainfall is responsible for the increased volume of sweet fluff in proportion to the seeds. In Costa Rica, the pods themselves are gigantic, and there’s a lot more white fluff for your efforts.
As a general permaculture plant, I agree wholeheartedly that it’s an excellent choice provided you have the space.
Peace,
Steve.