Snack Food of the Gods

Macambo (Theobroma bicolor) is one of the lesser-known members of the genus Theobroma which includes chocolate (T. cacao) and cupuaçu (T. grandiflorum).  The Latin name of the genus means "food of the Gods". I'm sure that Linneaus had chocolate in mind when he named this taxonomic group.

The seeds of mocambo are skewered, roasted, lightly salted and sold as a snack food in the Peruvian Amazon. Truly one of the most delicious nuts I've ever tasted. Hard to imagine anything that goes better with an ice cold Pilsen Callao. [NOTE: The roasted mocambo seeds shown above were being offered for sale on a side street in Iquitos, Peru. I bought several sticks.]