Most of us have tried, or at least heard of, a vegetable called the heart of palm. People eat it fresh or preserved all over the world. When eating the heart of a palm, also commonly called a palmito, chonta, swamp cabbage, or palm heart, you are eating the actual heart of the palm tree.
Main Physical Characteristics of a Palm
Palm trees, belonging to the family genus Arecaceae, are a type of evergreen tree characterized by branchless stems and a crown of fronds. These fronds fall into one of three styles: fan, feather, or entire. The stems of the palms are composed of a trunk or multiple trunks. This is where the heart of the palm is located: at the core of the trunk.
The main stem in the palm is what keeps the palm standing upright, and is what keeps it alive. The heart is a soft, delicate structure that is protected by a tough trunk. If the outside temperature falls below the palm’s tolerable range, the palm starts to suffer. First, the fronds will stop photosynthesizing and eventually fall off. However, this does not mean the palm is dead. If the heart is still warm, it is still alive and will eventually grow new fronds. Yet, if the heart of the palm freezes, the palm will die. Maintaining a warm heart of the palm is paramount to the tree’s survival.
Nutritional Benefits of the Heart of Palm
Nutritionally, the heart of the palm should be considered a superfood. They are low in fat yet high in protein and contain seventeen different amino acids as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, copper, zinc, and phosphorus. Hearts of palm are high in antioxidants and have been known to help regulate blood pressure, in addition to being high in fiber and rich in vitamins A, B, and C. It is no coincidence it is considered one of the greatest delicacies of the culinary world because of its nutritional benefits and delicious taste. The versatility of the heart of palm, which can be enjoyed raw or cooked, as imitation crab or even as gluten-free pasta, only adds to its status as a culinary delicacy.
Harvesting the Heart of the Palm
One main reason the heart of palm is considered such a delicacy is that it is difficult and costly to harvest palms due to their slow maturation. While there are wild sources of the heart of palms, such as coconut, acai, and sabal palms, many governments have conservation laws protecting the palms from being harvested for their heart. Harvesting hearts of palm kills the plant, which took so long to grow in the first place. Fortunately for the production of hearts of palm, certain varieties of palms, such as the peach palm of Colombia, have been domesticated and trained to grow in clusters of numerous stems so that it does not die when harvested for their heart. The peach palm grows quickly and is one of the main sources for the hearts of palm worldwide.
Invest in Cold Hardy Palm Trees From Atlanta Palms
The heart of the palm, located at the core of its trunk, is not only nutritious, delicious, and versatile, but it also protects the palm from freezing temperatures. If the palm is cold-hardy, like many of the palms at Atlanta Palms, they will survive varying drops in temperature. Before you buy a palm, it is important to research your growth zone characteristics and buy a palm that will survive there. For more information on cold-hardy palm trees or to buy palm trees in Atlanta, contact the team at Atlanta Palms today!
FAQs
The stems of the palms are composed of a trunk or multiple trunks. This is where the heart of the palm is located: at the core of the trunk. The main stem in the palm is what keeps the palm standing upright, and is what keeps it alive. The heart is a soft, delicate structure that is protected by a tough trunk.
Where can I get the heart of palm? ›
Whole Heart Of Palm, 14.1 oz at Whole Foods Market.
Can you eat heart of palm from any palm tree? ›
According to the research-based sustainability platform Citizen Sustainable, hearts of palm can be sourced from peach palms or acai palms, both of which have several stalks, or jucara palms, coconut palms, and sabal palms, all of which just have one single stalk.
Why are hearts of palm hard to find? ›
While you can grow hearts of palm in warm and humid places like Florida, conservation laws often limit their harvest. This means that the canned hearts of palm you see at the store has racked up some frequent flier miles from places like Bolivia, Brazil, and Costa Rica.
What are the cons of eating hearts of palm? ›
Half a cup of canned palm hearts contains 311 milligrams of sodium, which may not seem like a lot but covers 13% of your daily value of sodium. Because too much sodium in your diet can lead to issues such as hypertension (high blood pressure), you should be sure to read the label if you consume canned heart of palm.
Why is heart of palm so expensive? ›
Fresh hearts of palm are a rare find in most grocery stores. They are extremely perishable when fresh and cost more than $15 per pound. The arduous procedure for harvesting them is a contributing factor to the high cost of the fresh produce.
Does Costco sell hearts of palm? ›
Hearts of Palm are an ingredient I've been passionate about for many years. I've been experimenting with them ever since my Costco started carrying them years ago, sold in jars in reasonably-priced two-packs.
Does Trader Joe's have hearts of palm? ›
For our latest non-traditional noodle, we've taken a break from the legumes and alternate grains and gone for something we think is truly unique: Trader Joe's Hearts of Palm Pasta!
What aisle is Heart of Palms in? ›
Where to Buy Hearts of Palm. You'll likely find canned hearts of palm in the canned foods section at the grocery store.
What are the side effects of hearts of palm? ›
Hearts are palm isn't known as a common allergen, but food allergies can sometimes occur with unexpected foods. 10 Possible symptoms include hives, shortness of breath, dizziness, weak pulse, or trouble swallowing. If you suspect an allergy to hearts of palm, see an allergist for testing and evaluation.
Like Hearts of Palm, these common environmental concerns are often raised when using Palm oil. Killing off Palm trees to harvest Hearts of Palm can also threaten certain wildlife populations, such as tigers, birds, elephants, and more. It may also play an unwanted role in furthering global warming.
What is the other name for the heart of palm? ›
Major local names for heart of palm include palm cabbage or palmetto in Florida and Trinidad; palmito in South and Central America; ubod in the Philippines; củ hủ dừa in Vietnam; cœur de palmier in French; corazón de palma or col de palma in Spanish; coração de palma or palmito in Portuguese; and cuore di palma in ...
What is a good substitute for heart of palm? ›
What can I substitute for heart of palm? Because it is often used as a texture comparison, you can try substituting artichoke hearts for heart of palm. Artichoke hearts are also creamy and meaty in texture and can make a great meat substitute.
Do you refrigerate hearts of palm? ›
Fresh hearts of palm should be refrigerated immediately. Unused, tightly sealed portions can be stored for up to 2 weeks. Store cans or jars out of sunlight at room temperature. Once opened, use within 1 week.
What are the benefits of eating hearts of palm? ›
Summary. Heart of palm is a low fat, low carb, and low calorie vegetable packed with numerous vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. It offers various health benefits, including promoting weight loss, good digestion, immunity, heart health, and overall well-being.
Where is the heart line on your palm? ›
The heart line lives at the top of the hand. According to Packard, there are a few different trajectories it can take. It can curve up from the edge of the palm under the pinkie, toward the index finger, sometimes indicating a “caring, giving, empathetic” person in relationships, Packard explains.
How to extract hearts of palm? ›
Harvesting. When harvesting the cultivated young palm, the tree is cut down, and the bark is removed, leaving layers of white fibers around the center core. During processing, the fibers are removed, leaving the center core or heart of palm.
How do you harvest the heart of a palm tree? ›
The heart of palm is harvested by cutting down the tree and removing the outer bark and tough outer layers until the tender, cylindrical, inner core is exposed. It has a mild, delicate flavor with a slightly nutty and slightly sweet undertone.
Do all palms have edible hearts? ›
The starch is dried and used for breadmaking. Not all hearts of palm are edible: some are very bitter and some may actually be toxic, for example, the heart of Orania sp.
