The History of Brazil Nuts

The Brazil nut history is as wild and fascinating as the Amazon rainforest itself! You might think you get the whole picture by looking at the name “Brazil nut,” but there’s so much more to discuss about it. Besides that misleading name, there’s a very rich past to explore; a history that started with the indigenous tribes of the Amazon and was spread by the European colonizers that traveled to South America.
Over time, people adopted Brazil nuts into their kitchens and have called them by many different names. Today, we’ll explore the roots of the Brazil nut and discuss its journey into becoming a worldwide snack.
Indigenous Peoples and the Brazil Nut
Let’s start at the very beginning, thousands of years before you could find them in snack mixes. Brazil nuts were an important part of the lives of Amazonian tribes. They provided nutritious food and likely had deep meaning in their culture. Sadly, a lot of that knowledge has been lost over the centuries. Nowadays, we can only rely on records and contemporary communities to provide glimpses into the Brazil nut’s past.
A Forest Blessing During Hard Times
Given their considerable storage life, Brazil nuts were an important food for indigenous tribes in the Amazon during hard times. They were very likely consumed raw, grated into gruels, and even formed the basis of a bread called “chappa” in some communities.
More than Nutrition

Indigenous communities found resourceful uses for the Brazil nut. The high oil content was extracted for cooking, illumination, soap making, and even livestock feed. In traditional medicine, the seedpod husks were used to brew teas for stomach issues.
Even the empty pods served practical purposes, like carrying small fires to deter insects. In the late 1800s, they started using them to collect rubber latex.
Indigenous Names for Brazil Nut
Unfortunately, countless indigenous names for the Brazil nut likely vanished over time. However, one term that endures is “Juvia,” which is used by tribes in the Orinoco region of the Amazon.
Early European Encounters With the Brazil Nut
The first recorded encounters between Europeans and Brazil nuts paint a picture of exploration and practical necessity. In 1569, Spanish officer Juan Alvarez Maldonado and his exhausted troops came upon the nut near Peru’s Madre de Dios river. The Cayanpuxes Indians introduced them to this nutritious food, which they gladly used to replenish their tired bodies. Initially, Europeans called Brazil nuts “almonds of the Andes.”
Humboldt and Bonpland
Famous explorers Humboldt and Bonpland documented Brazil nuts in the early 1800s. Surprisingly, they found them in Venezuela, along the Orinoco river, not Brazil. This shows just how widespread these nuts are across the entire Amazon Basin.
Why did They Call it Brazil Nut?
Despite its pan-Amazonian distribution, the name “Brazil nut” ultimately gained a reputation. This is largely due to Brazil’s historic role as a major exporter of the nut to European markets. While the name might not perfectly reflect the nut’s geographical origins, it speaks to the commercial journey that introduced it to the world.
Names for Brazil Nuts Around the World
The Brazil nut has a different type of history connected to it. I’m talking about the naming used by different countries and communities. As we saw before, it started with names like “Juvia” deep in the Amazon. However, as Brazil nuts reached communities outside the rainforest, there was an explosion of names, especially in the countries of South America and later in Europe and the rest of the world.
Brazil: The Heart of The Name
Castanha-do-Pará: This is the most common name in Brazil. It means “chestnut from Pará,” the state with a rich history of harvesting Brazil nuts.
Regional Variations: In Acre, another major Brazil nut-producing state, it’s known as “castanha-do-Acre” (chestnut from Acre). Occasionally, you’ll encounter names like “castanha-do-Brasil” (chestnut from Brazil) or the less common “noz amazônica” (Amazonian walnut).
Spanish-speaking South America
“Nuez de Brasil” is the standard term across most of the continent, translating to “Brazil nut” or “Brazil walnut.” However, the name changes considerably depending on the country or region. For example, in Bolivia, you’re as likely to hear “castaña” (chestnut) or even “almendra” (almond).
Here are a few more names I found for Brazil nuts in Spanish-speaking countries:
- Castaña Boliviana (Bolivian chestnut)
- Castaña Amazónica (Amazonian chestnut)
- Castaña del Brasil (chestnut from Brazil)
- Castaña de Pará (chestnut from Pará)
- Castaña del Beni (chestnut from Beni)
- Nuez Amazónica (Amazonian walnut)
- Nuez del Brasil (walnut from Brazil)
- Coquito de Brasil (small coconut from Brazil)
- Avellana del Brasil (hazelnut from Brazil)
The USA
“Brazil nut” has been the standard name in the US since the early 19th century. However, a shockingly racist term also became common around that period, especially across the American South. Thankfully, it’s far less used today. But it’s a reminder that even something as simple as a food name can carry a painful legacy. We won’t repeat that term here out of respect.
Conclusion
Brazil nuts were first consumed by Indigenous tribes in the Amazon, then discovered by Europeans, and now they are present in many kitchen pantries around the world. You may call them “castanha,” “nuez,” or just “Brazil nut.” Each name reminds us of the cultures that have loved this snack for centuries.
The next time you eat a Brazil nut, just think of how far back they go. Imagine how tribes in the Amazon were consuming them thousands of years ago. I’m sure this will give your snack an extra bit of history flavor.