Acacia seeds are often used for food and a variety of other products.
In
Burma,
Laos and
Thailand, the feathery shoots of Acacia pennata (common name cha-om, ชะอม and su pout ywet in Burmese) are used in
soups,
curries,
omelettes, and
stir-fries.
Honey made by
bees using the acacia flower as
forage is considered a delicacy, appreciated for its mild flowery taste, soft running texture and
glass-like appearance. Acacia honey is one of the few honeys which does not crystallize.
[4]In Mexico the seeds are known as Guajes: Guajes or huajes are the flat, green pods of an acacia tree. The pods are sometimes light green or deep red in color -- both taste the same. Guaje seeds are about the size of a small lima bean and are eaten raw with guacamole, sometimes cooked and made into a sauce. They can also be made into fritters. The ground seeds are used to impart a slightly garlicy flavor to a mole called guaxmole (huaxmole). The dried seeds may be toasted and salted and eaten as a snack referred to as "cacalas". Purchase whole long pods fresh or dried at Mexican specialty markets.
Acacia farnesiana is used in the
perfume industry due to its strong fragrance. The use of Acacia as a fragrance dates back centuries. In The
Bible, burning of acacia wood as a form of
incense is mentioned several times.
Many Acacia species have important uses in traditional medicine. Most all of the uses have been shown to have a scientific basis, since chemical compounds found in the various species have medicinal effects. In
Ayurvedic medicine,
Acacia nilotica is considered a remedy that is helpful for treating
premature ejaculation. A 19th century Ethiopian medical text describes a potion made from an Ethiopian species of Acacia (known as grar) mixed with the root of the tacha, then boiled, as a cure for
rabies.
[6] An
astringent medicine, called
catechu or cutch, is procured from several species, but more especially from
Acacia catechu, by boiling down the wood and evaporating the solution so as to get an extract.
Alkaloids:
Egyptian goddess Isis
As mentioned previously, Acacias contain a number of
organic compounds that defend them from pests and grazing animals.
[3] Many of these compounds are
psychoactive in humans. The
alkaloids found in Acacias include
dimethyltryptamine (DMT),
5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) and
N-methyltryptamine (NMT). The plant leaves, stems and/or roots are sometimes made into a brew together with some
MAOI-containing plant and consumed orally for healing, ceremonial or religious uses.
Egyptian mythology has associated the acacia tree with characteristics of the
tree of life (cf. article on the
Legend of Osiris and Isis).
More psychoactive and properties of acacia
