Recipes
At Lavva, we pride ourselves on our dairy-free yogurts. Free of added sugar and packed with probiotics and prebiotics, our dairy-free yogurts use real food ingredients that you may be familiar with already. Think of quality ingredients like cassava, coconut, real fruit and young plantains, but there is an ingredient you may have never heard of before – Pili nuts.
What are Pili Nuts?
Pili nuts (pronounced pee-lee) are Lavva’s hero ingredient. Pili nuts have recently grown in popularity due to high fat, low carb diets like the Ketogenic Diet, but our team discovered the power of the Pili nut long before it was trendy.
Grown in fertile volcanic soil, Pili nuts contain antioxidants, potent nutrients and wholesome fats. Often referred to as the “Tree of Hope,” the Pili tree has been wild harvested for centuries. Pili trees are known as stress crops, meaning the harder the wind blows, the drier the drought, the stronger the monsoon, the more nuts it produces. (How cool is that!) Unlike other tree nuts, Pili trees need nothing more than rainwater to sprout and grow, making them a naturally sustainable and regenerative crop.
When curating our whole food ingredients, we make sure to find the foods with the highest quality, which is why our Pili nuts are sustainably harvested, sprouted and fair-trade certified.
Health Benefits of Pili Nuts
Pili nuts contain amino acids and are a complete protein all on their own. They pack more magnesium and vitamin E than any other nut and contain potassium, zinc and nourishing plant fats, especially monounsaturated fats, which have been known to support brain function and heart health.
Allison Koch, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, Board Certified Sports Dietitian says, Pili nuts are a rich source of magnesium, which is essential for nerve and muscle function.” These little guys are also a fantastic source of monounsaturated fats. Koch reminds us that, “Monounsaturated fats may help reduce bad cholesterol levels in your blood, which can help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.” They are incredibly high in Vitamin E, which is a fat soluble vitamin and antioxidant, which Koch says may help protect cells from damage.
McKenzieCaldwell, MPH, RDN of Feed Your Zest Nutrition & Wellness also touts the benefits of Pili nuts. “Pili nuts are extremely high in magnesium, which most Americans are lacking in their diets. Foods with magnesium can help improve bone health, lower blood pressure, manage blood sugar and ease muscle cramps. On top of this, Pili nuts are very high in the antioxidant vitamin E which helps our body handle toxins. Like other nuts, they are also a great source of healthy fats, protein and fiber.”
What Do Pili Nuts Taste Like
Pili nuts taste like a cross between a cashew and a macadamia nut. Rich in flavor with a creamy, smooth and buttery texture, the Pili nut is a versatile nut that can be enjoyed on its own, made into Pili nut butter or sprinkled on top foods like homemade trail mix, dairy-free yogurts and salads.
The next time you read your nutrient label on your favorite flavor of Lavva dairy-free yogurt, you will know what exactly a Pili nut is, what a Pili nut tastes like and why we use Pili nuts to create our dairy-free yogurts. Not only is good for you, but it makes for a delicious addition to our list of high-quality ingredients.
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Sources:
https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/806011/nutrients
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