Hortiforum

General Info – Candle Nut, Indian Walnut, Candleberry, Siris, Buah Keras, Kemiri

Candle nut trees produce green, golf-ball or Walnut-sized fruits with a thick rind that encases the kernels. Candle nuts must be cooked before consumption, as the raw kernels are mildly toxic and can cause cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. The most common cooking methods are roasting or toasting. When prepared, candle nuts have a mild, nutty flavour, often compared to Almonds or Macadamia nuts. Once cooked to neutralise their toxicity, the nuts are ground into a paste, which is commonly used in curries or crushed into a condiment. The paste itself is not particularly flavourful but serves to enhance other flavours and can also thicken sauces. In traditional Hawaiian cuisine, the dish Poke includes the condiment called ‘inamona, which is a paste made from roasted then crushed candle nuts, salt, and sometimes seaweed. The candle nut tree is so named because the nuts are rich in flammable oils and can be set alight and used as a natural candle. The trees produce an abundance of nuts once mature, and while the extracted oil is inedible, it is useful in cosmetics and other products.
Queensland, and can be found cultivated in the state as far south as Brisbane, with a specimen over 100 years old present in the city’s Botanic Gardens. Candle Nut thrives in a variety of tropical climates, including those with consistent, ample rainfall and those with distinct wet and dry seasons. As a result, it can tolerate rainfall ranging from 700 mm to over 3000 mm annually. Despite its tropical origins, it has been reported to withstand brief temperatures as low as -2 or even -4°C. While deep, fertile loam soils are ideal, Candle Nut trees can adapt to a wide range of soil types, including poorer soils, as long as they are well-drained. Young trees can tolerate light shade, but mature trees require full sun. Once established, Candle Nut trees need little to no maintenance.
The Candle Nut tree foms a spreading evergreen with a dense canopy, making it an attractive option for ornamental cultivation. When grown in the open, in full sun, it develops a lower, rounder form, whereas in forested areas, it grows taller and straighter to reach the canopy. The young foliage is pale green, with three to five lobes, giving the young leaves a shape reminiscent of maple leaves. As foliage matures, it typically becomes more oval in shape. The small, fragrant white flowers are borne in clusters at the ends of the branches, similar to the flower arrangement of a Mango tree.

Plant Profile/Properties