“Mirar hacia el icaco.” This expression means “to look toward the Icaco”. In Nicaragua, it describes someone distracted during a conversation. But right now all eyes are on Punta Icaco.
Punta Icaco is a tapering piece of land. It projects into the water. It is less prominent than a cape.
Punta Icaco is located in Chinandega Nicaragua. It’s near the city of Corinto. Linda Vista is also close. Its rough GPS position is 12.4667° latitude and -87.1833° longitude.
Sunrise here occurs around 6:08 AM. Sunset happens around 5:56 PM.
The name “Icaco” comes from the Chrysobalanus icaco plant. This plant is also called Cocoplum. Or White Plum or Pigeon Plum. Some even call it Pork-Fat-Apple.
The Icaco fruit is small. It is about 2 to 5 centimeters in diameter. Its shape is round to oval. The skin can be magenta. It can also be white with a pink blush. Or dark purple.
The flesh of the Icaco fruit is white. It is spongy and cottony. Inside, there is a dark brown stone. This stone contains a seed. The seed tastes faintly of almonds.
Icaco fruits are edible when ripe. They have a mild and neutral taste. There are also subtle sweet, astringent, and acidic notes.
Icaco fruit is available almost year-round. It has a peak season from late spring through summer.
Icaco fruits are nutritious. They contain fiber and iron. They also have calcium and vitamins A and C.
The Icaco plant has medicinal uses. Its fruit, bark, roots, and leaves are used in natural medicines. They cleanse the body. They can also lessen symptoms of diarrhea.
People use Icaco fruits in cooking. They make jams and jellies. They stew them in sugar. They can also preserve the whole fruit in vinegar.
The seeds are also edible. They are roasted and consumed as a snack. They can be ground into a powder for use as a spice.
In Central America, Icaco is a popular ornamental shrub. Its colorful fruits are foraged for culinary purposes. People boil the fruits and leaves to produce a black dye. The seeds are made into jewelry.
Icaco helps protect erosion-prone areas. It prevents soil from moving. It preserves landscapes near water.
Chrysobalanus icaco is native to tropical America, the Caribbean, and Africa. It grows near lagoons and coastlines. It is also found in marshes and swamps.
Remember the phrase, “Mirar hacia el icaco”. But do not get distracted by the Icaco fruit and miss the beauty of Punta Icaco.