A palm tree native to South America, particularly Brazil, whose berries produce a nutritious oil used in food and cosmetics.
From Tupi (Brazilian indigenous language) 'ita,' the native name for the palm tree. The word entered English through Portuguese colonial trade.
Ita palm oil has become trendy as a sustainable superfood with more antioxidants than many famous 'superfruits,' yet it remains relatively unknown in English compared to açaí or coconut—a reminder that indigenous knowledge from the Amazon is still being 'discovered' by Western markets.
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