In Brazil many kinds of native palms can provide hearth palm of good quality and among them stands out the guarirobeira (Syagrus oleracea (Mart.) J. Becc.), which has different flavor and great acceptance in the Cerrado region. The objective of this research was to determine the characteristics of guariroba palm heart, with relationship to the moisture, ash, total lipids, proteins, reducer and no-reducer sugars, acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenol, pH, total fiber and iron, phosphorus, calcium, sodium and potassium minerals. It was also verified the effect of processing (blanching, acidification and freezing) in the frozen product. Significant differences (P<0.05) was noted among average values found in frozen and raw samples, with contents (g 100g-1) respectively, for moisture, of 87.68 and 90.56; ash, 0.96 and 0.73; and lipids, 0.44 and 0.24; besides the occurrence of decreasing energy value from 11.64 to 9.97kcal 100g-1 in the integral sample. The citric acid use in the processing of guariroba palm heart decreased the pH of 5.8 to 4.5, and was efficient for avoid browning. The guariroba palm heart still be a good source of e fiber and total phenol after freezing, in addition to offer high contents of vitamin C and iron mineral.
Syagrus oleracea; acrid palm heart; processing; quality
