© 2006 Carla Antonini · CC BY-SA 2.5 arMacaw palm (Paraguayan coconut)
Acrocomia aculeata · mbokaja
A spiny palm of the open country whose small coconuts are sold on the street and yield oil.
What it is
A palm with long spines on its trunk, very common in pastures and fields of the Eastern Region, where it is often left standing when land is cleared. It produces clusters of small coconuts with a sweet, fibrous pulp that people chew, and a very hard seed from which oil is extracted. These “coconuts” are sold at fairs, markets and roadside stalls.
Did you know…?
At the 1936 meeting of the Ateneo Paraguayo, where a national flower was chosen, the mbokaja was one of the candidate plants.
Season
The clusters ripen between spring and summer. The coconuts are available in markets much of the year.
Where
Fields and pastures of Cordillera, Paraguarí, Central and San Pedro. The coconuts are sold at markets, fairs and roadside stands.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.