Maya nut Store — Coming Soon
Scroll to preview future beverages, powder, and flour products. These are placeholder items while the first maya nut plantation grows.
About The MayaNut Company
Welcome to mayanut.com, home of The MayaNut Company. We were founded in 2025 by August Kokus, a South Floridian botanist. August wanted to create his own unique world, but how? He'd have to develop a species which had economic potential and was itself new. His facination with banyan trees led him to discover Moraceae, and soon the maya nut plant, which resembeled a fig in its fruit, but had a seed infinetly more valuable.
August Kokus
August Kokus created The MayaNut Company because he wanted to leave something behind for the world to see. Often wondering and questioning the natural world around him and admiring its beauty, he wanted to capture that very essence of nature in something for humanity.
But what if we could grow an underutilized species, like Brosimum alicastrum, and create an entirely new industry around it?
In 2025, that is exactly what August Kokus had in mind. The foundation of The MayaNut Company was the way to bring his love for botany into something successful and brave. It would not be easy, but building an entire industry from the ground up — literally — was a challenge worth accepting.
By 2030, August expects to have at least one functional plantation, at least one acre in size, for the world to start enjoying. It truly is amazing to create something new like a maya nut/breadnut plantation, and accomplishing things no one has ever achieved.
Where We’re Growing
South Florida’s subtropical climate makes it especially well suited for this species, which is why a dedicated maya nut plantation is being developed as the foundation for future maya nut beverages, powders, and more.
It is currently unknown how far north in Florida Brosimum alicastrum can grow and be successful, but any place in Florida at or below 27°N (just south of Stuart, Florida) is confirmed to be able to survive winters with ease. Trees could probably survive up to about 28°N as well, but long-term trials are still needed.
Our Mission
What we hope to achieve is a lasting effect down through the coming centuries — a way to establish something beautiful and new. We want the species Brosimum alicastrum (known as maya nut, breadnut, ojoche, ramón, or guaimaro) not to be overlooked, but enjoyed and celebrated in American culture.
Our Fascination
From their wicked, entangled roots that grip ever tighter upon the Earth, there grows an agricultural miracle. We are fascinated by Brosimum alicastrum because this is a resource that no one has truly valued in America yet. People have used this tree for millennia in its native range, but by growing it in Florida, we give everyone a chance to try this delicious superfood. Developing something that people love is not easy — but it is the perfect challenge for The MayaNut Company to accomplish.
Research on Brosimum alicastrum (maya nut)
The MayaNut Company is deeply interested in the science and history behind Brosimum alicastrum. Around the world, researchers have studied its nutritional profile, potential use as a staple food, ecological roles in tropical forests, and its long history as a traditional food source.
Common Names & Synonyms
Brosimum alicastrum is known by many common names across its range. In English and Spanish it is often called maya nut or nuez de ramón. Other names include breadnut, ojoche, ramón, guaimaro, and regional spellings such as guayumaro, oox or ox.
All of these names generally refer to the same tree species and its edible seeds. Using “maya nut” helps people discover this underused tropical resource in search engines and scientific literature.
Natural Range & Climate
Brosimum alicastrum, commonly called maya nut, mayan breadnut, breadnut, ramón, ojoche, or guaimaro, is native to the tropical and subtropical forests of Mesoamerica and northern South America. Its natural range extends from southern Mexico and Guatemala through much of Central America and into parts of Colombia and Venezuela.
In its home range the tree can be found from lowland rainforests near sea level up into mid-elevation cloud forests. It prefers warm, humid climates with distinct wet and dry seasons, and it tolerates a wide variety of soils as long as they are not permanently waterlogged.
For Florida, The MayaNut Company is especially interested in how far north the species can be grown reliably. Early evidence suggests that areas at or below about 27°N (just south of Stuart, Florida) should be suitable for long-term cultivation, with the best success expected in the warmest parts of South Florida.
Growth
Maya nut is a medium to large evergreen tree, often reaching 20–35 m (65–100 ft) tall in favorable conditions. Young trees typically grow with a straight trunk and a dense, rounded canopy that becomes more spreading with age.
Seedlings establish best in filtered light or partial shade, then gradually adapt to more open conditions as they mature. Once rooted, the tree develops a strong, extensive root system that helps it tolerate seasonal droughts and anchor itself firmly in the soil.
Flowering and fruiting depend on local climate, but in many areas trees can bear annually once they reach maturity. The fruits ripen into small, yellow-orange drupes containing a single, nutritious seed — the “maya nut” — which can be dried, roasted, or ground into flour or beverage bases.
In Agriculture
Maya nut has strong potential as a multipurpose agroforestry tree. Its dense canopy provides deep, cool shade that can protect understory crops, livestock, or people from intense tropical sun. In traditional systems the tree has been grown with maize, cacao, and other crops, helping to stabilize soils and recycle nutrients through leaf litter.
The seeds themselves are a highly versatile product. They can be roasted to make a caffeine-free beverage, ground into flour for baking, or combined with other ingredients for new food and drink products. Leaves and fallen fruit have also been used as animal fodder in some regions.
For Florida, The MayaNut Company is exploring how maya nut can fit into modern tropical agriculture — including mixed plantings, windbreaks, shade systems, and future commercial orchards focused on beverage, powder, and flour production.
Ecology & Forest Role
In its native forests, Brosimum alicastrum is an important food source for wildlife. Bats, birds, and terrestrial mammals feed on the fruit and help disperse the seeds. The tree’s deep roots and dense canopy contribute to soil stability, water regulation, and local microclimates.
Because it can fruit heavily and consistently, maya nut has been considered in some areas as a key species for forest restoration and community food security projects, helping bridge gaps between conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
Future Directions
The MayaNut Company is working toward a future in which maya nut is a familiar and celebrated ingredient in American kitchens. That future will depend on careful field trials, selection of promising seed sources, and collaboration with growers, researchers, and local communities across Florida and beyond.
As new farms are established and more data become available, this page will grow to include findings on cold tolerance, yield potential in different parts of Florida, ideal spacing, intercropping combinations, and processing methods for beverages, powders, and flours.
Until then, this research overview is a starting point — a way to share why we believe Brosimum alicastrum is worth watching, planting, and studying for generations to come.
The MayaNut Company Blog
Our blog will follow the journey of maya nut from seed to beverage. We plan to share updates about our farms, planting experiments, weather events, and behind-the-scenes notes as we develop our first maya nut products.
Future posts may include:
- Planting diaries from different parts of South Florida
- Thoughts on agroforestry and long-term tree crops
- Early taste tests and recipe ideas for maya nut beverages and flours
- Reflections on what it means to build a brand-new industry around an underused species
As the project grows, the blog on this main page will become a living record of how The MayaNut Company develops over the years.
What is maya nut?
Maya nut is the seed of the mysterious, tropical rainforest tree Brosimum alicastrum. The seed can be roasted and ground into a powder, then brewed into a rich, naturally caffeine-free beverage. If harvested fresh and seperated from its fruity pulp, the seeds can can go through a process nixtamalization, which is the very same process corn must go through to become corn-flour. Seeds may then be ground into a paste and made into tortillas or any baked goods like cookies and bread.
Is maya nut the same as breadnut, ojoche or ramón?
Yes. In different regions, the tree and its seeds are known as maya nut, breadnut, ojoche, ramón or guaimaro. They all refer to the same species, Brosimum alicastrum, or to its roasted seeds used for food and drink. For English, mayanut as one word, just like jackfruit, should be used to refer to this new plant.
Can Brosimum alicastrum grow in Florida?
Early observations suggest that warm parts of Florida, especially South Florida at or below about 27°N, can support this species. Our work focuses on proving how well maya nut can grow and produce in subtropical Florida conditions. No one has yet come along to commercilaze this species, and we, The MayaNut Company, choose Brosimum alicastrum as our candidate species for the reviltization of humanity.
When will I be able to buy maya nut beverages?
The plantation is still being established. Our goal is to have functional plantings and early products by the late 2020s, ('28-'29). Until then, this site shows concepts and placeholder products while the trees grow. As of late November, 2025, we currently have 200 mayanut trees ready for a forever home. The most probably, an old citrus grove. With a dying citrus industry, and monoculture orchards, ensuring genetic diversity in Brosimum alicastrum population by continous expeditions seeking new genetic strains of unique qualities. Our dream would be to replace the orange on the Florida license plate, as the new breadwinner of South Florida agriculture.
Is The MayaNut Company currently open to partnerships?
We are in an early development phase and welcome interest from growers, researchers, and future distribution partners. See the Contact section below to reach out.
Contact The MayaNut Company
If you are interested in maya nut trees, future maya nut beverages and powders, agroforestry in Florida, or potential research or business collaborations, we would welcome you and be happy to hear from you.
Email: themayanutcompany@gmail.com
Instagram: @themayanutcompany
As the project grows, this main page at mayanut.com will remain the central place to learn about our plantation, products, and news. Thank you for your support because it contributes to the evolution of a species.
