Illipe nut is the commercial name for the winged fruits produced by about 20 different species of Shorea trees. The seeds from these fruits contain an oil whose chemical and physical properties are remarkably similar to cocoa butter. The oil content of some seeds may be as high as 50%. Large quantities of illipe nuts are collected and sold to be used in the manufacture of chocolate, soap and cosmetics. In 1987, a recent mast year, over 13,000 tons of illipe nuts valued at over 5 million dollars (US) were exported from West Kalimantan, Indonesia alone. Less than 50 tons were collected the following year. The Dayak children shown to the left are holding the fruits of Shorea macrophylla, or tengkawang tungkul as it is known locally.
