Yoco
Paullinia yoco

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

Yoco, Paullinia yoco, is a tropical vine with stems growing up to 12cm in diameter. It can be found in South America. The sap obtained from the bark contain 2.73% caffeine and is used as a stimulating breakfast beverage. It is also taken medicinally against fever, nausea, and vomiting.

Paullinia yoco is an evergreen Climber growing to 15 m (49ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 15

Where it is found

Not known

S. America - Peru, Ecuador, Colombia.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Colombia*, Ecuador*, Peru*, South America,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

The softer tissues of the bark, stems and wood are used to extract the white or brownish sap which has been shown to contain 2.73% caffeine. The native people in adjacent Colombia regularly used this product as a stimulating breakfast beverage. The stem is cut into pieces 30 - 100cm long, and the epidermis, cortex, and phloem are rasped. The scrapings thus obtained are squeezed to express the caffein-bearing sap into cold water (hot or warm water is never used with yoco), the rasped tissues being then discarded. The liquid, of a cloudy milky-white or light chocolate-brown colour, is drunk cold. The beverage, which is taken early every morning, allays hunger and supplies muscular stimulation. Lianas of Paullinia Yoco, which have a stout stem at least 8cm in diameter at the base, are utilized. Usually several trees must be felled before the liana falls to the ground. Starting at the root, the stem is then cut into pieces which may vary from 30 - 100cm in length. These pieces are stored in cool corners of Indian houses and can retain their stimulating properties for a month or even longer.

Inner bark: the bark that is found just beneath the tough outer bark of trees and shrubs.

Sap: usually of trees and usually but not always used as a drink.

Stem: this often intergrades into leaves.

Coffee: the various substitutes that can be used instead of coffee.

Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.

Medicine

Rating: 2

A beverage made from the stem (see edible uses), is taken medicinally as a febrifuge and as a curative for a bilious disease. In addition to its use as a stimulant, yoco is employed, in larger dosages, as an anti-malarial febrifuge and as a medicine in the treatment of a bilious disease which is frequent in the Putumayo.

Antibilious: Corrects the secretions of bile.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Malaria: Treats malaria - an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites spread to people through the bites of mosquitos.

Stimulant: Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.

Other

Rating: 0

Other Uses None known

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

Not known

Propagating it: Seed -

Best place to grow:

Habit: Climber

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Yoco, yoko.

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.