Chocolate berry
Vitex payos

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A small to medium sized tree. It grows 4-10 m tall. The crown is rounded. The bark is grey to brown. There are cracks along its length. Young parts of the plant are covered with light brown woolly hairs. The leaves have 5 leaflets. (Sometimes there are 3 or 4). The leaflets are broadly oval and 11 cm long by 6 cm wide. They are bright green and finely hairy. The edges are often thickened and rolled under. The leaf stalk can be 12 cm long. The flowers are white to dark mauve and 6 mm long. They have 2 lips. The lower lip is mauve and upper one white. The occur in small heads made up of a few flowers. They are on a common stalk 7 cm long. The fruit are oval and 1.5-2 cm long. They are black when mature. There is a cup at the base. The fruit are edible.

Also put in the family Verbenaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in open woodland and on rocky outcrops at medium to low altitudes. In Kenya it grows from sea level to 1,600 m altitude. It is usually in more arid zones. It is often on sandy soils. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. They have a coffee-like flavour. They are also used for drinks.

The fruit are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It can be grown from ripe seed.

It grows fairly quickly. The mature green fruit can be covered in ash to encourage ripening.

Its other names

Local names

Chicuvu, Fudu, Huvu, Kimuu, Mfudu, Mfufu, Mfulu, Mgobe, Mpulu,Muburu, Mufudu, Mufutu, Mupulu, Mupuuru, Mupuva, Mutsubvu, Muu, Npuroterre, Tsubvu, Umchangwela, Umtshwankela

Synonyms

Vitax eylesii S. Moore; Vitex hildebrandtii sensu Garcia; Vitex iringensis Burke; Vitex isotjensis Gibbs; Vitex zambesiaca Baker; and others