Coffea eugenioides
Family: Rubiaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows 1-5 m tall. The bark is shiny and light brown. The leaves are opposite. They are narrowly oval and 2-12 cm long. They have a long pointed tip. The flowers are cream to white. They are tube shaped and 1 cm long with 5 pointed lobes. They occur as 1 or 2 in the axils of leaves. The fruit is fleshy and has 2 seeds. The fruit are 8-10 mm long. They have a soft skin and turn bright red. The seeds are yellow to brown and 8 mm long.
There are about 40 Coffea species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows as an under-storey plant in the forest. In Tanzania it grows between 1,000-2,100 m above sea level. It is in areas with 800-2,100 mm rainfall.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda
How it is used for food
The ripe red fruit are eaten as a snack. The seeds are ground and used as coffee. Boiled fruit can be dried and stored for later use.
The fruit are eaten especially by children. It is sold in local markets.
Edible parts
Fruit, seeds - coffee
How it is grown
It can be grown from seeds.
In Tanzania fruit are collected in June-July and December - January.
Its other names
Local names
Kikwandie, Mkahawa mwitu, Mpucha, Msebere, Mtabagira, Musebele