Cordia ecalyculata

Family: Boraginaceae

What it is like

A small evergreen tree. The crown is oval and dense. It grows 8-12 m tall. The trunk is 30-40 cm across. The leaves are narrowly oval to sword shaped. The fruit are red and like a coffee bean.

It contains caffeine.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows as an understorey tree in the forest. It suits moist, well-drained fertile soils. It suits a sunny position. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina (country/location of origin), Brazil (country/location of origin), Paraguay, South America

How it is used for food

The fruit are roasted and made into a coffee drink.

Edible parts

Fruit - coffee, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from fresh seeds. It is best if the hard seed coat is broken by light scratching. It is best put into a nursery and then transplanted into the field after 6-9 months.

Its other names

Local names

Cha de bugre, Louro-mole, Porangaba

Synonyms

Cordia coffeoides Warm.; Cordia dugynia Vell.; Cordia leptocaula Fresen.; Cordia roxburghii C. B. Clarke; Cordia salicifolia Cham.; Gerascanthus salicifolius (Cham.) Borhidi; Lithocardium roxburghii Kuntze; Lithocardium salicifolium Kuntze;