Sweet tea, Many-spiked lithocarpus
Lithocarpus polystachyus
Family: Fagaceae
What it is like
A medium sized tree. It grows 10-15 m tall. The trunk is 10-15 cm across. The leaves are broadly oval and 8-17 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. There is a grey covering underneath. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The flowers are separate on the same plant. The fruit is a nut. The fruit are shiny with a pointed tip.
There are about 300 Lithocarpus species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in dense tropical evergreen forests from about 300-400 m altitude and above. Some types can grow on poor dry savannah soils. It need light.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The seeds or nuts contain starch. The young leaves are used to make a tea drink.
Edible parts
Seeds, leaves - drink, nuts
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Meik-kaw-kaw, Soi bong nhieu, Thit-e-gyin, Thit-e-pan