Common Name:

General Information

Coffea eugenioides is usually a shrub, but sometimes becomes more tree-like. It grows 1 - 4.5 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, coffee and source of wood. It is a promising wild coffee that has been cultivated on a trial basis and shows potential for developing improved forms[]. It is sometimes sold in local markets and the plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo, Tanzania.

Habitat

Under-storey vegetation in forests, at elevations from 1,000 - 2,100 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	2.50 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, in Tanzania it grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is 800 - 2,100mm[].
Tolerates a wide range of soil types, though it grows best in sandy clay loams and sandy loams[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. The ripe red fruits are eaten as a snack, mostly by children. The fruit is eaten frequently in moderate amounts[]. The fruit is sometimes boiled, then dried and stored for later use[]. The fruit is a two-seeded red drupe 8 - 10mm long[].

The seeds are ground into a powder and used as coffee[]. The seeds have a very low caffeine content and coffee made from them tastes mild and agreeable[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The plant plays a role in breeding work of Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, especially in broadening the genetic base and lowering the caffeine content[].

The wood is used for poles and tool handles[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -

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