Lapacho

Lapacho (Portuguese: Ipê - roxo, Pau d' arco) is the colloquial name for a number of Central and South America occurring and there up to 35 meters tall tree species, including Handroanthus impetiginosus (syn. Tabebuia impetiginosa ) Handroanthus heptaphyllus and Handroanthus serratifolius. Lapacho trees are deciduous and wear during the flowering period ( in South America from May to August ) numerous pink, red, yellow or white bell-shaped flowers.

From the Indians of the Lapacho is called the tree of life.

Use

The Lapacho has a hard and heavy wood of high quality. In addition, the inner bark ( bast layer ) is suitable for the preparation of the tea: The aqueous extracts of the bark already took advantage of the Incas, and later the Indians of Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay took the Lapacho infusion as a medicinal and Genusstee. In addition to potassium, calcium and iron Lapacho tea also contains trace elements such as barium, strontium, iodine, and boron, but no caffeine. Effective substances in Lapacho tea is mainly the antibiotic naphthoquinone lapachol or lapachone, which also have a digestion stimulating, tonic effect. Investigations in connection with a suspected anti-cancer activity, however, are still pending.

The taste of the tea is earthy with a slightly sweet vanilla note and that of rooibos tea a bit similar.

Five-fold, hand -shaped leaves

Pink trumpet- shaped flowers

Yellow Lapacho ( Handroanthus serratifolius )

Cut bark of Lapachobaums for making tea

Lapacho bark as a tea