In 1951, the Controller of Timber in South Africa passed Proclamation 257 declaring S. While the fruit is prolific and the tree widely available, all efforts are made to ensure that the product we bring to you is environmentally friendly and. However, the tale is unfortunately untrue. The tree is usually found in Miombo Woodlands in different regions of Africa, while its fruit is being used for “Amarula Cream Liqueur” and several alcoholic beverages. The tree is indigenous to Southern Africa. Also, the fruit is a great source of vitamins, minerals and protein for human beings and animals alike. The nut in the centre is also high in protein. So if you’ve ever wondered what the animals are after, give it a go. Not only the fruit, but also the nut, are rich in minerals and vitamins. We estimate that this is a typical size and shape that one can expect a Marula tree to achieve in a garden setting with ideal soil and water availability. Jamie Uys made the story popular (originally stemming from Zulu folklore) in his 1974 documentary “Beautiful People”. It also has wide-spread branches, and the fruits ripen between December and March, the summer months of Southern Africa. 4. Wonderful fertilizer to start out a seed’s chances at life. Well, you might be astounded to know that in Swaziland alone, there are about 2 million Marula Trees and, on average, a mature tree can produce up to 500kg of fruit a year. The nutritious little fruit is the size of a small plum, but it packs a punch. It was spread further into West Africa and Madagascar by bantu tribes. The marula tree, along with the delicious marula fruit it bears, has a long history with Africa, one that dates as far back as 10,000 BC. The marula tree is indigenous to the miombo woodlands of southern Africa. These fruits have a socio-economic importance to many people groups, from Kwazulu-Natal to Ethiopia. Marula wood has been traditionally used for carving pestles and mortars, bowls, drums, beehives and stools and even canoes in some areas. Giraffes, warthogs, elephants, kudus, and waterbucks all enjoy the leaves and fruit of the tree. There is a very entertaining bit of folklore based on the Marula fruit. It’s a tree native to Southern Africa, and is used in the fermentation of the national liqueur of South Africa called Amarula – a milky liqueur similar to Bailey’s Irish Cream, but it does have its own unique taste.I quite like it. The animals then proceed to stagger and behave like drunkards. Even the green leaves are eaten to relieve heartburn. With its single-stem trunk and wide-spreading crown, the tree grows between 9 and 18 meters tall and bears the coveted Marula fruit that only grows for a short window in the year. Marula prune only branches that grow down, the season to prune it’s autumn to winter. GOOD NIGHT: FRUITS OF BOTSWANA - MORULA Morula or Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) is a fruit bearing tree indigenous to Botswana and other parts of Africa. The story goes that the ripe fruit falls from the branches of the Marula tree. Marula beer is very popular in rural Southern African populations. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Marula fruit ripens from January to April when the ripe fruit falls to the ground. The Marula tree grows in South Africa. The marula tree is one of Namibia’s most versatile and thus important indigenous trees. Interestingly, Marula trees are gendered. The fruit is cooked until the water changes colour and is then removed. Marula Tree and Fruit – Drunken Elephant Time? For years the tree’s fruit has been used to … The Marula tree has a long history with Africa and Africans, dating as far back as 10,000 BC. The Marula Tree. The story of elephants eating marula fruit, and getting absolutely hammered, was first heard in the early 1800s however, this theory has sadly since been put to rest – sorry if you were hoping to catch an elephant in a drunken daze. The bark of the tree has medicinal properties and is used widely in treating dysentery and diarrhoea, rheumatism, insect bites and a variety of other ailments. CURIOSITY. Or even more idyllically, enjoy it on a ‘safari drives’ with the elephants. The liqueur Amarula is made from the marula fruit. The making of this beer is a much appreciated skill set, and each batch can taste different, depending on which trees it was harvested from, the age (in days, not years), and the technique of the woman who makes it. Essence from the leaves is said to provide a remedy for abscesses, spider bites and burns. Fascinatingly enough, only the female trees bears fruits, while the male tree displays flower. It is single-stemmed with a dense, spreading crown and deciduous foliage. African Animals Getting Drunk From Ripe Marula Fruit - YouTube These days, planning a trip is relatively simple. Look no further. This vast area is home to the Sclerocarya Birrea, also known as the marula tree. Fruit is very juicy and aromatic and is the size of a small plum. Fascinatingly enough, only the female trees bears fruits, while the male tree displays flower. Marula tree plant it in the spring need female and male to bear fruit, doesn’t need a lot of water, grow fast and need full sun. Marula trees (Sclerocarya birrea is their scientific name) are widespread across Southern Africa. Like these plants, parts of the marula are also edible. And long before Amarula Cream became one of South Africa’s best exports, rural women were making “buganu”. Marula trees belong to the family Anacardiaceae, and are related to mangoes, pistachios, and cashews. Unlike other traditional trees, the marula fruits fall off while they are still hard and green. Of course, the picture of drunk wild animals staggering about and behaving uncharacteristically (but very recognisably for those of us who have enjoyed a bit too much) is very funny. The tree produces bark, fruit, roots, and seeds that are used in a number of applications. It is a deciduous tree belonging to the same family as cashew, mango and pistachio. It is then stored for processing throughout the year and used for various purposes, including other alcoholic drinks, and cosmetics. The fruit has different color, as they are in … Marula fruit comes from medium sized tree that belongs to Brachystegia genus. Clearly, this is no ordinary grocery store classic. This tree is mainly found in Miombo Woodlands in different regions of Africa. About 6% of all flowering plants have this characteristic. Also, animals spread the scope of this tree by eating the tasty fruits and then defecating the seeds. The third and final day’s beer is called Lutanda. Only the female tree can bear fruit. The size of the Marula tree icon, when measured against a 1.8m tall person, is about 10m high and 12m diameter. Marula is a medium to large tree, usually 9 metres tall, but can grow up to 18 metres. It is characterized by a grey mottled bark. The skin of the marula fruit is incredibly high in vitamin C, at eight times more than an orange. This fruit has socio-economic importance within communities, and it provides a much needed source of income for those who most need it. And the narrator makes us all believe that the Marula fruit is nature’s own liquor, and a local favorite amongst these deviant animals. Dans le film de Jamie Uys Animals Are Beautiful People (en) , sorti en 1974, des scènes montrent des éléphants, des autruches, des phacochères et des singes saouls après avoir consommé des fruits fermentés. Popularly known as the fruit that gets elephants and humans drunk, we can see why it would be a fan favorite. jams, juice, flavoured water, sweets, essential oils, traditional beer and world exported beverages such as Amarula Cream) which are readily available in the market. The tree closely resembles the “tree of life,” made popular by the movie The Lion King. They took the fruit with them when they migrated, because it is such a rich source of vitamins and minerals. The fruit form varies from almost spherical to oval with a tough, strong skin, which is light yellow when ripe. Fruit of the Marula Tree (Scelerocarya birrea). Many parts of the tree are used in traditional medicinal remedies. The fruits of this tree are the main source for “Amarula Cream Liqueur” and other alcoholic beverages. The fruit from the Marula tree taste like a caramel flavored alcohol that the wild animals love to eat.You can buy distilled Marula Tree liqueur (17% alcohol) from a … The fruit are collected, washed and cut open and the nut removed. It is native to many African countries including South Africa, Malawi, Namibia, Niger, Botswana, Gambia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola and a few more. The Marula bears small round shaped fruit; (green in colour when unripe) that ripens to a yellow colour and can be harvested by being collected from the ground from January to March. There are male and female trees, each with their own type of flowers. It then ferments on the ground for a while before being eaten by wild animals, like elephants, giraffes, baboons and warthogs. 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