The story goes that the ripe fruit falls from the branches of the Marula tree. Marula trees (Sclerocarya birrea is their scientific name) are widespread across Southern Africa. This tree is mainly found in Miombo Woodlands in different regions of Africa. For years the tree’s fruit has been used to … As it is women who are the creators of this wonderous beer, they are also the main benefactors. The scientific name of the Marula fruit tree is Sclerocarya Birrea. Popularly known as the fruit that gets elephants and humans drunk, we can see why it would be a fan favorite. Looking for a quick escape from the bustling streets of Johannesburg? The marula fruit tree (Sclerocarya birrea) is native to parts of southern Africa.The trees grow wild and were once rare, but are now cultivated. The fruit flesh is soft, whitish, and contains fibers. It is delicious eaten fresh, or may be cooked to produce jams, juices, or alcoholic beverages. The skin of the marula fruit is incredibly high in vitamin C, at eight times more than an orange. The nut in the centre is also high in protein. This means that they cannot self-fertilize, they have to be fertilized by the pollen of the opposite gender. 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. Also, it provides some very necessary income to the women who make and sell it. Marula fruit comes from medium sized tree that belongs to Brachystegia genus. So perhaps we all want to believe this tale of debauchery . African Animals Getting Drunk From Ripe Marula Fruit - YouTube Look no further. The nutritious little fruit is the size of a small plum, but it packs a punch. It is single-stemmed with a dense, spreading crown and deciduous foliage. Introduction of Marula Fruit Scientific name - Sclerocarya birrea Sclerocarya birrea, commonly known as the Marula is a medium-sized dioecious tree, native to the Miombo woodlands of Southern Africa, the Sudano-Sahelian range of West Africa, and Madagascar. The liqueur Amarula is made from the marula fruit. Not only does it feature in countless African fables, but its fruit also offers a range of uses that go beyond it simply providing a tasty snack – truly one of Africa’ botanical treasures. 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. Also, the other animals that favor this fruit generally eat it fresh and ripe off the branches, instead of rotting on the ground. So if you’ve ever wondered what the animals are after, give it a go. It has the lowest alcohol percentage, and it is sweet and tasty. It allows the Marula tree to reduce harmful mutations. Marula is a medium sized tree belonging to the Brachystegia genus. Most well known for its fruits that ‘drive elephants mad’ when dropped to the ground and lightly fermented, marula is a much-loved tree in the veld in Africa. 3. Fruit of the Marula Tree (Scelerocarya birrea). The second day’s beer is Neshana, and it’s alcohol percentage is higher, while the taste is less sweet, more sour. All About the Marula Fruit. It then ferments on the ground for a while before being eaten by wild animals, like elephants, giraffes, baboons and warthogs. The fruit form varies from almost spherical to oval with a tough, strong skin, which is light yellow when ripe. Many parts of the tree are used in traditional medicinal remedies. 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. 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. It is single-stemmed with a dense, spreading crown and deciduous foliage. The fruit has different color, as they are in … Jamie Uys made the story popular (originally stemming from Zulu folklore) in his 1974 documentary “Beautiful People”. Marula season is a time of festivity … Unlike other traditional trees, the marula fruits fall off while they are still hard and green. Wonderful fertilizer to start out a seed’s chances at life. The tall marula tree bears up to 500 kilograms of fruit annually. There are male and female trees, each with their own type of flowers. 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. Marula beer is very popular in rural Southern African populations. Because the Marula fruit ferments so quickly, there are three different kinds of Marula beer, each made a day apart to get different alcohol percentages and tastes. Marula fruit is incredibly high in vitamin C, containing eight times more of it than an orange. Evidence shows that the Marula fruit was a very important part of the diet of ancient peoples in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. Only the female tree can bear fruit. And long before Amarula Cream became one of South Africa’s best exports, rural women were making “buganu”. The marula is an erect tree that reaches heights of 15 m. Male and female flowers occur separately, and although they are usually on separate trees, this is not always so. Preliminary tests show weak pharmalogical activity relative to hypertension, anti-inflammation and painkilling. marula, the forbidden fruit of the elephant tree To introduce you to Marula Gin, we’ll take you on a trip to Namibia and the Miombo woodlands of Southern Africa. It also has 2 small very tasty high protein nuts. The skin of the marula fruit is incredibly high in vitamin C, at eight times more than an orange. The marula fruit, which ripens from January to March, is the size of a small plum, and has 4 times more Vitamin C than an orange. 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. Fascinatingly enough, only the female trees bears fruits, while the male tree displays flower. And the narrator makes us all believe that the Marula fruit is nature’s own liquor, and a local favorite amongst these deviant animals. It may also be cooked to produce jam, juices and alcoholic beverages. It is native to many African countries including South Africa, Malawi, Namibia, Niger, Botswana, Gambia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola and a few more. Whether or not the Marula holds entertainment value in getting animals drunk, we are still a big fan of this little fruit. The fruit are collected, washed and cut open and the nut removed. Amarula (and more recently, one or two lesser known brands) is a cream based Marula liqueur, similar to the popular Irish brand, Bailey’s. It is then stored for processing throughout the year and used for various purposes, including other alcoholic drinks, and cosmetics. Even the green leaves are eaten to relieve heartburn. There is a very entertaining bit of folklore based on the Marula fruit. It is certainly a South African favorite for a reason. The Marula tree is then able to stay healthy through the ways that it has adapted and evolved to survive. 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 tree in the savannah Tall marula tree in the African savannah under blue skies. While the fruit does indeed ferment quickly, the elephants would need to eat a huge amount of the fermented Marulas, and it’s unlikely that they ever do this. They are edible and are very high in vitamin C (levels up to four times higher than an orange). These fruits have a socio-economic importance to many people groups, from Kwazulu-Natal to Ethiopia. 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 … It was spread further into West Africa and Madagascar by bantu tribes. Needless to say, this special tree has deep roots in the continent and not only features in countless African fables, but its fruit also offers a range of uses that go beyond it simply providing a tasty snack. (Plus More Interesting Info), The Benefits and Uses of the Marula Fruit, Cheetah vs Leopard(Battle Of The Big Cats), Fascinating Elephant Sounds And What They Mean, Victoria Falls in July | The Best Victoria Falls Tours for 2020/2021. It is a deciduous tree belonging to the same family as cashew, mango and pistachio. The fruit is cooked until the water changes colour and is then removed. The nutritious little fruit is the size of a small plum, but it packs a punch. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees, the flowers of male plants producing pollen and the female flowers producing the fruit for which the tree is so well known. Giraffes, warthogs, elephants, kudus, and waterbucks all enjoy the leaves and fruit of the tree. These days, planning a trip is relatively simple. The tree grows well between 769 to 921m in elevation, and occurs in semi-arid to sub humid portions of Africa. Fruit is very juicy and aromatic and is the size of a small plum. It is high in vitamin C and can be eaten fresh. Le fruit du marula est mangé par de nombreux animaux dans le sud de l'Afrique. They bloom from September to November and then bear edible fruit between January and March. Most well known as the fruit that 'drives elephants mad' when dropped to the ground and lightly fermented, marula is a much-loved tree in the veld in Africa. This vast area is home to the Sclerocarya Birrea, also known as the marula tree. Unfortunately, none of this is true, as the producers of this documentary actually soaked the fruit in alcohol before filming, causing the animals to get drunk and behave abnormally. The tree is indigenous to Southern Africa. The tree is protected in South Africa. The fruit is eaten fresh or processed into drinks and jams. The Marula Tree. The fruit of the marula tree is very popular and sought after. The marula is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree with an erect trunk and rounded crown. So there’s a beer for every taste! We’ll explore the many reasons why this is such an important and beloved fruit in Africa, and why the rest of the world should adopt it as their own. 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. It is characterized by a grey mottled bark. Marula prune only branches that grow down, the season to prune it’s autumn to winter. There is even legend that a woman can take bark from the male or female tree. The Marula fruit has a number of unusual traits and uses. A decent consolation prize, we think. A mature tree can yield up to 500kg of fruit in a year. See them on an elephant safari to take in their majestic and often amusing antics. During colonial times it was even used for tomato boxes and toilet seats. The third and final day’s beer is called Lutanda. Folk medicine uses the roots, bark, and leaves of the tree to cure a number of illnesses. Marula trees belong to the family Anacardiaceae, and are related to mangoes, pistachios, and cashews. Marula beer is one of the favorite benefits of this tart fruit. 4. The footage showed elephants and various other animals gorging themselves on the fruit at the foot of a Marula tree. 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. Marula fruit are normally processed and conserved into various product forms (e.g. 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. Reason enough for some! The fruit is harvested off of their communal land by members of the community. You’ll find them in miombo woodland areas, the most famous of which is the Greater Kruger, one of Africa’s ultimate safari destinations. GOOD NIGHT: FRUITS OF BOTSWANA - MORULA Morula or Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) is a fruit bearing tree indigenous to Botswana and other parts of Africa. Marula is a medium to large tree, usually 9 metres tall, but can grow up to 18 metres. South African’s also call it, the Elephant Tree or Marriage Tree. The nut in the centre is also high in protein. Clearly, this is no ordinary grocery store classic. The Marula fruit is a good source of income for struggling rural communities, beyond the beer. But elephants don’t need alcohol to be entertaining. marula tree stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images It is also cooked and used to produce juices, jams and alcoholic drinks. Like these plants, parts of the marula are also edible. Marula Tree Fruit. Fascinatingly enough, only the female trees bears fruits, while the male tree displays flower. The green marula fruit is the size of a small plum, and very juicy and flavourful. The fermented fruit might not inebriate animals like we thought , but it is used not only to make traditional beer, but also to create a delicious liqueur for humans. The tree produces bark, fruit, roots, and seeds that are used in a number of applications. The marula tree produces the legendary marula fruit which is used to make liquor and is also enjoyed by many African animals including elephants. 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