African Teak (Milicia excelsa)

Family: Moraceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Milicia excelsa or African Teak is a nitrogen-fixing tree that can also be used as a shade tree. It is large and deciduous, growing up to 50 m high and 350 cm in trunk diameter. The trunk is often buttressed and can be branchless for up to 20 m. The crown is wide and flat. The bark is pale, thick, and produces milky latex once damaged. The leaves are green, long, and ovate with toothed edges. The fruits are green, wrinkled, long, and fleshy.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

flavouring. — Young leaves - cooked.; The ripe fruits are edible.; The fruit juice is used for flavouring.; The fruit is green, wrinkled, fleshy and resembles a fat green caterpillar.

Habitat & North American Range

Deciduous, semi-deciduous or evergreen, primary or secondary forest, with an apparent preference for drier forest types, at elevations up to 1,200 metres. Often occurs in gallery forest and in forest islands or as lone trees in savannah regions. (Zone 10)