Cassia Occidentalis plant
Did you know what is café z’herbe piante?
Café z’herbe piante is a wild herbaceous plant which may grow about one to 1.8 metres high, with leaves which give out a very offensive odour when crushed, and seeds which are roasted and brewed to produce a very tasty coffee for you coffee-lovers out there. It is commonly called by the Creole names of café z’herbe piante or café puant but in English, it is referred to as coffee senna or coffee weed.
For the scientifically minded ones, the botanical name is Cassia occidentalis and it belongs to the leguminosae family. Do you really care about such detail? You most likely would prefer to get a sip or two of that special blend.
The plant can be found growing in various places around the island and it bears tiny clusters of yellow flowers and long and slender segmented seed pods. The pods, which tend to curve slightly upwards, measure anywhere from eight to 15mm in length by approximately 0.5mm wide, and may contain over 20 seeds per pod. When the pods turn brown that means they are ready to be harvested. Never underestimate the size of these tiny seeds; they can be used alone or they can be used in combination with cherry coffee or any other variety to enhance the flavour of your favourite brew.
Many moons ago, our great-grand and grand-parents used the roots, leaves and flowers of the café z’herbe piante plant in traditional medicine. For those of you who love to explore, just look and ask around you may just be able to see café z’herbe piante in its natural habitat. If you do not have the time for exploration these seeds can be purchased at the Castries market, and please ask for it by the Creole name. Please consult your medical practitioner if you suffer from any medical issues. Do not go experimenting.
This feature runs every Tuesday and Thursday. It is written by daughter of the soil Anselma Aimable, a former agricultural officer and former correspondent for Caribbean Net News, who has a deep interest in local culture and history. Send ideas and tips to doublea@candw.lc.