Better Than Palm Oil: Trichilia emetica - the Natal Mahogany

Palm oil, as we all know, isn't great for the environment. In fact it's responsible for the loss of hundreds of thousands of square kilometres of rainforest. In this episode, Gus, the African Plant Hunter, shares his scoop on a possible substitute for palm oil, currently being actively researched by scientists around the globe. The tree is the magnificent Natal Mahogany (Trichilia emetica), whose stunning red seeds produce a thick, beautiful oil, solid at room temperature and known in the industry as "mafura butter". Join Gus as he shows us an example of the tree in the Zambezi valley, and prepare to learn another absorbing set of African plant facts.
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[@marc-henriveyrassat8315]

After watching this video we planted 3000 natal mahogany seedlings on our farm in Zambia! Amazing content!

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Amazing! Thank you for sharing that. I'm so thrilled to hear!

[@pearln2308]

Im your new subby. Excited to learn about trees. I'm from Northern Kzn, and we grew up eating those. It's very creamy n delicious

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Thanks, I appreciate your kind words!

[@sanelisiwedlamini6208]

Thank you so much so much for sharing this with us, this will help me since I m doing a project which is purification and evaluation of the quantitative and qualitative phytochemical content of trichilia emetica seed.

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Fantastic, thanks for sharing that! I hope your project is a success!

[@sonnyxlbright5904]

Thanks for putting the spotlight on this plant. Any ideas about the growth and maturation of the plant ?

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Thanks. This is a relatively fast-growing tree, which will produce fruit within 6 to 8 years of planting. You can also accelerate this process by using cuttings.

[@EdenCroft]

Oh wow. I didn't realize that Mafura butter was also a great substitute for palm oil in soapmaking. I was only familiar with it as an excellent oil/ butter for hair products - especially those designed for afro-textured hair. Thanks for providing such great cultural, botanical and historical information as always. I'm just loving your channel! Your hard work is much appreciated.

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Wow, thanks for those kind words. Really appreciated!

[@sharonchinula7031]

@@AfricanPlantHunter how do you extract the oil?

[@angelatmoyo3337]

Hi Gus, thank you for the beautiful work you are doing👏🏾Can this tree be found in Matebeleland?

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Definitely! There are some beautiful specimens in Binga, but it will grow easily from seed pretty much anywhere in Zimbabwe.

[@WilliamAndScout]

Love this. Have watched this episode a few times. Christmas Greetings!

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Thanks so much!

[@iqbalumer7741]

My freind Thanks for Information . We like to findout how to take oil out and used for Cooking Thankyou

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

The traditional way is to boil the seeds. The oil will separate out, and then you scoop it off and use it for cooking. Simple!

[@sharonchinula7031]

@@AfricanPlantHunter fresh seeds or dry?

[@raquelmatavelechissumba5477]

Excellent channel!

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Thank you so much!

[@hauweiguy9587]

Thanks Gus, there is one near me. Its quite the beautiful large tree, the fruit often drops releasing the seeds and I see the little plants pop up in a short time. I heard that the seeds outer coating is toxic but safe to eat when prepared right. Didnt have a clue they could produce oil!

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Yes, they really are stunning trees. And seeds are also beautiful. It's true that the outer coating has emetic properties (hence the tree's name): definitely not going to kill you, but might make you feel a bit queasy! But the oil is fabulous. If you're now looking at this tree with new appreciation and understanding, that's made it all worthwhile for me!

[@zeldaraffie8917]

@@AfricanPlantHunter Thank you, so one must remove the cover orange part and eat the cream part if i understand you. How do you plant the seed or should i remove the cover aswell.

[@enosmutowelasiwakwi1859]

Good job!

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Thank you!

[@monicamay2450]

This tree os all over Zimbabwe for your information

[@maandarashaka3688]

Hey Gus. It seems that dregeana is quite similar and has the same use, can the two plants be used in the same way?

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Hi, great question! Yes, they are very similar and they do have similar uses. One key difference is that T. emetica seed butter has been used by the cosmetics industry for many years and has a formal INCI name (the naming system used for cosmetic ingredients), whereas T. dregeana does not. This suggests that T. dregeana oil has never been formally used by the cosmetics industry.

[@loukekoopmans4250]

Super interesting option!

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Glad you think so!

[@kobiakobia2712]

How fast does the tree grow? Approximately how old is tree in the background?

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

One of the fastest-growing of the indigenous hardwoods. The one behind me probably 40-50 years old. With the right amount of water and compost you can grow one to around 5 metres high within 5 years of planting.

[@Chillies-b3x]

In moz we soak in in winter keep on the sun it changes colour to yellow then we squize out the cream add suger it test like yogurt

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Good to know that, and thanks for sharing!

[@franciscamatonse8999]

Hum very good Now its season for this fruit, in South of Mozambique. It give us plenty oil But I would like to know the about more about, the fruit and oil.

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Thank you. There is a lot I would like to share with you about this fascinating fruit and its oil. I will do another episode from Mozambique as soon as possible!

[@franciscamatonse8999]

@@AfricanPlantHunter thanks, keep up the good work, in Africa we have everything, but we don't have the knowledge of the plants, fruits and herbs in a scientific way.

[@ianlabuschagne414]

We got a few of them here in Malawi. Also some on my property.

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Then you know what a beautiful tree they are!

[@johnconner9400]

How is the red palm oil bad for the environment when it's indigenous to the jungle of Africa I don't understand

[@AfricanPlantHunter]

Good question. The main reason is that it is nowadays grown in plantation. Huge areas of forest have been cleared to make way for palm oil plantations, which has obviously had a negative effect on the biodiversity that was there before . The message really is that monocultures are not good for biodiversity, even when the species concerned is native to that area. If we replaced palm oil plantations with Trichilia emetica plantations, that would be just as bad!

[@johnconner9400]

@@AfricanPlantHunter I totally agree nature should be left alone so things can grow naturally like they've been doing way before colonialism also do you do any videos on rooibos? I love your baobab videos. And what about the honey bush what do you think about Rooibos?

[@Heimatar]

no animal eats its leaves

[@patriciangwenya2545]

Beware of lions