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Paullinia yoco - R.E.Schult. & Killip

Common Name Yoco
Family Sapindaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known
Range S. America - Peru, Ecuador, Colombia.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Paullinia yoco Yoco


Luke Weiss environment.yale.edu
Paullinia yoco Yoco
Luke Weiss environment.yale.edu

 

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Summary

Yoco, Paullinia yoco, is a tropical vine with stems growing up to 12cm in diameter. It can be found in South America. The sap obtained from the bark contain 2.73% caffeine and is used as a stimulating breakfast beverage. It is also taken medicinally against fever, nausea, and vomiting.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of climber
Paullinia yoco is an evergreen Climber growing to 15 m (49ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Inner bark  Sap  Stem
Edible Uses: Coffee  Drink

The softer tissues of the bark, stems and wood are used to extract the white or brownish sap which has been shown to contain 2.73% caffeine. The native people in adjacent Colombia regularly used this product as a stimulating breakfast beverage[434 , 521 ]. The stem is cut into pieces 30 - 100cm long, and the epidermis, cortex, and phloem are rasped. The scrapings thus obtained are squeezed to express the caffein-bearing sap into cold water (hot or warm water is never used with yoco), the rasped tissues being then discarded. The liquid, of a cloudy milky-white or light chocolate-brown colour, is drunk cold. The beverage, which is taken early every morning, allays hunger and supplies muscular stimulation[476 ]. Lianas of Paullinia Yoco, which have a stout stem at least 8cm in diameter at the base, are utilized. Usually several trees must be felled before the liana falls to the ground. Starting at the root, the stem is then cut into pieces which may vary from 30 - 100cm in length. These pieces are stored in cool corners of Indian houses and can retain their stimulating properties for a month or even longer[928 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antibilious  Febrifuge  Malaria  Stimulant

A beverage made from the stem (see edible uses), is taken medicinally as a febrifuge and as a curative for a bilious disease[476 , 928 ]. In addition to its use as a stimulant, yoco is employed, in larger dosages, as an anti-malarial febrifuge and as a medicine in the treatment of a bilious disease which is frequent in the Putumayo[928 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Other Uses None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Not known

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Seed -

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Yoco, yoko.

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Colombia (Putumayo (southeast)), Ecuador (Napo (east)), Peru (Loreto)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Paullinia cupanaGuaranaClimber10.0 10-12 MLMHSNM420

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

R.E.Schult. & Killip

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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