12 Dec 2016

Trees play a significance role in the lives of people. Since the olden days where food and medication scarcity was rampant, trees like Motlopi saved people and livestock alike.

Motlopi tree is in abundance in places like Selebi Phikwe and Bobirwa area. In an interview with the owner of Boi Baks Enterprise in Selebi Phikwe, Ms Boitshepo Bakgobi said she uses the roots of Motlopi tree (shepherd tree) to make coffee that suits human consumption.

Ms Bakgobi who started making Motlopi coffee in 2013 said she learnt the recipe from her grandmother.

She said her grandmother is the person who taught her to make coffee out of Motlopi roots.

 “The 48-year-old said her grandmother used to take her to the nearby bushes where she would dig traditional medicine and explained to her how different trees could be used as a source of food and medication.
“Motlopi coffee is a refreshing beverage that can treat a lot of ailments,” she said.

She explained that the coffee was caffeine-free adding that it could cure high blood pressure and reduce period pains.

Ms Bakgobi added that the coffee also helps in boosting a person immune system and assist in correcting food appetite.

She said for one to make Motlopi they had to cut roots from the tree, remove the outer layer, clean the roots,  dry and roast the roots until they become brown, grind them and make fine powder, sieve to remove bigger particles and the fine powder  will be ready for brewing.

She highlighted that fine powder grinded was sweet adding that it could be cooked as soft porridge or porridge.

Ms Bakgobi said her coffee business was doing well and was known all over Botswana adding that she had customers as far as Kasane and Gaborone.

She said she uses labelled bottles to package her product.

For her part, one of the traditional doctors, Ms Irish Sikangile said Motlopi leaves could be used to treat eyes of inflamed livestock like cattle.

She added that people should avoid using Motlopi tree as firewood because if they do so their cattle had the possibilities of bearing male calves.

Ms Sikangile said that if Motlopi fruits wither before crop harvest, there were high chances of crops failure. She further stressed that Motlopi tree had fruits, which when ripen becomes yellow in colour and the juice from the fruit could be blended with milk to make a delicious drink.

Motlopi tree had a strong bark that could be used to make household utensils like spoons. ENDS