Purple-pod terminalia

Winter gave us the best of cold weather – shivers with an “I’ll do it later because it’s just too cold” vibe. This led to a little more slumber and snacking than usual. We remain grateful for technology that came to rescue us with the switch of a button, because switching on a kettle to prepare a cup of coffee or tea is quite the elite convenience in this extreme cold. In our country, coffee and tea imports amount to millions of Namibian dollars. However, my recent discovery of the purple-pod terminalia tea – made in Namibia – was a proud moment. I get extremely excited when I see Namibian products, especially those made from our indigenous natural resources. For me, the purple-pod terminalia tree was just another regular tree with rather colourful pods, until I came across the tea made from it.

A deciduous tree, the purple-pod terminalia grows as either a shrub or a tree with a relatively fissured and rough bark. The older branches are usually brownish grey and sometimes a bit purplish but more finely fissured. With age, the branches become harder. The leaves are simple and form cluster arrangements at the tip of its branches. In most cases, the leaves happen to be dark green on the upper surface and dull green on the lower surface, with the veins quite visible on the upper surface.

Flowering of the purple-pod terminalia occurs from November to April, but sometimes it can last up to July or even August. The flowers are spikes that can have a length of up to 50 mm, composed of small white or cream-coloured flowers with a strong floral scent. The tree produces fruits with a colour like that of modern-day red bricks, which is in fact more purplish than red. The fruits are described as pods. These pods have a single wing around the actual seed in the centre. Generally, these wings are broad, flat and hairless.

The purple-pod terminalia occurs across central and northern Namibia through to the Kavango regions as well as the Zambezi, where its leaves are commonly being browsed by livestock and game such as giraffes. The tree’s wood is strong and suitable for making fires, but unfortunately its availability in certain areas is limited for sourcing wood on a daily basis.

The purple-pod terminalia tree is also known for its medicinal properties, where crushed bark is boiled and administered to treat coughs. The tree is not one of those much soughtafter species, but the strength of its wood is a quality that might lead to it being overutilised in communities where wood has become scarce. The wood is also known to be used for making implement handles and poles for fencing off fields or as a supplement for making livestock kraals. The beautiful purple-pod tree is easy to identify, with the bark and pods its distinct features. Not only is it an attractive tree, but it is also known for its ability to tolerate drought and frost. This enables it to survive in places with variable weather patterns.

Finally, I had a taste of the original purple-pod terminalia tea. It is definitely to my liking, and their marketing hits the spot: “Sourced from pristine, mineral-rich soils, offering a distinctive profile. You are choosing a connection to ancient Namibian wisdom and natural quality.” I was delighted to discover that there are more flavours available: ginger, lemon and mint. Winter is not over yet, so a sip of all these flavours is definitely on the bucket list.