is the kentucky coffee tree edible

The Kentucky coffeetree, Gymnocladus dioicus, is a tree in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the legume family Fabaceae, native to the Midwest and Upper South of North America. The seed may be roasted and used as a substitute for coffee beans; however, unroasted pods and seeds are toxic.

Full Answer

What kind of tree is the Kentucky coffee tree?

Kentucky Coffeetree - Gymnocladus dioicus. Pea Family (Fabaceae) At one time the Kentucky coffeetree was the designated state tree. It occurs throughout Kentucky, but is most common in open woods in the Bluegrass. The common name comes from the seeds being used by pioneers as a coffee substitute.

Are Kentucky coffeetree seeds poisonous?

The seeds of Kentucky coffeetree were used by early settlers as a substitute for coffee. However, caution must be taken because the seeds and pods are poisonous. They contain the alkaloid cystisine that can be dangerous.

What is the lifespan of a Kentucky coffeetree?

The Kentucky coffeetree is a moderately fast-growing tree, and male trees are often grown in parks and along city streets for ornamental purposes. The tree is typically fairly short-lived, healthy trees living from 100 to 150 years. [9] The Kentucky coffeetree sheds its leaves early during the fall and appears bare for up to 6 months.

Is Kentucky coffeetree tea safe to drink?

A tea made from leaves and pulp was used as a laxative. The seeds of Kentucky coffeetree were used by early settlers as a substitute for coffee. However, caution must be taken because the seeds and pods are poisonous. They contain the alkaloid cystisine that can be dangerous.

Can you make coffee from the Kentucky coffee tree?

The Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is native to North America and is a relatively short lived (100-150 years) tree. It is a nitrogen fixer and provides seeds that have been used by people on the continent for thousands of years as a coffee-like drink.

What are Kentucky coffee trees good for?

Adaptable to a variety of soils. With its reputation as a tough species, the Kentucky coffeetree is an excellent choice for parks, golf courses, and other large areas. It is also widely used as an ornamental or street tree.

What does Kentucky coffee tree coffee taste like?

Described as making a pungent, bitter brew, the pods are widely considered inferior even to other coffee alternatives like chicory and toasted barley. Kentucky, a friendly word of advice: Stick to the juleps.

Does Kentucky coffee tree have caffeine?

These roasted seeds were used as a coffee substitute when coffee importation was disrupted during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. However, the bitter brew, created from seeds that are toxic in their unroasted state, does not even contain caffeine.

How do you eat Kentucky coffee seeds?

Edible parts of Kentucky Coffee Tree: Seedpod - raw or cooked. The roasted seeds can be eaten like sweet chestnuts. The pulp is sweet.

Do deer eat Kentucky coffee trees?

Not many animals eat the pods, though squirrels and deer sometimes do.

Can you roast Kentucky coffeetree beans?

All I'll say, is that If I harvest mature Kentucky Coffee Beans, I'll be roasting and shelling them to eat as a nut, and they're good, although very labor intensive to extract-more so than any nut I know.

Are Kentucky coffee trees rare?

To see a Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) in the wild is a rare event. Each year your chances of doing so are diminishing. This interesting and beautiful legume is quite rare, growing in small scattered populations throughout eastern and Midwestern North America.

How do you use Kentucky Coffee beans?

1:4911:28Kentucky Coffee Review and How to Make it - That's Not Coffee 4YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you take too much of it it can kill you if you take these and you roast them it will actuallyMoreSo if you take too much of it it can kill you if you take these and you roast them it will actually kill off that toxin it neutralizes it so then you can eat these things.

Are Kentucky coffee trees poisonous to dogs?

The coffee tree has saponins contained in its bark and foliage, which are poisonous to dogs and other pets.

How much does a Kentucky coffeetree cost?

$129.95. See how our plants are shipped to you! See what our plants look like shipped to your home! We carefully pack and ship each plant, so they arrive happy, healthy and ready to grow.

Is Kentucky coffeetree hardwood?

Central/Eastern parts of the U.S.A. Light to reddish brown. Hard strong wood that works well.

Is Kentucky coffeetree a nitrogen fixer?

Although a member of the legume family (Fabaceae), Kentucky coffeetree is not a nitrogen “fixer”. It is a medium to large, round-barked, native deciduous tree reaching heights of 18 to 30-m with a spread of 12 to 15-m.

Is Kentucky coffeetree hardwood?

Central/Eastern parts of the U.S.A. Light to reddish brown. Hard strong wood that works well.

Do Kentucky coffee trees have invasive roots?

Kentucky coffeetree's numbers are declining rapidly due to over harvesting. The species is not invasive; it is only found in small clusters due to root sprouting and makes up a rare component of any woodland.

Are Kentucky coffee trees messy?

Kentucky Coffee tree is a beautiful and hardy tree that is also messy (it has large seed pods that litter the ground - somewhat similar to locust trees).

What is a Kentucky coffee tree?

Introduction: Kentucky coffeetree is a unique tree with large, woody pods and very large leaves made up of smaller leaflets. Its common name refers to the use of the pods by early settlers as a coffee substitute. With its bold form, contorted branching, unique bark and decorative clusters of large pods rattling in the wind, ...

What is the botanical name for the Kentucky coffee tree?

Cattle have died after drinking from pools of water containing fallen seeds and leaves from Kentucky coffeetree. Gymnocladus dioicus is the botanical name for the Kentucky coffeetree. Gymnos is the Greek word for "naked" and klados is Greek for "branch.".

What is the name of the tree with no leaves?

The species name, dioicus, refers to the tree's dioecious nature. Because leaves of this tree are late to emerge and early to fall, the Kentucky coffeetree is without leaves, or naked, much of the year. Kentucky coffeetree has the largest leaves of our woodland trees.

Which tree has the largest leaves?

Kentucky coffeetree has the largest leaves of our woodland trees. The bark is rough and furrowed and the older branches terminate in a flower cluster, forcing new branches to form in a "zig-zag" pattern. Kentucky coffeetree has reasonably strong wood and will tolerate some ice without losing branches. Print fact sheet.

How big do coffee trees get?

Growth habit - This tree has an irregular form with coarse branches. Tree size: The coffeetree tends to reach a height of 60 to 75 feet with a 40- to 50-foot spread at maturity. It can reach a height of 90 feet. Growth rate is slow to moderate.

How big is a poisonous fruit?

The poisonous fruit is a 5- to 10-inch-long, brown, woody pod that contains sticky pulp and a few large seeds. The toxic alkaloid, cystisine, is neutralized in the roasting process. Leaf: Very large (3 feet long and 2 feet wide) compound leaves with numerous leaflets.

Can coffee trees fix nitrogen?

Although many members of the legume family have an association with a bacterium that converts gaseous nitrogen into a usable form, the Kentucky coffeetree cannot "fix" nitrogen. Although widely distributed, this tree is a rare forest tree and occurs in scattered populations.

Why is the Kentucky coffee tree not available in the nursery trade?

The Kentucky coffee tree is not commonly offered in the nursery trade because the taproot makes the tree somewhat difficult to transplant. Being in the Legume family the roots fix nitrogen in the soil. soil: prefers rich, moist soils in floodplains, terraces, ravines, coves, and lower slopes. Fruit.

How to grow Kentucky coffeetree from seed?

Kentucky coffeetree is easy to grow from seed. Filing the seedcoat by hand with a small file, and then soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours will ensure rapid germination. Propagation is also easy from dormant root cuttings from December through March .

What is the state tree of Kentucky?

The wood from the tree is used by cabinetmakers and carpenters. It is planted as a street tree. From 1976 to 1994, the Kentucky coffeetree was the state tree of Kentucky, after which the tulip poplar was returned to that designation.

How long do coffee trees live?

The tree is typically fairly short-lived, healthy trees living from 100 to 150 years. The Kentucky coffeetree sheds its leaves early during the fall and appears bare for up to 6 months.

Where is the coffee tree?

These are Chinese coffeetree Gymnocladus chinensis in central China, and Burmese coffeetree Gymnocladus burmanicus in Burma. The name is sometimes hyphenated as 'coffee-tree'; the form 'coffeetree' here is as used officially by the United States Forest Service.

Where are coffee trees located?

A Kentucky coffeetree lives in Rhode Island in the Roger Williams Park Zoo at 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence. At the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, 19 Kentucky coffeetrees are planted in the Apollo courtyard prior to entry into the museum.

How tall is a spruce tree?

The tree varies from 18 to 21 meters (60–70 feet) high with a spread of 12–15 meters (40–50 feet) and a trunk up to one meter (3 feet) in diameter. The tree grows at a medium rate with height increases of anywhere from 12" to 24" per year. A 10-year-old sapling will stand about 4 meters (13 feet) tall. It usually separates 3 to 4½ meters (10–15 ...

Harvesting

You’re looking for verdant green and or slightly yellow pods. The sweet spot will be in mid to Late August. Look for pods that are yellow to deep green, although if they have a very slight red flush to them they will probably still be tender enough to eat, provided the beans are still bright green after shucking.

Finding pods you can reach

Depending on where you are, this can be pretty easy, or nearly impossible. Typically, when I’ve hunted for Kentucky coffee trees, it has only been in the late fall and winter, after the trees have dropped their leaves. The pods stay on the trees and are easy to pick out, resembling a flock of birds or crows that can be seen at some distance.

Look for boulevard and urban plantings

As there aren’t giant herbivores to spread the seeds anymore, the Kentucky coffee tree is not one that you’ll probably see in the wild much. Rarely I will see one along a river, but, more than likely, you’ll probably be going to a neighborhood park to get pods, not the woods.

Cooking

Do a quick google, and you’ll see the fruit of the tree labeled as poisonous, but, it’s also a documented traditional food. While confusing, this sort of edible dichotomy is not unheard of.

Cooking

Over the past week I’ve eaten over 2 pounds of shelled, green Kentucky coffee beans myself cooked exactly the same way each time, and, after eating them, not once have I even experienced any discomfort. Heck, I even seem to digest them better than other legumes-not even a single, tiny fart.

How to Cook Green Kentucky Coffee Beans

A basic method of par-cooking unripe, green Kentucky coffee beans. After cooking they can be held in brine or eaten as is as a snack. The beans the can also be peeled as for fava beans.

KCB Edamame

With a paring knife, cut around the seam of the pods, entering about 1/4 inch into the pod with the knife, imagining how the blade will barely knick each bean as it slides through the pod. Wear gloves. You can also score the beans with a paring knife after shucking. Slicing open the beans before cooking helps you to peel them as you would endamame.

Kentucky Coffee Tree Care

This is a fairly easy-care tree that is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions. It's somewhat slow growing and short-lived, reaching between 100 to 150 years of age on average. 1

Types of Kentucky Coffee Tree

There are several cultivars available through the nursery trade, most of them male, which do not produce fruit. They therefore produce less pod litter, making them more suitable for smaller urban settings such as streets and small parks.

Pruning

The best time for pruning the Kentucky coffee tree is late winter or early spring, after the worst cold temperatures are no longer a danger. Its slow growth habit means that young trees won't need any pruning in the first few years, unless the branches become damaged.

How to Grow Kentucky Coffee Tree From Seed

Kentucky coffee tree is fairly easy to grow from seed. First you must file the seed coating by hand with a small file, and then soak the seeds in water for 24 hours. This will allow for a more rapid germination.

Propagating Kentucky Coffee Tree

This tree is easy to grow from dormant root cuttings from December through March.

Common Problems With Kentucky Coffee Tree

This tree has no real disease or insect problems to worry about. "Leaf litter" can be a problem as the leaves are very large, and the fallen seed pods beginning in spring can also create a bit of a mess. This makes it a better candidate for parks or other open areas rather than as a street tree.

Overview

Description

Taxonomy

Distribution

Uses

Notable specimens

Notes

External links