Pau d'arco Tea

Pau d'arco is an evergreen tree with rosy colored flowers belonging to the Bignonia family. Nearly 100 species of pau d'arco trees are known but only a few of these yield high quality material and it takes extremely skilled gatherers to tell the difference.The part of the tree used to make tea is the inner lining of the bark, called the phloem (pronounced floam).Pau d'arco is also known as Lapacho, and by tribal names such as Taheebo tea and Ipe Roxo.

The native Indians of South American countries have used pau d'arco for thousands of years, there are indications that its use may actually ante-date the Incas. Before the advent of the Spanish, the Guarani and Tupi-Nambo tribes in particular used great quantities of pau d'arco tea.

The Guarani, Tupi and other tribes called the pau d'arco tree "Tajy," meaning "to have strength and vigor,"or simply, "The Divine Tree."

Pau d'Arco has been used by shaman in Brazil for at least a thousand years. Its use gradually spread to other parts of South America and beyond. Kallawaya tribal healers of Bolivia and Brazil call this bark tea “tajibo.” In Peru a tea made from the inner bark, known as “tarota,” is used by the tribes of the Asháninka, Campas and Inca. Pau d'Arco tea is also used traditionally by the Huastec Mayan people of Mexico.

Most lapacho (pau d'arco) trees are found in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay and are considered ozoniferous trees or trees which primarily grow in high ozone regions. Typicallly, air that has high ozone counts is fresh and free from pollution, exhaust, smoke, pesticides and other toxins.

The herbal component of this tree is found in its inner bark and is known by a variety of names. The origin of its name which means "bow stick" comes from the ancient practice of using its limbs to make archery bows.

Legends relate that the Vikings sold pau d'arco tea and believed that it originated on the moon. The Czars of Russia reportedly drank pau d'arco tea and even Gandhi supposedly was a staunch believer in a daily cup. The South American Indians shared the tea with early Portuguese and Spanish settlers.

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