Sweet Prayer (Katemfe) Fruit Plant (Thaumatococcus Daniellii)

Botanical Name: Thaumatococcus daniellii

Common Names: Sweet Prayer Plant, Katemfe

General Information: Native to Africa. Known for being the natural source of thaumatin, an intensely sweet protein. Thaumatin is of interest in the development of sweeteners. Seeds are eaten raw or cooked. Chewing raw seeds affects taste buds, making sour foods taste sweet for about an hour afterward.

Culinary Uses: Seeds are used for sweetening bread, fruits, and tea. The aril of the seed contains thaumatin, a sweet-tasting protein used as a sugar substitute. Thaumatin is 2,000 - 3,000 times sweeter than sucrose.

Traditional Medicinal Uses: Fruits are used as a laxative. Seeds used as an emetic and for pulmonary conditions. Leaf sap used as an antidote against venoms, stings, and bites. Leaf and root sap are used as a sedative and for treating insanity.

Cultivation Information:

Bloom Time/Fruiting: 2 Years

Maintenance Required: Moderate