Congo Pump

"I think I know this? What is this?"

"Congo Pump" came the reply. Those words caused a 60 year old visitor to shudder. The dried leaf evoked a long suppressed memory of a visit to tantie in the country. There her aunt considered this a breakfast beverage to be "enjoyed".

As bush tea, Cecropia obtusa (aka the red congo pump) is said to be good for liver ailments. It is anticoagulant, antiinflammatory, antitumor, astringent, cardiotonic, diuretic, hypotensive and vasodilator. Good stuff.

Tantie Montel was clearly trying to keep the children healthy.