Description
- Sustainable Harvested
- Gluten Free
Chu Chu Huasi is an enormous canopy tree found in the Amazon rainforest. It has large leaves (10-30 cm), small, white flowers and tough, reddish-brown bark. Several botanical names have been given to this species of tree. It is referenced as Maytenus krukovii, M. ebenifolia, M. laevis, and M. macrocarpa; all botanical names refer to the same tree. Its Peruvian name, Chu Chu Huasi, means trembling back, In Columbia, the Siona Indians boil (5 cm) of Chuchuhuasi bark in two liters of water until the decoction reduces to half. In Peru, it is prepared by macerating root bark and letting it steep for eight days in aguardiente (sugar cane liquor). Chu Chu Huasi is a powerhouse of plant chemicals, such as triterpenes, favonols, and sesquiterpene alkaloids. Two of the more well-known alkaloids are mayteine and maytansine. We prepare our Chu Chu Huasi Extract from the dried bark of the Chu Chu Huasi tree sourced directly from Peru. The bark can also be used to make a tea for consumption.