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Amarula Arbour Day | Marula Trees

HOW A TREE CAN INFLUENCE A COMMUNITY

Arbour Day (1 September) is seen as an essential eco-conscious day on the annual calendar, concerned with planting new trees, decreasing our carbon footprint and greening the globe. At this time of the year Amarula focuses their attention on the Marula trees. These wild, uncultivated trees which grow naturally in sub-equatorial regions are unique specimens with a long cultural, heritage and provenance that deserve to be protected and heralded.

The Marula tree (Sclerocarya Birrea), known in African tales as “The Marriage Tree”, is sacred to many tribes on the African continent. It is from this tree and its unique fruit that Amarula is produced and enjoyed internationally. The marula fruit is also coveted by Elephants- Amarula’s own roaming Ambassadors.

This medium to large sized deciduous tree with an erect trunk and rounded crown, is characterized by a grey mottled bark and its medicinal qualities. Growing up to 18m tall, mostly in low altitudes and open woodlands, this African legend is highly protected and prized by the local population.

Only the female Marula tree bears the succulent and rare flavoured fruit which ripens at the height of the African summer, filling the air with an intense tropical fragrance.

Tribal tradition has it that a woman is more likely to become pregnant after eating Marula fruit whilst the powdered bark is used to treat pregnant women to determine the gender of an unborn baby. If a pregnant woman wishes to have a girl, she will take a preparation from the female tree and for a boy she will use the male tree. Traditional healers use the hard central nut in their divining dice and the tree is often regarded as the spiritual centre for local villagers who gather under its shade-bearing boughs.

With the desertification of Africa happening at an ever increasing rate, the conservation of these trees takes centre stage during upcoming Arbour Day celebrations for the Amarula team as it is important to reflect on how vital these trees are to the local communities who derive an income from its fruit not to mention the preservation of local folklore associated with these legendary trees. Amarula is therefore proactive in its approach to sustaining the symbiotic relationship that already exists, to ensure the exploitation of this species is not a reality. This is done through CSI projects with the local community, contributing to social development as well as looking into conscious conservation for the surrounding areas where the Marula trees grow.

As a result of this relationship, between the land, animals, community, Government and its 21 year partnership with Distell, who produces Amarula, the venerable Marula tree generates revenue to support and sustain the local community and provide people from all over the world a true taste of Africa, Amarula – The Spirit of Africa.

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