Cha de Bugre, or Cordia salicifolia is used in Brazil for appetite suppression and weight loss. It's a small tree that grows in the Brazilian rainforest and is known as "café do mato", or coffee of the woods, because it produces a red fruit resembling a coffee bean which is roasted and brewed into tea as a coffee substitute, producing powerful stimulant effects.
It is a great appetite suppressant. But rather than cutting off appetite alltogether it gives one a sense of being full and satiated after eating only a few bites of food. This seems to promote much smaller meals, more often, which is what many believe is better for sustained weight loss and keeping the metabolism going throughout the day. It works best if taken 30 minutes to one hour prior to a meal.
The active components in Cha de Bugre are caffeine and allantoic acid.
Usage
Add half a liter of boiling water to a tablespoon of leaves and let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Drink one cup about half an hour before each meal.
