Boldo is one of the most abundant trees in the area of the Aguapiedras cabins, and to get inspired while I am writing this article, I am sipping some boldo tea.
Boldo is a tree native to South America; especially Chile, Argentina, and Peru. It is the most widespread Chilean medicinal species in the rest of the world. It is an evergreen tree, and the leaves are oval, thick, aromatic, dark green. Its height can reach up to 20 meters, but it is very slow-growing. Boldo grows in territories of altitude less than 1000 meters above the sea (3280 feet above sea level), and in sunny and dry territories, it is not very resistant to cold. The flowers are grouped into small clusters, their petals are yellowish and bloom from July to November. The fruit is edible, has a mildly sweet flavor, and is eaten raw or cooked.
In Chile, it grows between the Aconcagua and Osorno areas. It is a crucial element in sclerophyllous forests (hard-leaved trees), along with litre tree and peumo (Chilean acorn). It is often used for herbal teas and its highly valued for its medicinal effects and was already widely used before the arrival of the Spanish by many indigenous peoples and is still frequently used today.
The properties and uses
It contains many active ingredients such as boldine, tannins, or eucalyptol. The properties can be summarized as stimulating digestion and mild sedative. It is used in various forms, for example as an herbal tea it has stimulant, digestive and nervous sedative properties. It is also used in baths and poultices for rheumatic pain. We have also come across products such as “emboldado” (boldo liquor) or boldo syrup made from the fruits.
In Aguapiedras the boldo has its privileged place and each cabin has several of these trees nearby that provide shade and add some green even in the summer when the grass is already dry and yellow. Come lodge in our cabins and enjoy the view!