- Also known as Porongaba
- Cuts appetite
- Increases metabolism
Chá de bugre (
Cordia salicifolia) is a small tree that grows in tropical parts of Brazil and produces small red fruits resembling coffee beans. These fruits contain caffeine and are roasted and brewed into a substitute for tea and coffee by Brazilians - which they call café do mato or coffee of the woods.
It has become a popular weight loss aid available from vendors on Rio de Janeiros beaches, and is also sold as porongaba from one of its many indigenous names. Chá de bugre is used as an appetite suppressant, diuretic and is also believed to help reduce fatty deposits and cellulite.
Chá de bugre gives the user 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 healthcare practitioners 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.
