Coffee Lupin (Lupinus pilosus Murr)

Coffee Lupin (Lupinus pilosus Murr): this particular species of lupin is grown in the Val di Fiemme where it is a Slow Food Presidium.
Not all lupin species can be consumed as a coffee substitute because they contain toxic alkaloids.
Cultivation is simple but time-consuming, and harvesting takes place several months after sowing. When deciding where to plant it in the garden, keep this in mind.
Now let's give the floor to slow food:
Among the traditional coffee substitutes, the one obtained from the lupin (Lupinus Pilosus) of Anterivo certainly deserves a mention: a mountain village surrounded by small vegetable gardens nestled in large green meadows, in the Val di Fiemme, within the Monte Corno natural park. The lupin grown in Anterivo is an annual legume with an erect stem, which can reach 120 cm. The lateral branching is accentuated, the leaves are digitate and each is composed of 9-12 silky and hairy leaflets on both sides. The wonderful blue flowers, dotted with yellow-white spots and sporadically also pink, are gathered in clusters and, during their peak flowering period, transform the fields into a characteristic blue expanse. The pods, covered with a soft down, contain 2-4 rather large, compressed seeds, with a rough surface of a mottled color between light brown and brown. The seeds, harvested in July and August, are left to dry in the sun and then toasted and ground to form an inviting powder with the aroma of toasted hazelnuts and cocoa. After infusing in boiling water for 5-8 minutes, the resulting dark, fragrant beverage has a pleasant, delicately bitter and acidic flavor. "Anterivo coffee" ("Altreier kaffee" in German) is an integral part of the collective memory of the villagers and has a tradition dating back more than a century. Along with potatoes, cabbage, herbs, and medicinal plants, this variety of lupin has always been present in the Anterivo farmers' gardens. The oldest document mentioning its cultivation dates back to 1887. It is the biography of Prince Bishop Johann Baptist Zwerger, who was born in Anterivo and served as bishop in Graz-Seckau, Austria. In his memoirs, he writes that this legume, known locally as "Anterivo coffee," allowed "even the most The powder, being light, was easily transported by women who reached the nearby areas of Bassa Atesina, Cavalese, and Capriana on foot to sell it and thus earn an income. The infusion was consumed primarily at home, but, being also known for its ability to soothe digestion problems, it was even fed to livestock. Today, it is used not only as a beverage, but also in cooking to flavor meat dishes and to prepare certain processed foods: grappa, beer, chocolate, ice cream, and other desserts.
Link: https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/it/presidi-slow-food/lupino-di-anterivo/

For residents of Val di Fiemme, seed distribution is free. Call 06633910, Monday to Friday, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.