Gesho
Rhamnus prinoides
Ethiopia's answer to hops: leaves and stems flavour home-brewed tella and tej.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun to part shade
Size: about 15 ft tall, 10 ft wide
Harvest: year-round
From: Ethiopia and East Africa
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Native to: African savannas & tropics. Hardy in zones 9 to 11.
The story
Gesho is the bittering plant of Ethiopian home brewing, grown in nearly every highland compound. Its leaves and stems go into tella, a barley or teff beer, and tej, the famous honey wine.
Planting
Sun or light shade in drained soil; plant at the start of the rains. Often grown as a hedge near the house.
Growing
Prune to keep it bushy and within reach. Fairly drought tolerant once settled, and happy at cool highland altitudes.
Harvest and use
Pick leaves and young stems through the year, dry them in the shade, and store in a cool, dry place.
What to watch for
Few pests. Like hops, it is a flavouring, not a food to eat in quantity.
See if Gesho fits your yard
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More perennial vegetables, greens and herbs
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home