Ever heard of a tree that produces butter?
Well, Diploknema Butyraceus also known as butter tree is the one that does this job. The tree in itself is more than what we can account for. It is one of those marvelous plants whose each part has tremendous benefits.

Butter tree or also known as Chiuri in Nepal, is a deciduous tree found mainly in the sub-Himalayan tracts on steep slopes, ravines and cliffs at an altitude of 400 to 1400 meters. Chiuri has been an important part of the lives of the communities living in these areas. This one tree provides the rich and nutritious butter, of course but along with that it also is a source of a sweet fruit, jaggery, resins, food for lactating cattles and much more.

Infographic source: Satya International
Now let’s dive deeper into the famous chiuri butter. In today’s world where we are moving towards more plant-based food, this can be considered to be a boon. This white or yellowish-white butter has a distinct smell and taste and remains in a solid-state up to 48 degree centigrade. The Chiuri butter has a wide variety of uses and rightly so because of its nutritional value. Traditionally, Chiuri ghee (butter) is used as edible oil and is used for cooking. This is also used to light lamps in Nepalese households depending upon its availability in the area. Chiuri butter is used to cure headaches, rheumatic pains, ulcers, itching, hemorrhage, inflammation of tonsils, chapped skin etc.

Chiuri products can be potentially used in different industries such as confectionery, pharmaceutical, vegetable ghee production, candle manufacturing, and soap making.
The cake produced after processing of Chiuri is used as manure which has pesticide properties and is used on paddy fields and banana plantations by the local people. It is also used as a rodenticide, wormicide, and insecticide. During the production of the butter, a cake-like substance is obtained which is used as a fish poison. This is used as a substitute for chemical pesticides.
All of these uses of the Chiuri tree make it very significant for the tribal communities residing in the area. In addition, Chyuri has a very important cultural value in Nepal, especially in Chepang community where the people give Chyuri plants as dowries to daughters indicating its significance in the livelihood of the Chepang community (Bhattrai et al, –). Hence, it is prohibited to cut down a Chiuri tree. I always find it interesting as to how the tribal communities have the wisdom to leverage the natural resources while preserving them.
As time moves forward, the traditional knowledge of the community is also at risk. With more people moving out of the community and migrating to the cities, these trees are at risk. Hence, it is important to have a focus on the protection and preservation of the Chyuri trees. While the industrial uses of the tree seem to present a cause for its survival, it also poses a threat. Government intervention is needed here. It is also important to form policies for the fair trade of the products of the Chyuri tree.
References:
- CHIURI: A REVIEW ON ITS MULTIPURPOSE USE IN NEPAL by Sandesh Thapa
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33354166/
- http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Diploknema+butyracea
- https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20016786059#
- https://bishwaschepang.wordpress.com/2021/07/29/chuiri-and-chepang-livelihood-improvement-poverty-reduction-and-biodiversity-conservation/
- https://www.appropedia.org/Chiuri_-the_Butter_Tree_of_Nepal(Practical_Action_Brief)
- https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20023121443
Thank you for referencing
Dear Biswash,
Very nice article. Can you please provide me your email. I have few quarries.
Best,
Sirjana