Lupinus pilosus
Lupinus pilosus, commonly known as blue lupine, is a species of flowering plant from the family Fabaceae which is endemic to Israel where it is found in Mediterranean scrubland. It has a long stem and long legume. The species blooms from February to May. The species have white coloured flowers which are long and pods the diameter of which is. In Israel the Lupinus pilosus has blue flowers with white vertical spot at the middle.
Around the South Tyrolean village of Altrei, L. pilosus was historically grown. The seeds were roasted and mixed with malt grains and infused in boiling water to produce a coffee-like but caffeine-free hot beverage, Altreier Kaffee. Interesting not only from a cultural and historical but also from a botanical standpoint, since 2006 a local initiative is re-establishing L. pilosus cultivation in the Altrei region to revive this culinary specialty.
