The adansonia genus of trees bears some of the best fruits in the world. The baobab fruit is the raw and edible seed obtained from the hard pod grown hanging upside down the baobab. It is an exceptional super fruit whose seeds can be dried, and either consumed alone as fruit or ground into powder. You can add the baobab seed powder to various food items.
The baobab fruit is harvested wildly in regions that favor its germination. The baobab tree bears fruit whose natural shelf life is long and is versatile in usage. You shouldn’t miss out on this great fruit because of a lack of knowledge on how it tastes, its health benefits, and the various ways it can be added to your special delicacies and beverages.
What does baobab fruit taste like? Baobab fruit and powder have an excellently sweet taste. The baobab seed has a dry white flesh. It has a low level of sweetness and a tangy taste like that of tamarind.
The baobab powder is naturally dehydrated and has a chalky texture. It amazingly retains its nutrients just like the baobab seed. The distinct chalkiness and dryness of baobab fruit and give you a flour-like coating in your mouth when you eat it.
Putting aside the sweet sensation baobab brings to your mouth when you eat it raw or add to your food, the fruit is also packed with a lot of health benefits.
Nutritional Benefits of Baobab
Talking about baobab wouldn’t be complete without mentioning how helpful it is to the human body and brain. The baobab fruit and powder are considered superfruit because of the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals contained in them. The fruit contains phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, manganese, sodium, and calcium.
The baobab powder is a great source of vitamin C, carbohydrate, protein, and fiber. The fiber in the baobab can exert prebiotic effects that help promote the growth of healthy disease-fighting bacterias in the gut. It also helps in improving the human digestive and immune system.
The fruits have been proven to help treat anemia and asthma. It has antimalarial, anti-diarrhea, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidants properties. The baobab has the highest content of antioxidants when compared with other fruits.
The baobab fruit helps the human skin retain its radiance and beauty. The vitamin C and antioxidants present in the baobab fast track the formation of collagen which helps remove wrinkles from the skin and makes it radiant and glowing. Also, collagen plays a vital role during pregnancy. It enhances the normal growth of the baby’s body and supports the healthy growth of their developing organs.
Culinary Uses of Baobab
The baobab fruit and powder can be used in varied ways to derive the greatest pleasure from it. It can be eaten raw and used as a sauce or spinach to dishes. Eat the fresh baobab fruit on its own as a light snack or use it as a sauce with rice, gruels, and porridge.
The powdered form can be added to smoothies, yogurt, cereals, granola bars, lemonade, fruit juice, and other dairy products from the farm. The baobab powder can also be mixed in water and milk and used as a substitute for coffee or used to make an antioxidant-packed beverage.
The baobab powder or seed isn’t the only edible part of the tree. You can cook the baobab leaves to make vegetables or turn them to Relish. The seeds can be roasted in hot olive oil and season with salt to make a healthy snack.
While baking, baobab powder can be used just like the tartar cream. Beer breweries also use the powder as a fermenting agent during production.
Where is Baobab Grown? How Do You Procure Them?
The Baobab tree is picky of the environment and land condition it grows on. Its growth thrives under a hot temperature. The baobab tree is native to the dry region of Africa (Madagascar), the Arabian peninsula, and northwestern Australia. The growth in demand has led to its domestic growth in Asia under modified conditions and soil.
Fresh baobab seeds can be gotten in regions where it is available, or bought from your local health food store and grocery stores for those not accessible to the tree in their region. The baobab seed is mostly available in its powdered form in countries whose weather doesn’t support its germination.
The Baobab seed and powder is usually placed in a section of the grocery store where acai berry and goji berry powders are shelved. Make sure the baobab-filled bag is kept airtight to allow it to retain its quality. If you are lucky to get the baobab seed, rinse them thoroughly with clean water and allow it to stay in water for some minutes for it to desalinate.
Can You Grow a Baobab Tree In The United States?
No, you can’t. The cold temperature of the US would not support the growth of the baobab tree. The wet and frost soil is unfavorable to it and would easily kill the tree. Although, a few areas in southern Florida and southern California are suitable for growing baobab trees in the ground to an extent before they die off.
Facts You Don’t Know About Baobab
- The baobab tree belongs to the Malvaceae family and its scientific name is adansonia digitata.
- The baobab seed is also called the ‘monkey bread’. This is because chewing a mouthful of baobab seed has the same feeling as chewing bread.
- The baobab tree can withstand hot and dry temperatures and stay for thousands of years. It would scale through drought, thanks to the ability of the trunk to store water.
- The dried fruit shell of the baobab is efficient in the making of cups and bowls.