The amazing baobab
The modern superfruit
Baobab fruit resembles a velvet-covered, oblong gourd and is filled with big black seeds surrounded by tart, slightly powdery pulp. This pulp is then simpily sieved to produce a delicious pure fruit powder.
Baobab is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world and has recently been hailed as the ultimate super fruit, thanks to its high levels of calcium, iron, potassium, and vitamin C. In fact, studies have found that the fruit’s pulp has almost ten times the amount of vitamin C as the equivalent serving of fresh oranges, 50 percent more calcium than spinach, and is recommended for skin elasticity, weight loss, and improved cardiovascular health.
Africans have been using the fruit for its multitude of health benefits for millennia. As it has recently been crowned the 'modern superfruit', we believe more people should discover its power and incorporate it into their diets.
The African superfruit
An Impressive Nutritional Profile
Baobab is a great source of many essential vitamins and minerals. In two tablespoons (20g) of powdered baobab approximately provides:
Protein: 1 gram - Carbs: 16 grams - Fat: 0 grams - Fibre: 9 grams - Vitamin C: 58% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) - Vitamin B6: 24% of the RDI - Niacin: 20% of the RDI - Iron: 9% of the RDI - Potassium: 9% of the RDI - Magnesium: 8% of the RDI - Calcium: 7% of the RDI
The Tree of life The Baobab Tree
The majestic baobab tree, Adansonia digitata, is a cultural icon, and it is deep-seeded within the heart of African tradition, folklore and is revered for its medicinal and nutritional qualities.
Baobab trees are the world’s largest succulent plant, meaning that it absorbs and stores water in its trunk during the rainy season, enabling it to produce its nutrient-dense fruit in the dry season. This is how it secured its name as ‘The Tree of Life’. They are indigenous to Africa and can be found in the arid savannah, where little can survive. The trees can live for up to 5000 years, growing to an impressive 25 meters in height with a bole of 14 meters and roots that greatly exceed the tree’s height.
The worldwide demand for baobab has increased dramatically in more sectors than just the food industry, such as the medical industry and the cosmetic industry. This has had a profound effect on the socio-economic conditions, increasing jobs and boosting the economy, which has improved the ecology through the interest of increasing its production.
Baobab trees are not only valuable for humans, but they are also key ecosystem elements. Importantly, baobab trees keep soil conditions humid, favour nutrient recycling and avoid soil erosion. They also act as an important source of food, water and shelter for a wide range of animals, including birds, lizards, monkeys and even elephants – which can eat their bark to provide some moisture when there is no water nearby. The flowers are pollinated by bats, which travel long distances to feed on their nectar.
Products Powered by baobab
