Page 57 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 25
P. 57
Food health
names such as “custard apple,”
“cherimoya,” or “sops” of
various vintages. They are
already among the most beloved
fruits in tropical Asia and
America, but so far the African
members have been neglected
and are poorly understood even
within their natural habitats.
What might be called “the
lost sops” deserve further
development, not to mention
protection from disappearance.
One, the African custard apple,
has been called “the best
top of sub-Saharan Africa, from 2. Chocolate Berries indigenous fruit in most parts
Somalia in the east to Mauritania Several of the nearly 70 Vitex of tropical Africa.” Another, the
in the west. Usually a scrawny species (Labiatae) found junglesop, produces probably
shrub, it occupies some of the scattered across tropical the family’s biggest fruits—as
hottest and driest locations Africa produce fruits of local long as a forearm and as thick
faced by plant life. Yet aizen importance. These small and as a thigh. A third—perhaps the
not only survives, it also yields rugged trees are quintessential strangest of all—”hangs like a
an array of useful products— wild food resources. In season, bunch of sausages,” each fruit a
enough indeed to sustain human they become separate bright-scarlet link.
life almost by itself. In at least bespangled by an abundance of
a dozen countries, people at blackish fruits, which passersby 4. Ebony
times virtually live off aizen’s eagerly gather up. The reason? The jet-black, rock-hard
fruits, seeds, roots, and leaves. Although the uninitiated may heartwood known as ebony is
Although not unpleasant to eat, disdain the pungent scent and perhaps the smoothest, shiniest,
the fruits are most notable for stained lips, almost everyone and most beautiful of all the
being available when little else loves the “chocolate” flavor. woods; renowned worldwide
remotely edible is to be found. for expensive carvings, it is
In addition, the seeds extracted 3. Custard Apples regarded as almost a precious
from within those fruits are The plant family botanists call material and can sell by the
cooked and dried and become Annonaceae produces fruits gram. But Diospyros, the name
such common dietary items that crammed with a sweet pulp of these trees’ genus, actually
they have been described as with a custard-like texture. means “fruit of the gods,”
desert dwellers’ staples. These tropical delights are and outside the tropics, ebony
sold the world around under species are most renowned for
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