BAOBAB FRUIT AVAILABILITY IN UNITED KINGDOM !!!

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7506997.stm
New exotic fruit to hit UK shops

The fruit is contained inside a hard nut


*An unusual fruit from a native African tree, the baobab, is to be
available in the UK *


*after being approved by the EU.* The fruit, contained in a hard nut, has
six times more vitamin C than oranges and twice as much calcium as milk. African people have eaten the fruit for thousands of years, but Europeans will consume its pulp as an ingredient in smoothies and cereal bars.


Since 1997, foods not commonly consumed in the EU have had to be formally
approved before going on sale.
The baobab tree grows throughout certain parts of Africa and has many
different uses.
The leaves can be eaten as relish and the fruit dissolved in milk or water
and used as a drink.


The seeds also yield an edible oil and can be eaten raw or roasted.
The fruit, bark and leaves of the tree are used to treat medical problems
including fevers and kidney disease.
*The EU decision is a crucial step to developing the global market which
could be worth up to £500m a year*


However, EU customers will not be able to try out the many traditional uses
of the tree and its fruit, which is six to eight inches (15cm to 20cm) long.
The fruit will be removed from its nut and the pulp, which is white,
powdery and has a cheese-like texture, will be used as an ingredient in
products such as cereal bars.


*Employment*
The non-profit trade association which has been lobbying for the EU
approval, PhytoTrade Africa, hopes the demand for the fruit will mean
employment for millions of African people.

Gus Le Breton, the association's chief executive, said: "The EU decision is
a crucial step to developing the global market which could be worth up to
£500m a year.

"Dozens of companies have shown interest in baobab since we submitted the
application and many have already conducted initial research.
"Now that approval has been given, they can progress to full-scale product
development."

The baobab tree can live for hundreds of years. Its trunk can grow up to
50ft (15m) in circumference and reach a height of 98ft (30m).
Some baobab trees, which are 80% water, are hollow and have been used as
bars, shops and even prisons.

Blog  Owner's comment:

In  Tanzania,  we use baobab flour/powder by mixing it with other cereals to make baby porridge or for consumption by adults; particularly during the fasting month of RAMADHAN,  the nuts/seeds are processed by adding sugar and colouring and make a very sweet and sour  snack.  During the processing baobab flour can also be compacted to make baobab biscuits.  Many natural fruit juices are mixed with the baobab power for flavour.