Benefits of Baobab Fruit

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhich Part Is Edible?Medicinal Uses and BenefitsNutrition FactsHow to Eat BaobabWho Is It Not Right For?Cultural Significance

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Which Part Is Edible?

Medicinal Uses and Benefits

Nutrition Facts

How to Eat Baobab

Who Is It Not Right For?

Cultural Significance

Thebaobabtree (Adansonia digitata L.) is a tree native to Africa and is valued for its cultural significance and traditional medicine. The baobab tree typically grows in arid (dry) and semi-arid climates. The whole baobab tree is edible, and the fruit is one of the more commonly prepared parts of the tree. The fruit of the baobab tree contains a chalky pulp and black seeds that have many traditional and cultural uses in the preparation of food, drinks, and medicines for various ailments.

The baobab fruit has grown in popularity for its nutritional benefits, including as a good source of a variety of vitamins and minerals,fiber, and fatty acids (such asomega-3s). Baobab powder, made from the baobab fruit, is commercially available and can be added to foods and drinks, such as smoothies or tea.

This article discusses the traditional and cultural uses of baobab, its nutritional benefits, and how you can incorporate it into your diet.

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Baobab fruit

Which Part of the Baobab Tree Is Edible?

The whole baobab tree offers medicinal and nutritional benefits. The following parts of the baobab tree itself as well as the fruit it produces are edible:

The baobab fruit is one of the more commonly eaten parts of the baobab tree and can serve as an ingredient in meals and beverages. The outside of the fruit is tough and becomes brittle when it ripens, while the pulp on the inside is chalky and mealy. The pulp tastes tangy and sweet; some describe it as citrusy. The seeds of the fruit might be fermented and used for flavoring.

Baobab Fruit Medicinal Uses and Benefits

Baobab has several medicinal properties. Parts of the baobab tree have been used in traditional medicine to treat various health issues, including:

The baobab fruit, on its own, has several medicinal uses. The fruit pulp and seeds are processed differently to incorporate them as traditional treatments. For example, the pulp may be extracted into a liquid, and the seeds may be made into a powder or pressed into oil. In South Africa, for instance, the seed powder is used for cough relief.

Ube (Purple Yam): Nutrition and Benefits

Baobab Nutrition Facts and Compounds

The different parts of the baobab tree are popular for the nutritional value they provide, promoting their use in the preparation of food and beverages. Research has shown that the leaves, pulp, and seeds contain several nutrients, including:

The fruit pulp, specifically, is touted for its high vitamin C content, almost 10 times higher than that of oranges.The seeds of the baobab fruit are also nutritious and may be eaten fresh, dried, or ground. Baobab seeds share similar mineral content with the seeds ofNigella sativa, a plant native to parts of Africa, Asia, and the Mediterranean. Baobab seeds are a good source of the following minerals:

Baobab leaves are also nutritious and rich in several vitamins and minerals, much like the pulp and seeds.

Baobab Compounds

Baobab has been found to have several bioactive compounds (chemicals found in foods) that produce anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. For example, both pulp extract and seed extract from the baobab fruit have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.In addition, the pulp extract has tannins andflavonoids, which are bioactive compounds that can improve insulin response in people with diabetes.

Other bioactive compounds that contribute to the health and medical benefits of baobab include:

Baobab can be prepared and eaten in numerous ways, depending on the part of the baobab tree. For example, the pulp of the baobab fruit can be dissolved in water or milk and then used in a beverage, cooking, or baking.The seeds and leaves can be ground into a powder for sauces. The leaves can also be cooked down like spinach.

Outside of traditional uses, baobab fruit powder is a common way to eat baobab. Baobab powder can be incorporated into soups, sauces, baking recipes, and smoothies.

Brewing Baobab Tea

Should Anyone Not Consume Baobab?

Speak to a healthcare provider about any questions you may have about adding baobab to your diet.

Cultural Significance and Uses

The baobab tree is celebrated for its multipurpose uses in food and medicine. Also known as the “monkey bread tree,” “dead rat tree,” “cream of tartar tree,” and “upside-down tree,” baobab is incredibly versatile in its cultural uses, especially given the many ways the different parts of the baobab tree are prepared as traditional medicines for various ailments.

For example, the seeds can be made into a powder extract to treat coughs, similar toPelargonium sidoides, an herb native to South Africa. Below are other cultural and traditional uses of baobab as medicine:

The baobab fruit is also culturally significant as a versatile food. The baobab fruit, also called “monkey bread,” is a staple food in several Central African regions. It is the main ingredient in a soup called miyan kuka, and the pulp is used to prepare drinks and cereals.

Summary

The baobab tree, which is native to Africa, is valued for its nutritional benefits and uses in traditional medicine. The whole baobab tree is edible and used in various traditional medicines, though the baobab fruit may be one of the more popular parts of the tree for its nutritional and medicinal value.

Baobab fruit is packed with nutrients and is a staple food in the preparation of many meals and beverages. Baobab fruit powder has grown in popularity as a nutritious ingredient to add to food and drinks, such as smoothies and tea. For specific questions about the nutritional benefits of baobab, speak with a healthcare provider or nutritionist.

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rahul J, Jain MK, Singh SP, et al.Adansonia digitataL. (baobab): a review of traditional information and taxonomic description.Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 2015;5(1):79-84. doi:10.1016/S2221-1691(15)30174-XMonteiro S, Reboredo FH, Lageiro MM, et al.Nutritional properties of baobab pulp from different Angolan origins.Plants (Basel). 2022;11(17):2272. doi:10.3390/plants11172272Silva ML, Rita K, Bernardo MA, et al.Adansonia digitataL. (Baobab) bioactive compounds, biological activities, and the potential effect on glycemia: a narrative review.Nutrients. 2023;15(9):2170. doi:10.3390/nu15092170Tsetegho Sokeng AJ, Sobolev AP, Di Lorenzo A, et al.Metabolite characterization of powdered fruits and leaves fromAdansonia digitataL. (baobab): a multi-methodological approach.Food Chemistry. 2019;272:93-108. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.08.030U.S. Food and Drug Administration.GRN no. 273 Baobab (Adansonia digitata) dried fruit pulp.Ibrahima C, Didier M, Max R, et al.Biochemical and nutritional properties of baobab pulp from endemic species of Madagascar and the African mainland.African Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013;8(47):6046-6054. doi:10.5897/AJAR12.1231

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rahul J, Jain MK, Singh SP, et al.Adansonia digitataL. (baobab): a review of traditional information and taxonomic description.Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 2015;5(1):79-84. doi:10.1016/S2221-1691(15)30174-XMonteiro S, Reboredo FH, Lageiro MM, et al.Nutritional properties of baobab pulp from different Angolan origins.Plants (Basel). 2022;11(17):2272. doi:10.3390/plants11172272Silva ML, Rita K, Bernardo MA, et al.Adansonia digitataL. (Baobab) bioactive compounds, biological activities, and the potential effect on glycemia: a narrative review.Nutrients. 2023;15(9):2170. doi:10.3390/nu15092170Tsetegho Sokeng AJ, Sobolev AP, Di Lorenzo A, et al.Metabolite characterization of powdered fruits and leaves fromAdansonia digitataL. (baobab): a multi-methodological approach.Food Chemistry. 2019;272:93-108. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.08.030U.S. Food and Drug Administration.GRN no. 273 Baobab (Adansonia digitata) dried fruit pulp.Ibrahima C, Didier M, Max R, et al.Biochemical and nutritional properties of baobab pulp from endemic species of Madagascar and the African mainland.African Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013;8(47):6046-6054. doi:10.5897/AJAR12.1231

Rahul J, Jain MK, Singh SP, et al.Adansonia digitataL. (baobab): a review of traditional information and taxonomic description.Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 2015;5(1):79-84. doi:10.1016/S2221-1691(15)30174-XMonteiro S, Reboredo FH, Lageiro MM, et al.Nutritional properties of baobab pulp from different Angolan origins.Plants (Basel). 2022;11(17):2272. doi:10.3390/plants11172272Silva ML, Rita K, Bernardo MA, et al.Adansonia digitataL. (Baobab) bioactive compounds, biological activities, and the potential effect on glycemia: a narrative review.Nutrients. 2023;15(9):2170. doi:10.3390/nu15092170Tsetegho Sokeng AJ, Sobolev AP, Di Lorenzo A, et al.Metabolite characterization of powdered fruits and leaves fromAdansonia digitataL. (baobab): a multi-methodological approach.Food Chemistry. 2019;272:93-108. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.08.030U.S. Food and Drug Administration.GRN no. 273 Baobab (Adansonia digitata) dried fruit pulp.Ibrahima C, Didier M, Max R, et al.Biochemical and nutritional properties of baobab pulp from endemic species of Madagascar and the African mainland.African Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013;8(47):6046-6054. doi:10.5897/AJAR12.1231

Monteiro S, Reboredo FH, Lageiro MM, et al.Nutritional properties of baobab pulp from different Angolan origins.Plants (Basel). 2022;11(17):2272. doi:10.3390/plants11172272

Silva ML, Rita K, Bernardo MA, et al.Adansonia digitataL. (Baobab) bioactive compounds, biological activities, and the potential effect on glycemia: a narrative review.Nutrients. 2023;15(9):2170. doi:10.3390/nu15092170

Tsetegho Sokeng AJ, Sobolev AP, Di Lorenzo A, et al.Metabolite characterization of powdered fruits and leaves fromAdansonia digitataL. (baobab): a multi-methodological approach.Food Chemistry. 2019;272:93-108. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.08.030

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.GRN no. 273 Baobab (Adansonia digitata) dried fruit pulp.

Ibrahima C, Didier M, Max R, et al.Biochemical and nutritional properties of baobab pulp from endemic species of Madagascar and the African mainland.African Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013;8(47):6046-6054. doi:10.5897/AJAR12.1231

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Which Part of the Baobab Tree Is Edible?#

Baobab Fruit Medicinal Uses and Benefits#

Baobab Nutrition Facts and Compounds#

Baobab Compounds#

Brewing Baobab Tea#

Should Anyone Not Consume Baobab?#

Cultural Significance and Uses#

Summary#