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Palm Oil
Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil extracted from the fruits of a palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) which originated from West and Central Africa. Unrefined palm oil, locally known as red oil, is commonly used in African traditional dishes. Palm oil has been linked to several health benefits, including protecting brain function, reducing heart disease risk factors and improving vitamin A status.
Palm Nut Fruit (Elaies guineensis)
Palm nut Fruit is a perennial tree crop of the Arecaceae family. It is a native crop to most African countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea (Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and into the equatorial region of Angola, and Congo). There are types of palm nut fruits; the dura (with a large kernel) and pisifera (having no shell and yet sterile). Tenera is a hybrid from dura and pisifera, and the most cultivated variety because it produces fruits with higher oil content. Palm nut fruit is used to cook Mbanga/Banga Soup in most West African Countries. It is also used commercially to produce palm oil. A key ingredient in African cooking.
Related Recipes: Kwacoco and Banga Soup
Pebbe (Monodora myristica)
Pebbe is a perennial edible plant of the family Annonaceae. It is found most commonly in the evergreen forests of West Africa and common names are African nutmeg, calabash nutmeg, and in Nigeria, it is called ehuru, ariwo, ehiri, airama. Its seed has an odour and taste that is similar to nutmeg and is used as a popular spice in the West African cooking. Monodora myristica tree grows naturally in evergreen forests in countries like Liberia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Angola, Uganda and west Kenya.
Related Recipes: Kwacoco and Banga Soup.
Plum (Dacryodes edulis)
African Plum is locally known in Cameroon as plum and in other African countries as Ube, Bush Butter, Safou, African Butter Pear, Butter Fruit, and Atanga. African plum is an evergreen; perennial trees that belong to the family Buseraseae. The plant originates from Central Africa and the Gulf of Guinea and spreads nearly all over the western coast of Africa. Its natural range extends from Nigeria to Cameroon, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea. Plum can be eaten raw, cooked, or roasted. Plum is rich in nutrients such as lipids, vitamins and protein. Several studies have also shown that both the tree and the plum fruit have great medicinal properties.
Related Recipes: Boiled Corn, Groundnuts and African Plum Appetizer