Batting Around the Baobab

When I first heard about the baobab, it made perfect sense to me that the fruiting tree (Adansonia spp.) was native to Australia. “Baobab” just sounds like something Aussies would use as slang for a beach ball or something like that. But the massive, striking, ancient trees are also native to Africa, and they’re highly revered there, with people finding a use for every part of the tree.

The fruit has high levels of vitamin C and calcium, and loads of antioxidants. The leaves have played a part in folk medicine. I’ve even heard the readily bandied-about term “superfruit” tied to baobab here and there...

The fruit’s seeds and “naturally desiccated” pulp have a number of interesting uses, including the more-common use as cream of tartar (although the winemaking byproduct potassium bitartrate is more common to us) and more-emergent applications as a nutraceutical, flavoring and viscosifier and texturizer.

PhytoTrade Africa has launched an initiative to gain more exposure for the fruit’s uses, and is also reportedly working toward U.S. GRAS status for baobab. It also looks like baobab is firmly on Europe’s radar now that it has won approval there.

I noticed on the PhytoTrade Africa website that they will be attending our upcoming SupplySide West show, so I’ll have to make a point of stopping by and checking out any leads on the emerging baobab.