Baobab products are considered very healthy and are said to have healing effects. But is the hype about the baobab tree justified? And how sustainable are baobab products? We give you an overview.
Baobab products are considered to be particularly beneficial to health and are now also known in Europe. The products of the baobab trees in Africa have long been used in a wide variety of ways and numerous myths have grown up around the mighty deciduous trees. In Africa, the tree is also known as the tree of life and has religious significance in many regions.
Where do baobabs grow?
Baobab trees are native to the (sub)tropical regions of Africa, Madagascar and Australia. The best-known representative is the African baobab tree (Adansonia digitata), which grows in tropical Africa – more precisely in the dry savannah south of the Sahara and in the south-east of the continent.
Baobabs stand out because of their striking appearance. Characteristic is their thick trunk, which is often several meters wide and can store large amounts of water. Baobabs can live up to 2,000 years and are important water reservoirs for humans and animals. There are eight different species of the baobab tree worldwide, with almost exclusively the products of the African baobab being sold commercially.
Traditional use of the baobab tree
The local population uses almost all parts of the African baobab tree – fruit, leaves, wood and bark serve a variety of purposes. For example, the baobab tree plays an important role in traditional nutrition and provides valuable building material.
The baobab fruit:
The large egg-shaped fruits of the baobab are part of the basic diet in many parts of Africa. They are surrounded by a hard shell and house dry, spongy flesh. The flesh contains up to 150 brownish seeds, one to two centimeters in size, from which baobab oil can be extracted. The large fruits hang from the branches on long stalks and fall down when ripe. The dried pulp is consumed unprocessed or processed into juices, desserts, sauces or porridge. Mixed with milk or water, it is also popular as a drink. It contains a lot of vitamin C and therefore tastes slightly sour. The taste is often described as sweet and sour with a hint of citrus. In Sudan, fermented baobab fruits form the basis for a traditional drink called “Tabaldi”.
Leaves and seeds:
The leaves are also edible and are eaten raw or dried in Africa. Dried and ground to a fine powder, they are used as a spice for soups and sauces. In Nigeria, the traditional “Kuka soup” is prepared from the baobab leaves. The already mentioned baobab oil, which is consumed as cooking oil in Africa, can be extracted from the high-fat seeds. In Europe, the oil is mainly used in natural cosmetics.
Roots, wood and bark:
In addition to the fruits and leaves, the wood, bark and roots of the tree can also be used. In times of food shortage, the roots are eaten cooked. In East Africa, the roots are also used as a source of red dye. Cords, ropes, nets, boxes, mats, baskets, clothing or even strings for musical instruments can be made from the fibers of wood and bark. The bark is also used as a roofing material. A simple glue can be made from the pollen mixed with a little water. The light wood is also suitable for the construction of canoes and wooden panels. The ash from bark and fruit is useful in soap making thanks to its high potash content. Hollow tree trunks of dead baobabs are traditionally used as toilets, small stables or graves.
Baobab products and their health effects
The baobab fruit is said to have numerous healing effects. In Africa, the pulp is considered an effective remedy for fever, dysentery, smallpox, measles and diarrhea. The seeds or the oil obtained from them are traditionally used for heart diseases, toothache, liver infections and malaria. The leaves are said to help alleviate gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea. In Tanzania, the baobab is therefore also known as the “apothecary tree” – however, these effects have not been scientifically proven.
On the other hand, it is generally accepted that baobab fruits are extremely healthy. As an article published in 2021 on the ingredients of the baobab fruit explains, it is rich in valuable minerals and vitamins. For example, it contains a lot of calcium, potassium, phosphorus and vitamin C and is rich in fiber, which can have a positive effect on blood sugar levels.
But: Similar ingredients can also be found in other types of fruit and vegetables. Citrus fruits, sea buckthorn, rose hips, peppers or broccoli also contain a lot of vitamin C. There are also plenty of local foods with lots of fiber. Here you will find an overview of regional alternatives to superfoods.
Commercial use: Baobab products in Europe
The baobab tree is not used commercially in Africa. Sweet treats and baskets for foreign tourists are sometimes offered for sale.
After the healthy ingredients of the baobab fruit became known to us, baobab products are now also available in Europe. The dried fruits in particular are available online in the form of baobab powder (dried and ground pulp). You can stir the powder into muesli, yoghurt, juice, milk or water, for example. Baobab oil can also be found in Germany – mainly in natural cosmetics, for example as a basis for shampoo. The whole fruit, on the other hand, is not very common here.
How sustainable are baobab products?
Baobab stocks are endangered
Six of the eight baobab species are on the Red List of Threatened Species (however, the most common and commercially most important species “Andansonia digitata” is not yet listed). In certain parts of Africa, large elephant populations are partly responsible for the extinction of baobab species. The reason for this is the popular moist wood that the elephants break out with their tusks.
Since baobab trees only produce fruit after around 20 years, they are rarely cultivated on a large scale. Baobab products therefore mostly come from wild stocks. The growing demand for baobab products basically contributes to the preservation of baobab trees, because the trees now also have great financial value. On the other hand, baobabs have always been prized and rarely felled because they do not provide valuable wood and cutting down is very tedious. The trees often remain standing in the middle of agricultural land. However, the increasing agricultural use of land definitely poses a threat to the stocks. Wild animals, which are rarely found on intensively used land, are needed to disperse the seeds.
Should I buy baobab products?
Although international trade tends to strengthen the preservation of the baobab tree population, baobab products should still be viewed critically from an ecological point of view. The reason for this is the long transport routes, which are associated with high greenhouse gas emissions.
It is important that you always pay attention to fair trade when buying baobab products. This is the only way to ensure that the local population benefits from the sale of the products.
Our conclusion: Baobab products are actually not needed in our supermarket. You can also find the healthy ingredients in other regional products. Fair cooperation can have a positive effect on the African economy and for some local people trading in baobab products may represent an opportunity. From an ecological point of view, however, you should better avoid the new food and cosmetics trend.
Buying baobab products: you should pay attention to this
If you still don’t want to do without baobab products, you should definitely pay attention to organic and fair trade certification. So far, baobab products have mainly been available online, but with a bit of luck you will also find them in well-stocked organic markets or health food stores. Here are some companies that offer fair trade, organic baobab products:
Baobab Social Business gGmbH: The non-profit GmbH sells baobab products with fair trade and organic certification. The range includes baobab oil, baobab powder, baobab confectionery and soap based on baobab oil.
Berlin Organics: The company offers baobab powder in organic quality and has the “Certified B Corporation” label, which stands for sustainable and responsible management. The products are available online and in selected supermarkets.
The Essence of Africa (africrops! GmbH): The company sells a wide variety of organic products from African cultivation. The products are not Fairtrade certified. However, the company itself states on its website that it trades the products fairly and works on an equal footing with African producers. Baobab oil, powder and pellets are available online.
