Cashew
Common names: kaju, dare kise, pommier cajou, cajueiro
Cashew is a perennial tree belonging to the Anacardiaceae family. Native to Brazil, the tree has spread to other parts of tropical South and Central America. Portuguese traders introduced it to Africa in the 1960’s to prevent soil erosion, as a fire and wind breaker and for wasteland development. The tree is now widely cultivated for its nuts and derived products in South and Central America, West, East and South Africa and in Asia.
Shea (Vitellaria Paradoxa)
Common names: karite, kade, kadanya
The Shea tree is unique to sub-Saharan Africa and grows naturally and wildly in dry Savannah belt of West and Central Africa. It is in high demand for the Shea butter extract from the Shea nut.
Shea butter has been used for thousands for years in Africa for cooking and for medicinal purposes. More recently, Shea butter has become an important ingredient for the chocolate industry as a substitute for cocoa butter which approximately 90 percent of current demand coming from the confectionary industry. Shea butter is also valued as an ingredient in the production of cosmetics and soaps as a result of its moisturizing, healing and anti-aging properties.
Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)
Common names: zanjabil, zangevil, gingayu
Ginger is the underground root (rhizome) of a perennial herb which has been cultivated in India for over 5,000 years. It is highly sought after for its flavor and therapeutic properties.
Ginger is a common ingredient in Chinese, Indian, South-Asian, African and Caribbean cuisines. It is also used in the production of baked products including gingerbread, cookies and biscuits and to make beverages like ginger ale, ginger tea and ginger beer. Ginger has also been used among many cultures for its medicinal properties for digestive issues, motion sickness, nausea, respiratory issues, and inflammatory conditions among others. The essential oil from ginger is also used in the confectionery, perfumery and pharmaceutical industries.
Gum Arabic, also known as acacia gum, chaar gund, char goond, or meska, is a desert thriving plant. It is the dried exudates obtained from the stems and branches of Acacia trees in the form of dry, hard nodules. There are over 1100 species found grown wild in sub â?? Saharan Africa. It is used in many manufacturing industries such as pharmaceutical, cosmetic, lithography, food industry as a stabilizer, is used in printing, paint industry, textile, pottery industries and various other industrial applications, including
viscosity control in inks and in glue.
Sesame (Sesamum Indicum)
Common names: benniseed, beni, benne
Sesame, one of the oldest and most important oilseeds known to man, has been cultivated in numerous parts of the world for over 4,000 years. It is desired for its highly stable oil contents, rich and nutritious protein, carbohydrate and fat content and savory nutty flavor. Consequently, it is an important source of food and oil.
While sesame is primarily used as a source of oil for cooking, it is also used in the preparation of a wide range of food products (such as halva, tahini, bread, bread sticks, cakes, cookies, crackers, candies, chocolate, ice cream among others). Sesame also has medicinal applications with sesame oil being sometimes used for the medicinal treatment of ulcers and burns.
