Welcome to Tree Foods
The African chef has been committed to the sustainable harvesting and commercialisation of nutritious tree foods since 2009, to help provide life changing incomes for rural farmers and communities. As, the first company to bring baobab tree food to the UK, we are consistently striving to educate and spread the word about these nutritious tree foods.

'Around the tropics and sub-tropics there are numerous tree species which produce edible products (fruits, nuts and leaves) which have been important foods for millennia. With deforestation, many of these are becoming scarce in the wild, but about 50 species are now being rapidly domesticated by local smallholder farmers for cultivation as vegetatively propagated varieties in their farms. This process captures desirable traits (size, colour, flavour, nutritional value, etc) and ensures that marketed products are uniform with high quality and well suited to different food industries. The domestication of these species is showing great promise as a means of reducing the poverty experienced by smallholder subsistence farmers, as well as creating a diversified and more sustainable farming system that is alleviating hunger and malnutrition'

Prof RRB Leakey
Vice Chairman, International Tree Foundation

What is Baobab?

The Baobab tree, also known as Adansonia digitata, is native to tropical African countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique. Its natural habitat is hot, dry woodland on stony, well-drained soils, in areas that receive low rainfall. Baobabs have been around for thousands of years with many trees believed to be over 150 years old. Baobab fruit has a hard outer shell, inside the shell, the Baobab Pulp is already dried, with the Baobab pulp naturally dehydrates in the shell. The tree's fruits are large pods known as 'monkey bread' or 'cream of tartar fruit' .

Nutritional Health Benefits

Baobab Fruit Pulp is one of the most nutrient rich fruits on the planet. Our Baobab is 100% pure, natural & raw. There is no heat treatment, with minimal processing, which ensures the vitamin C and enzymes are preserved. Baobab is a rich source of vitamin C, containing 6 x more vitamin c per 100g than an orange, 6 x the potassium of bananas, 2 x the calcium of milk, 50% fibre and is packed full of amino acids, antioxidants, iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium.

Baobab is low in sugar and fat yet high in fibre (almost 50% fibre), half of which is soluble, with more than 12 minerals and vitamins. A heaped tablespoon of baobab powder mixed into a smoothie or sprinkled over your cereal provides 33% of your Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of fibre.

Baobab delivers more antioxidants than any other superfruit, including acai, Goji berries, blueberries, cherries and pomegranates. High levels of antioxidants combined with fibre may reduce inflammation and support a healthy immune system. There are 15,000 ORAC units in every 2-tablespoon serving of baobab – 3 times more than the recommended minimum of 5,000 ORAC units per day.

Ethics and Source

Our baobab powder is sourced from partnership with PhytoTrade Africa, a non-profit organisation that aims to eliminate poverty through a sustainable and ethical baobab trade, providing life-changing incomes for local farmers and their communities. In addition to ensuring ethical trade, sourcing from these protected reserves ensures the protection of these majestic trees and the biodiversity of their environment. Harvesting baobab helps conserve the environment and biodiversity by protecting these majestic trees and ensuring supply is managed in the long term.

What does it taste like? What can I do with it?

Ideal for vegans and vegetarians, those with coeliac. Baobab has a taste reminiscent of Apricots, lemon curd, grapefruit. The tartness is due to the high levels of vitamin C. There is so much to do with baobab. Add a tablespoon to a smoothie or fruit juice. Blend a teaspoon with natural yoghurt. Sprinkle onto cereal, mix with olive oil for a quick simple and tasty dressing. Make you own ice cream or speed the Baobab jam on toast, accompaniment to cheese or liven up a sandwich. Add to pancakes or homemade bread.

Our recipes section has more recipes to use baobab.

What is Moringa?

Moringa, is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. Highly prized for its medicinal properties by civilisations through the ages, the tree is drought resistant, with every part having a different use.

Nutritional Health Benefits

Moringa can be defined as a natural multivitamin, with almost 25% protein and 21x calcium of milk, 24x iron of spinach. Packed full of 13 essential vitamins and minerals, aswell as iron.

Ethics

Moringa also known as ‘tree of paradise’ is drought resistant, ideal for combating malnutrition in arid areas. The leaves contain high levels of A, B, C, Calcium, Iron & Protein. children breatfeading mothers. Orphanage grows innclludes moringa children diet. grows rapidly even poor soils adapted to droughts.

What is Safou (or African Plum) Dacryodes edulis

Is comparable with olives and avocado. Safou has a short shelf life, but The African Chef has developed a pickling process that allows long term storage. The tree is commonly grown in homesteads and as the shade trees over cocoa or coffee plants.

Who we partner and support