What is “Natural” Food?
Loose food labeling regulations around the world, means the use of the word “Natural” has become challenging to understand. "Natural", simply applies to any raw food sourced and processed without artificial additives.
We Grow, Source and Wholesale Tropical Agriculture
Red Palm Oil
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Story
Palm oil accounts for 40% of global oils produced from oil crops. Nigeria is third-largest producer. Until 1934, Nigeria had been the world's largest producer. Unrefined palm oil has a rich, earthy, oily and slightly nutty taste. Archaeological evidence shows that palm fruits started forming an integral part of our West African diets 5,000 years ago.
Health
Virgin red palm oil, sourced from the fruit of the oil palm tree, is a superfood that helps fight heart disease, bolster vision and prevent alzheimer's.
Cashew
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Story
Cashew was first brought to our region by the Portuguese during the 15th century.
Although it is not a nut, our culinary uses for cashew seed in snacking and cooking are similar to those for all tree seeds called nuts.
Health
Cashews are low in sugar and rich in fiber, heart-healthy fats, and plant protein. They’re also a good source of copper, magnesium, and manganese nutrients important for energy production, brain health, immunity, and bone health.
Cassava
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Story
Cassava is a nutty-flavored, starchy root vegetable or tuber. Our region is the top cassava-producing area in the world. It’s one of the most drought-tolerant crops. Sweet cassava is more common in the USA, where it’s often referred to as yucca.
Health
Due to high resistant starch content, it may aid weight loss, help improve gut health, and benefit metabolic markers, such as blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It can turn a wheat-flour-based recipe into gluten-free while being a Paleo-friendly and nut-free alternative.
African Yam
Story
Yams are a major staple in Africa where
cultivation began 11,000 years ago. In West Africa we hold festivals to celebrate its harvest, and use them in fertility and marriage ceremonies. Most of the yams sold globally come from our region, we are also known as the “yam belt” region of West Africa.
Health
Yams contain a unique compound called diosgenin, which may enhance memory and brain function. They are nutrient-dense tuber vegetable that provide a great source of antioxidants. that reduce inflammation, and improve blood sugar control.
Plantain
Story
The "cooking banana" is Asiatic in origin. Alexander the Great introduced it into Europe. It then found its way into Africa through trading by Asian merchants. It became a very important historical and economic factor in our people's rapid expansion (Bantu speaking people's of West Africa), across central and southern Africa.
Health
Plantains are the superfood of superfoods. Stacked with vitamin A which maintain muscle membrane and enhances skin quality. Plantains are carb, fiber, vitamins, and mineral rich. They also contain antioxidants that fight free radicals and support immune function, reduce cardiovascular risk and improve mood.
Kola Nut
Story
Kola nut is the fruit of the kola tree, native to our tropical rainforests in West Africa. The caffeine-containing fruit of the tree is used as a flavoring ingredient in beverages, and is the origin of the term cola. In the late 1800s, an American doctor wrote about the therapeutic uses of fresh, undried kola nut (a ‘most valuable drug’).
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Health
Kola nut has been listed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as generally safe for human consumption as an inactive ingredient in certain pharmaceuticals. Kola nut extract is also marketed as an herbal drug with warnings about the high caffeine content.
Cocoa Bean
Story
70% of the total world cocoa production comes from 4 countries. Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are the largest producers, followed by Nigeria and Cameroon. Credit for having first brought cacao from the New World to our tropical forests undoubtedly goes to the Portuguese.
Health
Health benefits of cocoa include decreased inflammation, improved heart and brain health, blood sugar and weight control and healthy teeth and skin.
Okra
Story
The exact origins of West African okra are unknown, but some of the original okra varieties were believed to be native to the region surrounding Ethiopia, Sudan, and Eritrea, and then spread across to us in West Africa around 2,000 BCE.
Health
Okra is a nutritious food with many health benefits. It’s rich in magnesium, folate, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin C, K1, and A. Okra may benefit pregnant women, heart health, and blood sugar control. It may even have anti-cancer properties.
Sesame Seed
Story
Sesame seed is one of the oldest oilseed crops known, domesticated well over 3000 years ago. Sesame is mostly wild and native to our region. Today, countries like Tanzania, Myanmar, India, Sudan, China and Nigeria produce the highest quantities of sesame seeds in the world.
Health
Sesame seeds are a good source of healthy fats, protein, B vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants
Regularly eating substantial portions of these seeds, may aid blood sugar control, combat arthritis pain, and lower cholesterol.
Papaya
Story
‘Fruit of the Angels’. Also known as the pawpaw, the papaya is a small, fast-growing tropical tree. Originating in Central America, European
colonists introduced the plant to our region, and by the mid-17th century papaya was distributed across the tropics.
Health
Papaya's powerful antioxidants may reduce risk of heart disease and cancer. It may defend against visible signs of aging. Pawpaw seeds are believed to have medicinal properties that combat bacterial infections. The leaf/bark sap secretes an enzyme known as papain known to treat skin infections such as ringworm.
Smoked Cat Fish
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Story
Nigeria is the world's largest producer of catfish. It is the most commercially important freshwater fish species in our region. We have substantial trade networks, formal and informal, in smoked fish to neighboring countries and to the USA, Europe and the Middle East.
Health
Catfish is no longer the “poor man's fish,” but a nutrient-dense superfood that can be cooked and eaten in a variety of ways. Catfish is low in calories and particularly rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fats and vitamin B12.
Garri
Story
Originally native to South America, where it is known as farina, garri became popular as a cereal in West Africa in the 19th century after formerly enslaved people began to return from South America and introduced a new method for processing cassava into cereal.
Health
Although garri is a starchy food, it is low in calories and with high fibre content. Garri helps to absorb toxins that go into your intestines. This, in turn, can help improve your digestive health.
Ogbono Seed
Story
Irvingia gabonensis, sometimes known by the common names African mango, or bush mango bears edible mango-like fruits. It has been a part of Igbo culture in Nigeria for centuries, as a way to stretch meagre resources during times of famine. Today it is eaten across the diaspora.
Egusi
Story
Egusi-itoo or white seed melon plant is from the Cucurbitaceae family of plants known as gourds or cucurbits. It has a history in West Africa, dating back 4,000 years. Yet, despite the obvious super nutritional advantages, the seed, remains underutilized in nutritional intervention.
Health
Oil makes up 44% of the seed, where 30% is protein rich in essential amino acids. The seed is an excellent vegetable protein, and is high in essential vitamins and minerals