The Baobab Tree
The majestic baobab tree is an icon of the African continent and lies at the heart of many traditional African remedies and folklore.
The baobab is a prehistoric species which predates both mankind and the splitting of the continents over 200 million years ago. Native to the African savannah where the climate is extremely dry and arid, it is a symbol of life and positivity in a landscape where little else can thrive. Over time, the Baobab has adapted to its environment. It is a succulent, which means that during the rainy season it absorbs and stores water in its vast trunk, enabling it to produce a nutrient-dense fruit in the dry season when all around is dry and arid. This is how it became known as "The Tree of Life".
Baobab trees grow in 32 African countries. They can live for up to 5,000 years, reach up to 30 metres high and up to an enormous 50 metres in circumference. Baobab trees can provide shelter, food and water for animals and humans, which is why many savannah communities have made their homes near Baobab trees.
The striking silhouette of a baobab tree at sunset is a familiar site to anyone who has spent time in rural Africa - but it is also well known all across the world thanks to its starring roles in Disney’s Lion King (it is Rafiki the monkey’s tree), Avatar (The Tree of Souls), Madagascar and the famous children's novel The Little Prince.
Baobab Fruit
While many people know of the baobab tree, not many people know that it has a fruit - and even less know that this fruit is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world.
In fact, every part of the baobab tree is valuable - the bark can be turned into rope and clothing, the seeds can be used to make cosmetic oils, the leaves are edible, the trunks can store water and the fruit pulp is extraordinarily rich in nutrients. Women in Africa have turned to the baobab fruit as a natural source of health and beauty for centuries.
Baobab is the only fruit in the world that dries naturally on its branch. Instead of dropping and spoiling, it stays on the branch and bakes in the sun for 6 months - transforming its green velvety coating into a hard coconut-like shell. The pulp of the fruit dries out completely. This means the fruit simply needs to be harvested, deseeded and sieved into a fine, delicious powder.
Unlike many other supplements it does not have to be spray-dried, freeze-dried or transformed in any way. It is 100% pure fruit in its natural form. Incredibly, the fruit has a natural shelf live of 3 years so there are no preservatives or additives whatsoever.
Baobab powder is an extremely rich source of vitamin C. It is almost 50% fibre and has the highest antioxidant content of any fruit. The benefits of baobab include:
- Energy release
- Immune function
- Digestive health
- Healthy, younger-looking skin
Read our article on the the top health and beauty benefits of baobab.
Social Impact Potential
As well as its abundant health and beauty benefits, baobab could also transform millions of lives. How? It's simple.
Baobab trees grow in some of the driest, remotest and poorest parts of rural Africa. There is no such thing as a baobab plantation; every tree is community or family owned and wild-harvested.
An estimated 10 million households can provide baobab from the existing crop, that is so abundant it mainly goes to waste. National Geographic estimate that a global demand for baobab could be worth a billion dollars to rural Africa every year.
The only problem is that 95% of people have never heard of it. Aduna is on a mission to change this. Our mission is to create demand for under-utilised natural products from small producers in rural Africa - starting with baobab.
We have launched a campaign to #MakeBaobabFamous and turn the inspiring possibility of baobab for rural Africa into a reality. Find out more.
How to Take Baobab
As Baobab dries on the branch, its natural form is a 100% organic fruit powder.
Aduna Baobab Superfruit Powder has a delicious sweet and citrussy flavour. It is perfect for sprinkling onto cereal, granola, yoghurt or fruit or mixing into smoothies, juices or water. Check out our baobab recipes.
Our Baobab Raw Energy Bar is perfect for getting your daily dose of #baobablove on the go. Combing two teaspoons of baobab powder with cold-pressed pineapple and almonds, and free from sugar, gluten, wheat and dairy, its the perfect pick-me-up.
Aduna's Baobab Superfruit Powder and Baobab Raw Energy Bars were both winners at the 2015 Great Taste Awards: the first time a baobab powder has ever won this prestigious award.
Shop the Aduna Baobab Range
Aduna's baobab products are best-sellers in leading health and beauty retailers in the UK and in 15 countries around the world.
Find a store near you or order online now and we will deliver straight to your door. We ship worldwide and offer free delivery for all orders over £20 in the UK or £50 international. Shop now.
