Baobab Tree

The Baobab Tree

The Baobab tree (botanical name Adansonia Digitata) is found in Savannah areas like Africa, India, Australia and so on. It comes in all shapes and sizes, some grow very tall before branching out while others others start branching out about seven to eight inches. Some have hallow insides and these Baobab trees have the capacity to store water over a long period of time. The Baobab tree is a very valuable tree in Ghana, and in other areas were they are found. The Baobab tree provides shade in most households and one can find people sitting on the huge protruding roots and just enjoying the shade and the breeze in the outside. Most family gatherings are common around the Baobab tree especially at times of marriages, births, funerals and so on. From Northern Ghana in places like Nandom, Zuarungu, Bolgatanga, Navrongo, Tamale and so on, most natives not only enjoy the shades from these valuable trees but they also use the leaves in cuisines. The Baobab leaves can be eaten fresh or dried.The fresh leaves are pounded and so are the dry leaves. Both fresh and dry leaves of the Baobab tree are great for cooking. There is someone sitting beneath this Baobab tree. This Baobab photo tree was taken in Zuarungu-Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region of Ghana, West Africa. At harvest time crops like peanuts are harvested and the peanuts put in a heep underneath these trees and then people sit around and plug the peanuts/groundnuts.



Enjoying the breeze under neath the shade of a huge Baobab tree
I am sitting on the roots of the Baobab tree with the landlord of the Awuko's household. Some Baobab trees have hallow space in them, some are big enough to hide in but one must be careful when hiding in them as there could some crawling creatures in the.

The fresh leaves of the Baobab tree up-close

The fresh leaves can be plugged and dried, then pounded and used in making soups.


Drying some baobab leaves

After the leaves of the Baobab tree are dried, they are pounded with a mortar and a pestle to get the to get the powdwere Baobab leave which is used in making soups.



Pounded dry leaves of the Baobab tree

The fruit of the Baobab is in an oblong or round shape. At maturity, the pods are cracked open and covering the seeds is a white, or slightly yellowish soft tissue that can easily be sucked upon and the seed spit out. The whitish /slightly yellowish tissue can be separated by adding water and mashing it up. This can be used in making TZ-tuozafi which is like palenta, it can also be used in making porridge-coco, just sucked upon, or mashed with water to get a smoothie like texture and trust me is very delicious and healthy!! The pod can be broken and the seeds dried, pounded and then the seeds are separated from the powder. This powder can be stored and used for a very long time.




Pods from a Baobab Tree

The pods from the Baobab tree have a very hairy like surface and can make one's body itch when it touches one's skin, so please be careful when handing them. .

Opening Some Baobab tree pods in the below video with the help of a relative James. Thanks James for your help.These pods were underneath the tree for a very long time.

This below photo of a huge Baobab Tree photo was taken at the Bolgatanga Girls Secondary School (BOGISS)in the Upper East Region of Ghana, West Africa.

A huge Baobab tree with tons of pods!!