SA has led the way in research into the ‘super fruit’ status of our local star, baobab. With centuries of its use behind us, we’ve been launching products containing baobab into the market for some time now.
Indigenous to Africa, baobab fruit has been used for centuries to create a nutritious, tangy health drink. It contains high levels of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc to help support the immune system, promote healthy bones and teeth, and maintain cardiovascular health, including normal blood pressure levels.
It is also a source of soluble fibres, with prebiotic-like activity promoting the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut for the relief of diarrhoea, dysentery and constipation. It is also a natural source of micronutrients. As a natural excipient with good lubricating, binding-agent and diluting characteristics, it supports the creation of a gel and acts as a thickening agent or stabiliser, to its soluble fibre content. Lastly, it acts as a natural preservative owing to its high potassium and phosphorus content.
Woolworths has jumped on the ‘baobab wagon’ and has introduced various products over the past two years, such as its African Extracts yoghurt range and a functional snack bar, the first of its kind to contain actual pieces of the fruit with a quantitative ingredient declaration (QUID), which is significant because this means the baobab is providing nutritional benefits. This flavour was especially difficult to develop, say representatives from Orley Foods, because of the high pectin content. Throughout this product development, new breakthroughs in using baobab as an ingredient were made.
