Baobab goes for GRAS ahead of 2010 World Cup

A trade association has prepared a GRAS notification dossier for its baobab fruit pulp powder in the hope that products could become available in time for the 2010 soccer World Cup in South Africa.


PhytoTrade Africa is already promoting the potential of baobab fruit pulp for applications in the beverage and healthy snack markets after baobab fruit pulp obtained novel foods approval in Europe in June.


Now Cyril Lombard, of PhytoTrade, said the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) dossier for the US market would be submitted “shortly”. They are also considering additional dossiers for derivatives of the baobab fruit - a common food and flavor in Africa that has been heralded as a new superfruit.


Baobab is tipped to become a billion dollar industry as there is increasing interest in more exotic flavors and fruits with added benefits. In the US in particular, analysts have also identified a trend for African cuisines.


Dr Lucy Welford, spokeswoman for PhytoTrade, said baobab was a good flavor enhancer and described the taste as tart, very citrusy and similar to grapefruit.


She told FoodNavigator-USA.com: “If GRAS status comes through, we could be looking at products launches in the US in 2009.”


Dr Welfod added: “The World Cup is a huge opportunity to market this as a new kind of African beverage ingredient in particular.


“It brings an interesting and exotic flavor to food or beverage products and at the same time it does have interesting nutritional properties.


“It has a high pectin and fiber content so it is useful in slightly thicker drinks such as smoothies, as well as in cereals, jams, biscuits and other applications.


“Now that we’ve had a lot of interest in Europe, I think there might be a knock-on effect in the US.”


She said the plan is to submit the GRAS dossier first, then follow this up with an application for NDI (new dietary ingredient) status.


Health benefits


Baobab is the large green or brown fruit of the Adansonia digitata, (or 'upside-down') tree, which grows primarily in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Different parts of the fruit are a traditional food in these countries.


The fruit pulp of the baobab is said to have an antioxidant activity about four times that of kiwi or apple pulp. The main nutrients include vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, pectin and citric, malic and succinic acids, while the oil also contains the vitamins A, D and E.


The pulp is also reported to be prebiotic and stimulate the intestinal microflora.


The maximum sustainable harvesting potential of baobab could about $1bn, according to a report by Ben Bennett from the UK's Natural Resources Institute (NRI) for the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP).


PhytoTrade, which represents companies wishing to export their dried baobab fruit, worked with the South African company Afriplex to ensure the ingredient's acceptance within the European ingredients market. Now PhytoTrade Africa is researching the regulatory requirements in Japan.


African inspiration


A recent Packaged Facts report called Food Flavors and Ingredients Outlook 2008 predicted that the cuisines of several African nations such as Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt were particularly likely to gain in popularity in the US.


An example of this is the influence of North African cuisine which includes ras el hanout spice blends and harissa, a chile-caraway seed condiment.


In some areas, such as Washington, Minneapolis, New York and Chicago, the African trend is helped by large immigrant communities of Ethiopians and Somalians, according to Elaine Tecklenburg who authored the report.


This year Bell Flavors & Fragrances paired the Moroccan spice ras el hanout with apricot on toasted pine nuts. It also used spicy African ginger for use in a sorbet with the Aisan citrus fruit yuzu.


Similarly Symrise is offering an African theme to the alcoholic beverage market with the launch of its “African Inspirations” such as cacao liqueur which uses a blend of cacao from the Ivory Coast and typical African spices such as cardamom. Also there is a cider which has a rooibos flavor note. Rooibos, or red bush, is a plant commonly used in tea in South Africa.


However, the beverage concepts have mainly been developed for the EAME region (Europe, Africa, Middle East).

Baobab Anti-Ageing Cream

Baobab Anti-Ageing
Ultra-moisturising anti-ageing gel-cream: to delay the effects of ageing. +115% more hydration 2 hours after application.

Virgin baobab oil, grapefruit essential oil, moringa, beech bud phytostimulines, imperata cylindrica and Yon-Ka Quintessence.
Fine texture and anti-pollution action.
Use in the morning after cleansing and shaving.

The Mythical Baobab

Many cultures claim to remember a time when great and ancient trees cloaked vast areas of the earth. The enchanting original forests and foreboding gigantic trees were of mythical dimensions and proportions.


The African baobab is a living embodiment of timeless affinities with nature common to many peoples throughout the continent. It serves as a metaphoric window into Africa's real or imagined past, through which we may view practices said to be of great antiquity.


Visitors to Sukur are warned not to approach a certain ancient baobab tree because, villagers say, it turns people into hermaphrodites.


Several myths that use the baobab as a backdrop for teaching moral lessons are told by the Bushmen or Hausa people of Northern Nigeria. One tale involving the baobab which is used to explain a phenomenon of nature as well as teach a moral lesson is the myth "The Tale of the Superman" In this story a husband boasts to his wife that he is the strongest man alive. He learns of another man who claims to be "superman", and goes to seek him out.


This second "superman" is actually an extremely powerful superhuman who kicks up wind wherever he goes and eats men for dinner. While trying to escape from "superman", the husband comes across the "Giant-of-the-Forest" sitting under a baobab tree. The giant offers to help the husband, and enters into a terrible fight with "superman". In their struggle to free themselves from each other's grasp, they leap to such a height they disappear into the heavens. As a result, their struggle can be heard as thunder.


The moral of the story is summed up by the wife who says, "Never boast about your achievements again. However strong or clever or rich or powerful you are, there is always somebody more so."