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Baobab and Tamarind Drink

Also known as Baobab and Tamarind Drink (Two-Bark Tonic)

Baobab and Tamarind Drink combines two of the most nutritionally and medicinally significant plant products of the Northern Nigerian landscape — baobab fruit powder (from Adansonia digitata) and tamarind paste (from Tamarindus indica) — into a single tonic drink of extraordinary nutritional density and therapeutic depth. Baobab is exceptionally rich in vitamin C (6 times more than orange), calcium (more than milk), iron and antioxidants.

Baobab and Tamarind Drink, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • 2 big big tablespoons of baobab powder (dried baobab fruit pulp)
  • A big piece of compressed dried tamarind
  • 6 glasses of water
  • Sugar or honey to taste — both baobab and tamarind are very tart
  • A small piece of fresh ginger, grated
  • A pinch of salt

Method

  1. 01

    Dissolving the Baobab. Place the baobab powder in a bowl. Add 2 glasses of cold water gradually while stirring until completely dissolved and lump-free. The baobab will turn the water a beautiful creamy-golden colour.

  2. 02

    Dissolving the Tamarind. Break the dried tamarind into pieces. Soak in 2 glasses of warm water for 10 minutes. Knead to dissolve the pulp. Strain through a sieve to remove seeds and fibres.

  3. 03

    Combining. Combine the dissolved baobab liquid and the strained tamarind liquid. Add the remaining 2 glasses of cold water. Add grated ginger, sugar or honey to taste and a pinch of salt. Stir very well.

  4. 04

    Chilling. Refrigerate until very cold. The combined drink should be a beautiful golden-brown colour, very tart and deeply complex in flavour.

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