Full List of Fruits African medlar
Introduction of African medlarNutritional Value of African medlarAfrican medlar UsesHealth Benefits of African medlarStorage and Preparation
African Medlar Fruit
Introduction of African medlar
Scientific name - Vangueria infausta
African medlar is a traditional food plant that has deciduous shrub or small tree with a varying height from 3-7 m, based on the habitat. Unlike other fruit types, it is not found all year long. The edible fruit has a pleasant sweet-sour, mealy taste similar to apple.
The African medlar is from the Rubiaceae family. Native to the southern and eastern Afrotropics, its fruits have a pleasant apple like flavor. The corolla being dropped earlier, they are carried on opposite and axillary cymes. The tree produces a velvety like flower that are just about 4 mm long and 6 mm wide. They grow into unevenly- shaped, lustrous, tan-colored plums that are full of soft fleshy pulp and fairly large seeds.
Nutritional Value of African medlar
| Calories | 43 | Sodium | 4 mg |
| Total Fat | 0 g | Potassium | 263 mg |
| Saturated | 0 g | Total Carbs | 9 g |
| Polyunsaturated | 0 g | Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Monounsaturated | 0 g | Sugars | 9 g |
| Trans | 0 g | Protein | 1 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | ||
| Vitamin A | 0% | Calcium | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 4% | Iron | 0% |
Despite the fact that the fruit is less-known, they are a traditional food plant in Africa and have potential nutrition's. They are consumed raw or the pulp of the fruit is extracted and dried for later use while the seeds may be roasted and used in making curries.
Health Benefits of African medlar
It can be stored in the fridge for a few days, but ensure that you don't pile them up. The fruit can be eaten raw once it is been bletted. The fruit can also be enjoyed with the pulp mixed with sugar, cream or can also be eaten plain. The fruit is good for making jellies. By tradition, medlars are also turned into a ‘curd‘ style of fruit cheese, where the pulp is cooked like lemon curd with eggs, butter and sugar.
