Fruits are nature’s candy. Fruit trees that are indigenous to Kenya grow uncultivated near homesteads and in forested areas. This made them a key dietary component for hunting and gathering communities, and a supplementary source of food for communities that practised farming or nomadism. Due to the perishability and seasonality of fruits, communities had to find inventive ways of preserving them.
The doum palm tree grows non-domesticated along river courses, lakes, and on the coastline. It is most widespread in hot and dry areas in the country’s lowland regions. Its thin fronds reduce the amount of water lost through transpiration and allows it to survive and thrive even under the desert sun.
The tree goes by different names depending on the community. It’s mukoma to the Swahili and Mijikenda, tangayiween to the Pokot, muruguyu among the Tharaka, and eeng’ol in Turkana. The palm tree also produces small fleshy date fruits. For the Turkana community, this date fruit is of great significance as it provides sustenance during prolonged droughts.
A Life-saving Fruit
Doum palm date fruits are only harvested once they ripen and turn yellow. The fruit itself is quickly consumed, but the seeds are collected and set aside for future consumption. Once enough have been gathered, they are placed in a mortar and ground into a fine powder. This powder is put away to dry completely before being stored inside an airtight container. Although a powder, it’s just as sweet as the fruit. It is solely used as a sweetener when mixed with blood, milk, and porridge. It is also used to make a local fermented brew called kaada.
Research shows that the doum palm date fruit is rich in carbohydrates and fiber. It has immense health benefits due to its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. A deeper dive into this fruit shows that access to it was the difference between survival and starvation for the Turkana. It provided the community with a lifeline as they moved from one place to another in search of food and pasture.
Have you had the chance to indulge in the doum palm date fruit or its powder? Did you enjoy it?
#VyakulaVyetu
