The African locust beans (also known as Dawadawa) comes from the African locust bean tree (Parkia biglobosa) a tree that grows throughout Ghana. The pods (locust beans) of the tree are filled with up to about 30 seeds and are fermented and made into a strong aromatic cakes often used as food flavoring for soups and stews and particularly recommended for communities whose traditional diets are lacking in proteins and vitamin B.

The African Locust Bean is known to have numerous health benefits including:

• Helping maintain good eye sight
• Being a good alternative for animal protein since the seeds contain about 39% protein, 27% fats, and 16% carbohydrates.
• Helping stabilize blood pressure
• Lowering blood sugar levels
• Prevention of anemia
• Being a good dietary supplement for pregnant women
• The bean seeds are also rich in calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, copper, and B-vitamins like thiamine.
• Has strong antioxidant properties that either minimize the risk or helps with the treatment of diabetes and heart disease.
• Helps with the treatment of malaria

Uses

African Locust Bean (Dawadawa) is used in preparing an assortment of dishes including porridge, soup and stews. It can also be used as a thickener of sauces. The leaves of the African Locust Bean Tree are sometimes eaten as a vegetable, usually after boiling and then mixed with other foods such as a cereal flour.