Everything about Mongongo totally explained
Formerly known as
Ricinodendron rautanenii, the
mongongo tree is a member of the
family Euphorbiaceae and of the
monotypic genus Schinziophyton. A large, spreading tree, the mongongo reaches 15-20 metres tall. It is found on wooded hills and in amongst sand dunes, and is associated with the
Kalahari sand soil-types. The leaves are a distinctive hand-shape, and the pale yellow wood is similar in characteristics to
balsa, being both lightweight and strong. The yellowish flowers occur in slender, loose sprays.
Fruit
Known as
mongongo fruit,
mongongo nut or
manketti nut, the egg-shaped, velvety fruits ripen and fall between March and May each year, and contain a thin layer of edible flesh around a thick, hard, pitted shell. Inside this shell is a tasty and highly nutritious nut.
Distribution
The mongongo is distributed widely throughout southern
Africa. There are several distinct belts of distribution, the largest of which reaches from northern
Namibia into northern
Botswana, south-western
Zambia and western
Zimbabwe. Another belt is found in eastern
Malawi, and yet another in eastern
Mozambique.
Traditional uses
So popular are the fruit and nuts of the mongongo tree that they've even been described as a "staple diet" in some areas (most notably amongst the San
bushmen of northern
Botswana and
Namibia). Archaeological evidence has shown that they've been consumed amongst San communities for over 7,000 years. Their popularity stems in part from their flavour, and in part from the fact that they store well, and remain edible for much of the year.
Dry fruits are first steamed to soften the skins. After peeling, the fruits are then cooked in water until the maroon-coloured flesh separates from the hard inner nuts. The pulp is eaten, and the nuts are saved to be roasted later. Alternatively, nuts are collected from elephant dung- the hard nut survives intact through the digestive process and elephant does the hard work of collecting the nuts. During roasting of the nuts, direct contact with the fire is avoided, using sand to distribute the heat evenly. Once dry, the outer shell cracks easily, revealing the nut, encased within a soft, inner shell. The nuts are either eaten straight, or pounded as ingredients in other dishes.
The oil from the nuts has also been traditionally used as a body rub in the dry winter months, to clean and moisten the skin, while the hard, outer nut-shells are popular as divining "bones". The wood, being both strong and light, makes excellent fishing floats, toys, insulating material and drawing boards. More recently, it has been used to make dart-boards and packing cases.
Nutrition
Per 100 grams shelled
nuts:
Mongongo in Popular Culture
The January 29th, 2007 episode of the TV show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip made reference to the mongongo fruit as a satirical addition to the Fruit of the Loom fruits. It was to be played as a black militant as a contrast to the other, politically neutral fruit characters.
The October 5th, 2007 episode of the TV show QI made reference to the fact that mongongo nuts are found in elephant droppings.Further Information
Get more info on 'Mongongo'.
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