The doum palm is regarded as the skull fruits known in Northern Nigeria as an excellent brain super food; even though its origin is from Egypt but can now be found cultivated and domesticated in Nigeria. The doum palm grows on the palm tree, the fresh fruit or the dried fruit pulps are used for food and eaten as snacks, the dried doum fruits are chopped and mill to be used for making drinks or use as a spice with a bland unique taste and flavor. It is called in Hausa goruba of the doum palm tree; a very hard fruit and the edible part is called doum palm fruits which is a red ripe edible fruit, eaten fresh or dry. The doum palm fruits called goruba in the northeast are as big as a clenched fist and have a large hairy seed in its middle which is very hard that can even crack a human skull if thrown at someone’s head. The doum palm tree has oval fruits very well eaten and used for various recipes in northern Nigeria, the fruits surrounding the seeds are the edible part with a shiny orange-brown to dark brown color, chewy bitter-sweet taste; very tough that to eat it one must have very strong healthy teeth and gums, or use a sharp knife to separate them from the hard seed, often eaten like the kola nut in the north-east.
A special market for “Goruba” is at the Gamboru market in Maiduguri, Borno state where the goruba fruits are sold in large bulks to be transported and be resold at the retail market stalls, found heaped up in groupings in large bowls or basins, and sack bags. A booming business for small markets, with large patronage by people of all classes in the society rushing to stock up on the dry fruits believing that it keeps the stomach satiated for long and given to hungry kids to keep them busy and away from crying for food. The goruba is a fruit most school kids love so much that during break time rush over to buy it at the school shops, neighborhood markets, and found sold also by fruit vendors hawking it in wheelbarrows on the street corners all over Maiduguri in Borno state. The northeast and most of the northern states in Nigeria are blessed with the doum palm tree known as goruba, it is eaten fresh or dried and the best form of its preservation is by drying it. The goruba is a fibrous fruit with a taste of slight bitterness and mild sweetness, with a chewy texture like jelly; the doum palm fruits have a soothingly cooling effect on the body which makes them a great fruit for people living in the hot desert heats of the northeast, it is a well-known fact that Northern Nigeria has hot sunny weather, and the doum palm fruits aids in reducing the body temperature by helping to regulate body heat and to help energize body weakness, eating it alone will greatly benefit one having body weakness also. Â
Recipes For Goruba:- The doum palm fruits are the goruba in Hausa and can be processed at home by either soaking the crushed doum fruit in water or by boiling the crushed doum fruit in water for some minutes; which can be used for several other recipes or can be incorporated in meals for added nutrients, such as juice drinks, goruba milk drink and a most popular north-east of Nigeria drink is the shayin goruba which is the doum palm fruit tea. The crushed or powdered doum palm fruits can be stored in airtight containers for use when needed.
The doum palm fruit called goruba is regarded as the skull fruit because it is shaped like the human skulls so it is believed to be the best brain super-food; Goruba vitamin C loads assist one in avoiding worries especially for those suffering from depression, known as the “skull fruits” which helps in brain healths and brain development. An amazing recipe for a brain drink is to just mix the powdered goruba with coconut milk and water, add honey and mix all together very well into a thick jelly-like paste, just take a lick of this mixture regularly, and if possible after meals, it is a superb source of energy for the brain; a most potent remedy, protection that helps fight harmful bacteria in the brain.
Kunun Goruba is Doum Palm Fruits Gruel:
Recipe Ingredients:-
Wheat mill or flour known as garin alkama in Hausa, or the millet flour which is garin gero in Hausa.
The doum fruit chunks or the goruba in Hausa.
Ginger is called citta in Hausa.
Cloves is the kanumfari in Hausa.
Dry chili pepper is borkono in Hausa.
Sugar is sigari in Hausa, honey is the zuma in Hausa or any sweetener of choice will do.
Tamarind is known as tsamiya in Hausa or lemon juice which is the lemo sami in Hausa (optional).
Recipe Steps:-
The wheat or millet is mostly used for this recipe, begin by removing the husks, either by pounding the cereal to remove the husks or by using the mill to have the husks removed.
Wash, and strain the water, add ginger, cloves, and chili peppers, then take to the mill and blend into a smooth pouring consistency just like the akamu or pad of the corn mills. A smooth mesh or cheese bag is required to sieve or strain the blended liquid, add enough water for easier processing to pass through the mesh or cheese bag, then squeeze well to get most of the liquids out of the solid mass, discard the chaff. Allow to settle, after a while a solid mass will settle at the base of the bowl and only clear water will remain at the top. If allowed to stay as it is undisturbed for a day or two the fermentation process will begin and the mixture will turn sour naturally, thereby making the tamarind and lemon unnecessary.
Meanwhile, scoop a soupspoon into a separate bowl and keep it for use in making the kunun goruba.
Put chunks of goruba into a clean pot add water to cover it and put it to boil, on low heat. Add water to the mixture kept in a bowl, and stir in well to achieve a pouring consistency, with the aid of a mesh place over the wheat mixture, strain the steaming hot goruba liquid onto the blended wheat mixture, and mix immediately by stirring it just as for making custard or akamu. As soon as it thickens, sweeten with any sweetener of choice, organic honey is best for a healthy choice. A sweet nutritiously healthy meal drink aids in reducing blood cholesterol and helps to protect against cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
The Doum Palm Milk Drink:
A sweet probiotic beverage drink that contains good micro-organisms that can help fight the harmful bacteria in the body.
Recipe Ingredients:-
The doum palm fruit chunks are the Goruba in Hausa.
Any favorite tea leaves or tea bags.
Milk is madara in Hausa.
Hausa Local spices of ginger known as citta, cloves are kanumfari.
Sweetener of choice, Sigari is sugar or zuma is honey in Hausa.
Water is ruwa in Hausa.
Iced cubes are kankara in Hausa for a chilled refreshing sweet drink.
Recipe Steps:-
The goruba chunks can be bought from the market or the whole fruit can be bought and with the aid of a sharp knife, peel away the edible fruits from the nut-seed; then stored in an airtight container and use as needed.
Combine the goruba with the local spices of choice and mill into a fine powder or if preferred to just use the required goruba chunks and boil together with the spices.
Put water to boil and add in the goruba with the tea leaves or tea bags; simmer on low heat. Add some cool water to extract the juice from the chaff, then strain with a fine mesh or colander, and if using the kettle with a strainer that makes it just perfect to pour out directly into teacups. A healthy choice is to sweeten with organic honey and add milk, the flavor of choices like vanilla or cinnamon is optional because of the use of local spices. As a refreshing drink serve chilled with iced cubes. Store in refilled bottles and place them in the refrigerator for later use. Goruba drinks such as this tea aids in increasing blood counts in people with low blood.
The recipe for a simple mild alcoholic drink; is by just using the goruba edible red-brown part, mill it into powdered form. Begin by adding the powdered goruba to a mixture of water and milk; keep undisturbed and allow to stand for several hours for fermentation to take place which then turns it into a mildly alcoholic drink, while others are known to tap palm wine directly from the stem sap.
The Doum Palm Lemon Tea:-
The Hausa shayin goruba: The first step is to boil together with chunks of goruba, ginger, cloves, a favorite teabag, all in a pot of water, and simmer on low heat until the aroma of the tea is perceived.
Sieve or strain, with a fine smooth mesh and pour into a teapot but if using a kettle pot with strainer just pour out into teacups and serve with honey or any sweetener of choice then add lemon juice with lemon slices to garnish it.
Serve also chilled in tall glasses with ice cubes, for a sweet refreshing drink.
Store in refilled bottles in the refrigerator, named and labeled for later use.
The Doum Palm Tree:- The doum palm tree plants, leaves, and fruits are very effective for their antioxidant anticancer, and anti-inflammatory potency in solving most health problems; the fruits contain nutrients such as minerals, proteins, and fatty acids, including calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium; contains a high nutritional value, it is used in treating different health problems, improving liver and kidney functions. A remedy for asthma is to put to boil some powdered edible parts of the goruba, strain, and drink. The same goruba water solution also aids in hair growth if used to rinse the hair after the final wash. The doum palm fruits are well tolerated with no mortality due to their consumption. The doum palm tree has a long history all over the world and well known for its health benefits in helping to prevent and cure various diseases and ailments; consisting of the following nutrients, vitamin A, B, C, Zinc, Iron, Calcium, loads of fiber, protein, and glucose. The consumption of doum palm fruits with their excellent fiber loads aids in treating constipation which aids in digestion, the fiber loads of the fruits are exceptional for bowel movements which most fruits are known for when included in regular diet and meals, indigestion will be a forgotten issue and also helps to relieve abdominal bloats. The place of a healthy kidney in the life of any person can never be valued; the kidneys help to filter and remove impurities from the body system; that can harm the healthy well-being of an individual and the nutrients found in the goruba known as phosphorus aids in the filtering of impurities from the bladder of the body system; a good treatment for stomach and bladder problems, snacking on goruba often aids in preventing and curing the health problems known as the pile and also helps to strengthen the teeth. It is a fantastic remedy in helping lower the high blood pressures just by mixing the powdered goruba in a glass of water and drink which goes a long way in preventing heart-related problems. The doum palm fruits guarantee lots of health benefits if included in a regular diet which includes treating and preventing cancer, weight control, and lowering cholesterols, liver diseases, and diabetes. A fantastic blood nourishing drink for its vitamin loads and iron, a nutritious natural drink that improves blood flow an excellent blood booster. An amazing remedy for all fertility problems in men and women with regular intake in diets; fantastic fertility boost. Goruba soaked in water and given to a new mother who is experiencing post-natal pains gives immediate relief.
The Doum Palm Fruits the Hausa Goruba Sustainability:- The goruba is a source of food for the people of the north-east which they greatly depended upon as a food commodity, aside from its many remedies and curative potency for diseases. It is a source for income with the use of its fiber as raw material for creating such crafts as ropes in Hausa “igiya”, “kwando” baskets, “taburma” is the mats, other products include the use in thatched roofing, poles, and posts from its timber and firewood as a source of fuel. The doum palm tree, to survive requires a hot dry climate for goo growth, which is the north-east weather, with its very hot desert heat the goruba tree being considered as drought-tolerant will thrive well. Nigeria is blessed with an amazing array of medicinal plants, fruits, herbs, and an extensive awareness is necessary for international recognition and patronage which is needed to boost Nigeria’s economy. It is also advisable to protect the environment, sustain all-natural gifts such as doum palm fruits, which are a great food for humans and animals; and a source of livelihood, making out of it a household crafts and powerful herbal remedy; so why not grub on the goruba today!