The West African Locust Bean (Dawadawa) belongs to the leguminosae.
The fruits are long narrow pods and flattered, brown or black when dry. The
seeds are flat.
U S E S
It is used for food and native medicine.
L E A V E S
1. The young leaves mixed with cereal flour is used as spinach.
2. The young flower bud is used as preventive medicine for leprosy.
F R U I T S
1. The yellow pulp or flour of the fruits is sweet and rich in carbohydrates. It is used in stews or made pulp macerated in water and taken as drink.
2. The bark and the fruits with or without seed is used to prepare dyes, tannic etc.
S E E D
The major use of the seed is for Dawadawa- fermented seeds used to prepare condiment very rich in protein. It is used as a natural sauce for preparing stews, soups, barbecue etc. the roasted seed is used for treating B. P.