Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent, as a result, there are hundreds of native African fruits to enjoy, a lot you've probably heard of and tasted, and also so many you probably never knew existed. In this article, we'll be taking you on a trip to Africa, you'd learn about some of the many different fruits indigenous to Africa, and how they are enjoyed all over the continent.

Fruits are the sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seeds and can be eaten as food. Well, that’s basically what most of us know as fruits, but do you all know that fruits are the fleshy or dry ripened ovary of a flowering plant enclosing the seed or seeds? Oh yes, that’s right!

According to Britannica, Botanically, a fruit is a mature

ovary and its associated parts. It usually contains seeds, which have developed from the enclosed

ovule after fertilization, although development without

fertilization, called parthenocarpy, is known, for example, in bananas. Fertilization induces various changes in a flower: the anthers and stigma wither, the petals drop off, and the sepals may be shed or undergo modifications; the ovary enlarges, and the ovules develop into seeds, each containing an embryo plant. The principal purpose of the fruit is the protection and dissemination of the seed.

So technically, this would mean that apricots, bananas, grapes, bean pods, corn grains, tomatoes,  cucumbers, and (in their shells) acorns and almonds, are all fruits.

Types of Fruits

  • Pome, most of the fruit is formed from the receptacle (under the flower) eg pear, apple
  • Drupe, has fleshy fruit and a single seed with a hard endocarp eg peaches, coconut, and olives
  • Berry, has many seeds eg tomatoes, peppers, and cucumber but not strawberries!
  • Aggregate fruit, develop from one flower with many pistils eg strawberries.
  • Legumes, split along two sides eg beans, peas
  • Capsules, are dry fruit that has several carpels eg orchids
  • Nuts, have one seed and a hard pericarp eg acorns
  • Grains, have the fruit and seed joined closely together eg wheat, rice, barley.
  • Multiple fruits, come from several different flowers joined together eg pineapples.

Why fruits are so important

  • Fruits are part of a well-balanced diet that can help you lose weight or avoid weight gain because they're low in saturated fat, salt, and sugar. They can also aid in the reduction of inflammation, as well as the reduction of cholesterol and blood pressure.
  • Replacing your higher-calorie foods with fruits and vegetables (which tend to be lower in calories) can lead to a lower calorie intake. As a result, the danger of weight gain will be reduced, which is linked to several ailments such as Type 2 Diabetes and high blood pressure.
  • You won’t find a better nutritional source than fruits and veggies, which are packed with vitamins A, C, and E and magnesium, zinc, phosphorous, and folic acid. For potassium, one of the most important minerals for your health, eat plenty of avocados, sweet potatoes, bananas, prunes, and even tomato paste puree.
  • Fiber is found in fruits, and it is crucial for keeping you full, maintaining proper digestion, and reducing the risk and impact of various diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and several malignancies.