African Locust Bean

African locust bean is the seed of Parkia biglobosa, a perennial deciduous tree of the family Fabaceae found across a wide range of environments in Africa, grown for pods containing both a sweet pulp and valuable seeds. The seed coat is cooked off and the seed then fermented, after which it may be pounded into powder and formed into cakes, producing a seasoning known by regional names including sikomu among the Yoruba, dawadawa or dodowa among the Hausa, and sunbala in the Inner Niger Delta; the pulp is also used to make beverages. The fermented seed product is an important part of local and regional trade in West Africa.