dawa dawa
Locust bean, commonly referred to as iru by Yorubas, ‘ogiri’, ‘dawa dawa’ by Igbos, is a local seasoning or condiment used in soups and stews. A very popular soup ingredient, globally, it is referred to as African locust bean with the botanical name as Parkia biglobosa.

There are various health benefits that can be derived from locust beans, one of such is that it contains nutrients like protein which build and repair tissues in the body, carbohydrate which is a source of energy to man’s body. It also helps to fuel the brain, kidney, heart muscles and the central nervous system.

Locust beans are an indigenous plant grown for their pods with the seeds crushed and fermented, mostly by rural women farmers, for processing into seasoning for soups and stews.

These are amazing health benefits of Iru (African locust bean)

• Anti-oxidant Properties.
• Wound Healing Properties.
• Treatment of Hypertension and Boosts the Immune System.
• Dermatological Properties.
• Treatment of Respiratory Infections.
• Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders.

„Iru‟ is the Yoruba name for the fermented condiment produced from African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa)[2]. It is also known as „dawadawa‟ in hausaland and by different names among ethnic groups [3]. „Ogiri‟ is the name used by igbos for the traditionally prepared fermented condiments based on vegetable proteins.

You could try using a gelatin-agar mixture, it has more elasticity, though it’s not quite as strong, maybe something like these gelatin-agar gel sheets. Or a combination of iota carrageenan with either agar or kappa carrageenan might work, though the carrageenan tends to be used for more tender preparations.

Locust bean gum is high in fiber and may help decrease blood sugar and blood fat levels. It is also used in infant formulas to help reduce reflux.

The pods of the tree, commonly referred to as locust beans, are pink in the beginning and turn dark brown when fully mature. They are 30-40 centimetres long on average, with some reaching lengths of about 45 centimetres. Each pod can contain up to 30 seeds; the seeds are embedded in a sweet, powdery yellow pulp.

The name may suggest otherwise, but the locust bean, or Parkia biglobosa, is, in fact, a tree that is native to West Africa. The locust bean tree can grow to more than 20 meters in height. It originates in latitudes between 5 degrees North and 15 degrees North.

Inside these pods is a sweet pulp which can be eaten raw, served as a drink, or turned into a powder to store and then use to enhance the flavor of soups and stews. Beyond the pulp, the locust bean fruit contains seeds. The locust bean seeds have a greasy extract known as dawadawa, or soumbala.

Ogiri (Locust bean) A very popular soup ingredient, globally, it is referred to as African locust bean with the botanical name as Parkia biglobosa. This seed is mostly used as a condiment for soup and stews. The fermented African locust beans is Ogiri .

Locust Beans – Air Dried Whole (Iru, Ogiri, DawaDawa) – 10 oz Bag.

Parkia biglobosa is known as African locust bean, dorowa or dawadawa in Hausa, ogiri or daddawa in Igbo, nune in Tiv, nere or néré in Bambara, iru, irugba, igba or iyere in Yoruba. It is also known as sikomu, nété, arbre à farine, monkey cutlass tree, nitta-tree or fern leaf.

Scientifically known as Parkia biglobosa, locust bean is an aromatic local seasoning widely used in preparing soups and stews across in West Africa. It is called ‘iru‘ by Yorubas, ‘ogiri‘ by Igbos, and ‘dawa dawa’ by Hausas. It is also known as Irú or Eware among the Edo people of Nigeria.

Iru is mainly used as a condiment for cooking. Yorubas classify iru into two types: Iru Woro, which is commonly used to make stew, and Iru Pete, which is used to make ewedu and egusi soup. [ 2] The leaves of the locust beans tree are also used to wrap moi moi.

The tree is distinguished by its thick dark brown-grayish bark and it bears hanging pods that measure approximately 30 to 45 cm long and each pod contains up to 30 seeds. The pods are commonly known as locust beans that tend to be pinkish in colour on their early stages but changes to dark brown on full maturity.