Soursop – a sweet fruit that grows well in the tropical conditions of southern Nigeria

Soursop is a nutritious and delicious fruit with flavour like a combination of mango and pineapple.

Soursop is the fruit of Annona muricata, a broadleaf, flowering, evergreen tree. The tree does well in tropical regions with high humidity like the southern parts of Nigeria, West Africa. Anona muricata tolerates poor soil and this makes it easy for anyone in southern Nigeria to grow the soursop tree in their backyard.

The soursop fruit is large and oval-shaped. The green exterior, which has spines on it, covers a white, fibrous flesh. Soursop is a nutritious and delicious fruit with flavour like a combination of mango and pineapple.

Nutrition

Raw soursop is 81% water, 17% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and has negligible fat. In a 100 gramme reference amount, the raw fruit supplies 66 kilocalories, and contains only vitamin C as a significant amount (25%) of the Daily Value, with no other micronutrients in appreciable amounts. One whole soursop fruit contains 215% (2 times) of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin C.

Health Benefits

Vitamin C, which soursop contains in high amounts, is an antioxidant known to boost immune health. Vitamin C strengthens your immune system, improving its ability to defend against pathogens. It also promotes the destruction of free radicals, which can help to protect your skin and cells from environmental oxidation damage.

Good for the digestive system. One whole soursop fruit contains around 83% of your recommended daily allowance of fibre, which is a vital nutrient for your digestive health.

Medicinal value. Soursop has many uses in traditional medicine, and it has been used to treat a wide range of health conditions and ailments.

How Soursop is eaten

The fruit can be eaten fresh by cutting or tearing it open to reveal an edible white pulp, some fibre and indigestible black seeds which should be thrown away. The pulp can also be used to make smoothies, fruit juice drinks and ice cream flavourings. 

I like eating my soursop whole, fresh from the tree, when it is in season. Soursop can be found in local markets in Nigeria when it is in season. However you like it, you do yourself good when you eat soursop.

Cheers!

Ugochukwu Ukwuegbu

Soursop fruit straight from the Annona muricata tree

Nutritional Benefits of Eating Catfish

Catfish are a type of white fish that can live in both freshwater and saltwater and are known for being rich in vitamins, minerals and omega fatty acids. Catfish can be farmed and harvested as we do at Divine Fish Farm and Gardens or caught in the wild in rivers, streams and lagoons.

Catfish is a type of white fish that can live in both freshwater and saltwater and is known for being rich in vitamins, minerals and omega fatty acids. Catfish can be farmed and harvested as we do at Divine Fish Farm and Gardens Nigeria or caught in the wild in rivers, streams and lagoons.

Catfish helps you meet your protein needs and boosts your intake of vitamins and healthy fats and fatty acids.

Catfish is a good source of vitamin B12, a nutrient that is typically only found in animal products. Vitamin B12 is important for your health because it helps your body make DNA and keeps your nerve and blood cells functioning properly.

Catfish is low in calories and fat.

Eating catfish is a tasty way to boost your intake of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Both of these nutrients play a part in heart and cognitive health. Consumption of these fatty acids is thought to be associated with reduction in blood pressure and reduced risk for certain cancers, inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, and even mental decline.

Catfish Nutrition Facts
Catfish is a good source of protein, with 49 percent of the daily value (DV) in one fillet (about 160 grams). Each 160 gram serving of farmed catfish also has the following vitamins and minerals:

  • 10 percent of the daily value (DV) for vitamin E

  • 38 percent of the DV for thiamin (vitamin B1)

  • 7 percent of the DV for riboflavin (vitamin B2)

  • 18 percent of the DV for niacin (vitamin B3)

  • 10 percent of the DV for pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)

  • 15 percent of the DV for vitamin B6

  • 65 percent of the DV for vitamin B12

  • 8 percent of the DV for copper

  • 9 percent of the DV for magnesium

  • 32 percent of the DV for phosphorus

  • 14 percent of the DV for potassium

  • 29 percent of the DV for selenium

  • 8 percent of the DV for zinc

Catfish also has small amounts (between 1 and 4 percent) of most other essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, folate, vitamin C, calcium, iron and manganese. They also contain other nutrients, like choline and are good sources of healthy, essential fats. Catfish have both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Recipies: African delicacies you can prepare with dried catfish:

  1. How to cook ogbono soup with smoked and dried catfish

  2. How to cook banga soup (‘ofe akwu’) with smoked and dried catfish

  3. How to wash your smoked and dried catfish before cooking with it

You can order dried catfish online from Divine Fish and Gardens
You can order your dried catfish online. We deliver to Lagos.

How to preserve your blended tomatoes to last for more than a month without putting it in fridge or warming.

You can preserve your blended tomatoes to last for more than a month without putting it in a refrigerator or warming it regularly by following the steps below:

The period from December to mid-February is a time when tomatoes are relatively cheap and in plenty supply in the major markets around Nigeria.

Tomatoes are used in many households to prepare paste and stews for delicacies like white rice, jollof rice, white yam, porridge, soups and many others meals. If you are a tomato lover you might want to extend your enjoyment of sumptuous tomato stews beyond the season of plenty into the season when it is in short supply.

You can preserve your blended tomatoes to last for more than a month without putting it in a refrigerator or warming it regularly by following the steps below:

  1. Wash your fresh tomatoes to your taste.
  2. Pour it in a pot and add little salt and water. Steam it for just three minutes.
  3. Remove all tomatoes from water and blend it.
  4. Boil your blended tomatoes to allow its water content to evaporate to your taste. (It is advisable to let it thicken.)
  5. Pour the tomato paste into a container made of glass which you can cover very well (e.g. an empty mayonnaise glass container with cover). Close the glass container very well.
  6. Put your tomato paste in covered glass container inside a pot with little water and heat for two minutes to warm the glass container and its content.
  7. Now you can store your tomato paste wherever you want.

You are advised to consume your tomato paste within 6 weeks.

This method comes in handy if you want to buy tomato in bulk cheaply and consume it little by little over 6 weeks.

Oh, you can also order your smoked and dried catfish from Divine Fish Farm which will also retain its great taste and nutritional value after 6 weeks. Dried catfish gives stews a distinct traditional taste.

Thank you.

Email: info@divinefish.com.ng, Phone: +234-8077776861, Website: www.divinefish.com.ng

Tomato sause or stew
Tomato sause or stew

A pack of dried catfish from Divine Fish Farm
A pack of dried catfish from Divine Fish Farm

Fresh Tomatoes
Fresh Tomatoes