Baobab Powder: Benefits, Nutrition & How to Use It (Plus a Bouye Drink Recipe)
Superfruit guide · Yado Market Blog
Baobab powder is the naturally dried pulp of the baobab fruit, the "monkey bread" of the African savanna. In Senegal it becomes bouye, a creamy, tangy juice; around the world it is stirred into smoothies and oatmeal for a boost of vitamin C and fiber. Here is what baobab is, what research says about its benefits, and the easiest ways to use it.
Quick answer: what is baobab powder?
- The dried fruit pulp of Adansonia digitata.
- Tangy and citrusy, high in vitamin C and pectin fiber.
- Approved as a food in the EU (2008) and U.S. (2009).
- Used in bouye juice, smoothies, oatmeal and baking.
A. digitata
Scientific name
~283 mg
Vitamin C per 100 g (avg.)
Dries on tree
Naturally dehydrated
EU & FDA
Approved food ingredient
Know your fruit
What Is Baobab Powder?
Baobab powder is the dried, sifted pulp of the fruit of the African baobab tree, Adansonia digitata. Inside each hard, velvety shell, the seeds sit in a pale, dry, slightly floury pulp.9 The fruit dries out completely while still hanging on the tree, so very little processing is needed: the shells are cracked, the pulp is separated from the seeds, then milled and sifted.102
That is why the fruit is often called monkey bread ("pain de singe" in French).89 Across Africa, people have eaten the pulp for generations: dissolved in water as a drink, stirred into porridge or used in sauces.11 It has a tangy, lightly sweet, citrusy taste, a little like sherbet.
At a glance
Baobab Fruit Powder: Nutrition & Quick Facts
| Scientific name | Adansonia digitata L. (family Malvaceae) |
|---|---|
| Part used | Dried fruit pulp, separated from the seeds and shell |
| Vitamin C | About 283 mg per 100 g on average, ranging from 150 to 500 mg depending on the tree1 |
| Potassium | About 1,794 mg per 100 g on average (range 726 to 3,272 mg)1 |
| Fiber | Rich in pectin, a soluble fiber5 |
| Taste | Tangy, lightly sweet and citrusy |
| EU status | Approved as a novel food ingredient, labeled “baobab fruit pulp”, in 20082 |
| U.S. status | FDA had “no questions” about its GRAS status in 2009 (GRAS Notice 273)3 |
What scientists found
Baobab Powder Benefits: What Research Says
In Senegal, the pulp has traditionally been used for diarrhea and stomach troubles.8 Modern research is now looking closely at baobab's fiber, vitamin C and polyphenols. Here is what has been studied so far:
Naturally rich in vitamin C
A major review of baobab food products found an average of about 283 mg of vitamin C per 100 g of pulp, with some trees reaching 500 mg.1
Blood sugar response
In a human study published in Nutrition Research (2013), drinking baobab extract in water with white bread, at 18.5 g or 37 g, significantly lowered the glycemic response to the bread.4
Prebiotic fiber
In a 2021 lab study using human gut samples, pectin-rich baobab pulp powder fed beneficial bacteria and raised short-chain fatty acids, with prebiotic potential the authors compared to inulin.5
Gut microbiome
A 2024 lab model of the human gut found baobab fiber increased Bifidobacteria and beneficial short-chain fatty acids.6
The gut studies are laboratory models, and the blood sugar study was small, so baobab is best enjoyed as a nutritious everyday food rather than a treatment. It is easy to love either way: one spoonful adds tang, fiber and vitamin C to whatever you are making.
Senegal's favorite
How to Make Bouye (Senegalese Baobab Juice)
Bouye, or jus de bouye, is the creamy, ice-cold baobab drink loved across Senegal. This is the classic home recipe.9
1. Mix
Whisk about 200 g of baobab powder into 1 liter of water until smooth.
2. Rest
Let it infuse for about 3 hours, then strain through a fine sieve.
3. Sweeten
Stir in about 50 g of sugar, 2 packets of vanilla sugar and a 410 g can of evaporated milk.
4. Chill
Add a little water if it is too thick. Serve very cold.
Prefer it dairy free? Skip the milk and add a squeeze of lime, or blend in a little coconut milk.
Everyday ideas
How to Use Baobab Powder
Baobab powder mixes easily and its tang works in sweet and savory recipes. Start with 1 to 2 teaspoons a day and work up to 1 to 2 tablespoons.
Smoothies
Blend 1 tablespoon with banana, mango and yogurt or plant milk.
Oatmeal & yogurt
Stir into porridge, overnight oats or yogurt for a citrusy note. Porridge with baobab pulp is a traditional pairing.11
Water & juice
Shake a spoonful into cold water, lemonade or zobo for a quick baobab juice.
Baking
Swap a few tablespoons of flour for baobab in muffins, pancakes or energy bites.
Dressings
Whisk into vinaigrettes or marinades in place of some of the lemon.
Cool, not hot
Add it after cooking when you can, since heat reduces vitamin C.
Shop baobab
Buy Baobab Powder & Pairings
Our baobab powder is ready to whisk, blend and bake. Pair it with other West African favorites for drinks and teas:
Good to know
Is Baobab Powder Safe?
Baobab fruit pulp has a long history as a food and is approved as a food ingredient in both the European Union and the United States.23 Because it is high in fiber, start with a small amount and drink plenty of water so your stomach can adjust. If you have diabetes and take medicine to lower blood sugar, or you are pregnant or nursing, check with your doctor before using it in large amounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is baobab powder?
Baobab powder is the dried, sifted pulp of the fruit of the African baobab tree, Adansonia digitata. The fruit dries naturally on the tree, so the pulp only needs to be separated from the seeds and milled.
What are the benefits of baobab powder?
Baobab fruit pulp is naturally rich in vitamin C, potassium and pectin fiber. Lab studies suggest the fiber has prebiotic potential, and a small human study found baobab extract lowered the blood sugar response to white bread.
How do you use baobab powder?
Start with 1 to 2 teaspoons a day in smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, water or juice, or swap a little flour for baobab in baking. Add it after cooking when you can to keep the vitamin C.
What is bouye?
Bouye (jus de bouye) is Senegal's baobab juice. Baobab pulp is soaked in water, strained, then sweetened with sugar, vanilla and milk and served very cold.
Why is baobab called monkey bread?
The baobab fruit is known as monkey bread, or pain de singe in French, because both people and monkeys enjoy its dry, floury pulp.
Where can I buy baobab powder in the USA?
At Yado Market: pick up at 1651 E 87th St in Chicago, local delivery, or shipping anywhere in the U.S.
Keep reading
Related Guides
Bring Home the Taste of Bouye
Tangy, naturally sweet baobab powder, ready for juice, smoothies and baking. Ships anywhere in the U.S. from our Chicago store.
This guide shares traditional uses and published research for general information. It is not medical advice, and these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If you are pregnant, nursing, take prescription medicine or have a health condition, check with your doctor before using herbal products.
Research & references
Sources
- Chadare et al., Baobab Food Products: A Review on their Composition and Nutritional Value, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (2009)
- Commission Decision 2008/575/EC authorising baobab dried fruit pulp as a novel food ingredient, EUR-Lex
- GRAS Notice No. 273: Baobab (Adansonia digitata) dried fruit pulp, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2009)
- Coe et al., The polyphenol-rich baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata L.) reduces starch digestion and glycemic response in humans, Nutrition Research (2013)
- Foltz et al., A Pectin-Rich, Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder Exerts Prebiotic Potential on the Human Gut Microbiome In Vitro, Microorganisms (2021)
- Duysburgh et al., Co-Supplementation of Baobab Fiber and Arabic Gum Synergistically Modulates the In Vitro Human Gut Microbiome, Nutrients (2024)
- Ibrahim, Contributions of Baobab Tree (Adansonia digitata) in Hausa Cuisine and Folklore in Northern Nigeria, Federal University Gashua
- Is Baobab, Africa's Ancient Tree of Life, the Next Superfruit? National Geographic
- Le pain de singe, super-aliment du baobab, Le Petit Journal Dakar
- Baobab: ancient fruit in modern times, Baobab Foundation
- Adansonia digitata, Useful Trees and Shrubs of Kenya, World Agroforestry (ICRAF)