Okra apparently originated in what the geobotanists call the Abyssinian center of origin of cultivated plants, an area that includes present-day Ethiopia, the mountainous or plateau portion of Eritrea, and the eastern, higher part of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.
Did okra originate in Africa?
It is disputed where the plant originated, most likely somewhere in West Africa, but we do know that it was cultivated by ancient Egyptians (ancient Egypt was called Kemet, which means ‘black land’ and is believed to have referred to the generative soil in the region).
Is okra an African plant?
Description. A semi-perennial, disease resistant, heat-loving okra. Grown in coastal nations of West Africa for centuries, it is most commonly grown in low elevations up to 1000 m.
Which country invented okra?
southern Ethiopia
Related to cotton and other mallow family plants, okra is an ancient vegetable that originated in southern Ethiopia in far antiquity.
Is okra popular in Africa?
A popular soup vegetable, very much appreciated in West Africa for its thickening power, okra pod is used both fresh and dried. Dry pods are also pounded into flour that is commonly added to foods.
Why do Africans eat okra?
For the health conscious, okra is a rich source of dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins and a low calorie vegetable. Known in most West African Countries as Okro, and the French speaking countries as gumbo.
Where does okra naturally grow?
Okra (Hibiscus esculentus) is a fast growing, heat-loving tropical annual found in the wild along the White Nile, which drains in the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia. It’s usually unbranched with the trunk reaching 6 to 10 feet tall by the end of the season.
Who brought okra to America?
It was brought to the New World, specifically Brazil and West Indies, around the middle of the 17th century. Slaves of African heritage introduced okra into the Western Hemisphere.
What is okra called in South Africa?
Description. Bush Okra is a leading leaf vegetable in the rural areas of Asia, China, and Africa, including South Africa, where it falls under the category of leafy vegetables called morogo. It has serrated leaves and small yellow flowers followed by cylindrical fruit capsules.
What is okra called in West Africa?
In several West African languages, the word for okra is ki ngombo, or, in its shortened form, gombo.” Early on, the word was frequently used alongside “okra” by English writers.
What does gumbo mean in Africa?
okra
Most food historians agree that this popular South Louisiana dish has its origins in West Africa. Consider the word “gumbo” which comes from the West African word “ki ngombo” for “okra”. West Africans used okra as a thickener in their version of the dish.
How was okra originally eaten?
Okra probably originated somewhere around Ethiopia, and was cultivated by the ancient Egyptians by the 12th century B.C. Its cultivation spread throughout North Africa and the Middle East. The seed pods were eaten cooked, and the seeds were toasted and ground, used as a coffee substitute (and still is).
Is okra indigenous in Zimbabwe?
The only vegetable in this list which is indigenous is okra (derere), but in fact it is not the traditional material that is being recommended but a hybrid. Table 2. Zimbabwean indigenous vegetables.
Who brought okra to the Caribbean?
By the 1700s, Okra was brought to the Caribbean and the U.S by slaves from West Africa. In Louisiana, the Créoles learned from slaves the use of okra to thicken soups, and it is now essential in Créole Gumbo.
What is okra in Ethiopian language?
English to Amharic Meaning :: okra. Okra : በቲማቲም
Where does okra grow best?
full sun
Okra needs full sun. It will grow in ordinary garden soil but does best in fertile loam, particularly where a nitrogen-fixing crop — such as early peas — grew previously.
Is okra a black food?
When the Africans arrived they brought with them some foods that we commonly eat today. Two nutritious foods that we commonly eat in North Carolina that are native to Africa are black eyed peas and okra.
Do Americans eat okra?
The English word ‘okra’ is derived from the Twi word ‘nkuruma’ and is famous in the United States as the thickening agent in the gumbo stews of Louisiana.
Do South Africans eat okra?
Okra is eaten as a vegetable across most of West Africa and Southern Africa, and it’s most prolific use is in soups and sauces where its mucilaginous properties lends a slimy texture to the soup.
What is okra called in English?
ladies’ fingers
Okra or Okro (US: /ˈoʊkrə/, UK: /ˈɒkrə/), Abelmoschus esculentus, known in many English-speaking countries as ladies’ fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It has edible green seed pods.
Is okra good for diabetes?
Okra is more than a regional delicacy. Several studies say that it can help lower blood sugar, which makes it another possible tool for those with diabetes. If you or a loved one has it, it’s worth asking your doctor, a dietitian, or a diabetes educator if there’s a place in your diet for okra.