History of Watermelons Is a Long One
All About Egusi Melon Seeds In Africa
Bitter watermelon grows in the Kalahari Desert and is indigenous to tropical Africa. Bitter watermelon once established is drought tolerant and an important source of water for living things. Bitter watermelons are an heirloom type of watermelon, the grandmother of all watermelons. Its flesh contains a tough white tissue, making it unlikely to be eaten raw.
For this reason, it is a popular source of water in the diet of the African Kalahari people. A bitter watermelon is also a source of water and food for wild and domestic animals.
The melon is high in vitamin C, minerals, fat, and starch. Because of its taut flesh, it is usually pickled or cooked as a vegetable. The leaves are cooked as vegetable also. Bitter watermelons firm tissue is comparable to the rind of the watermelon, the part usually thrown away. Bitter watermelon originates in southern Africa and occurs naturally in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi.
Egusi seeds are also roasted and ground into a paste similar to peanut butter. According to the Farmers Voice, egusi seeds are frequently added to soups and stews.
With further preparation, egusi seed meal can be pressed into patties to be used like a meat substitute in rural communities and its oil used for cooking. In some areas where other oils like palm oil, cotton or groundnut oils are scarce egusi is used as substitute in preparing vegetables.
Egusi Melon or Citrullus lanatus goes by many names such as bitter watermelon, bitterboela, bitterwaatlemoen, ibotola, karkoer, makataan, Tsamma melon, t'sama Kalahari melon and wild watermelon. Bitter watermelon originates in southern Africa and occurs naturally in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi.