Saba senegalensis

Saba senegalensis is a very popular fruit whose seeds are covered with a tangy pulp. It is a species of wild liana that grows in the African savannah and is cultivated as a shrub.

Its fruit is called zaban (in Bambara or Dioula), malombo (in the Congo Basin), maad (in Wolof) and made (in African French), or wèda (in Mooré). It is a globular shell containing seeds coated with yellow pulp that is very soft and juicy. They are tart and sweet.

The fruit can be eaten as it is or seasoned with sugar, salt and chilli pepper. Mixed with water and sugar, the pulp produces a delicious juice. It is not advisable to swallow the seeds. But the inside of the shell is covered with a superficial skin that can be eaten.

The fruit is rich in vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin B6. The rainy season in West Africa is from May to August.