Black Fonio
Blog post description.
6/17/20241 min read
Black fonio (Digitaria iburua), also known as iburu or fonio ga, is an important traditional food in Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. It is considered as one of the world’s fastest maturing cereals, thriving in poor, sandy soils where pearl millet, sorghum, and other cereals struggle to grow. Fonio plays a crucial role in ensuring food security, offering a nutritious staple during the "hungry period" before the main crops are harvested. Additionally, black fonio, a millet species that has been cultivated in West Africa for over 5,000 years, is an annual grass reaching heights of up to 140 centimetres, bearing reddish or dark brown grains. With a nutritional profile rich in amino acids methionine and cysteine, fonio distinguishes itself from other grains. Known for its delicate nutty and earthy flavours, fonio is commonly prepared as porridge or couscous, served as a side dish with hearty stews. 45 grams of dry fonio, which is roughly equivalent to 1/2 cup cooked, offers the following
Nutritional values: Calories- 170 Protein- 2 grams Sugar- 0 gram Fat- 0.5 grams Carbohydrates- 39 grams Daily Value for fibre- 4% Daily Value for iron- 4%