Where did okra originally come from?

Okra originated from the Abyssinian center, an area that includes Ethiopia, a portion of Eritrea, and the eastern, higher part of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The crop was probably taken into Egypt by Moslems from the East who conquered Egypt in the seventh century.

How was okra discovered?

Okra came to the Caribbean and the U.S. in the 1700s, probably brought by slaves from West Africa, and was introduced to Western Europe soon after. In Louisiana, the Créoles learned from slaves the use of okra (gumbo) to thicken soups and it is now an essential in Créole Gumbo.

Where is okra native?

okra, (Abelmoschus esculentus), herbaceous hairy annual plant of the mallow family (Malvaceae) and its edible fruit. It is native to the tropics of the Eastern Hemisphere and is widely cultivated or naturalized in the tropics and subtropics of the Western Hemisphere.

Why did slaves carry okra?

There were slaves dragged from their villages, grabbing up okra seeds in hopes of planting them wherever they ended up.

Where did okra first come from?

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.

Geri Augusto - the importance of okra to enslaved people

Did okra originate in Africa?

Okra (Family Malvaceae)

Okra is thought to be native to Africa and is an important crop in tropical countries. It is also an important element of southern cooking because it is one of the few vegetables that remains productive throughout the long summer of the southeast.

What does okra do to a woman?

Okra is a good source of folate, with 1 cup (100 grams) providing 15% of a woman's daily needs for this nutrient. Summary Eating okra may help pregnant women meet their daily folate needs. Folate is important for preventing neural tube defects.

What did West African eat before slavery?

Before slavery, in West Africa, our diet consisted heavily of plant-based foods such as ground provisions, fruits and greens. Meat was either not on the menu or eaten occasionally in smaller portions as a stew. They also consumed no dairy products.

What foods did African slaves bring to America?

They brought the kola nut – one of the main parts of Coca-Cola – to what is now the United States. West Africans chewed the nut for its caffeine. Enslaved Africans also brought watermelon, okra, yams, black-eyed peas and some peppers. These foods are commonly eaten in the U.S. today.

What crop did African slaves bring to America?

Crops brought directly from Africa during the transatlantic slave trade include rice, okra, tania, blackeyed peas, and kidney and lima beans. They were consumed by Africans on board the slave ships on way to the New World.

Is okra native to Japan?

The origin of Okra is disputed but most likely eastern Africa or South East Asia. The plant grows in warm to tropical climates. It is a easy plant to grow in Japan on your veranda or patio. Okra was not originally eaten in Japan and did not become popular until the end of the 19th century.

How did okra get to Japan?

How did okra find its way to Japan? Most likely route is through America at the end of the Edo period (1603-1868). Slicing okra's pods releases a sticky, viscous juice… and that nebaneba texture is what the Japanese ADORE!

How did okra get to Asia?

It is mentioned by a Spanish Moor who visited Egypt in 1216. It was likely introduced into the Arab countries through traders and slave traders from Ethiopia and the Sudan. The Arabs grew very fond of okra. From Arabia, okra was taken west to North Africa and the Mediterranean and east to southwestern Asia.

Did slaves grow okra?

Okra, like rice, was one of the few crops slaves were able to bring with them from their communities in Western Africa.

Can you eat okra raw?

The entire okra plant is edible. The leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like any other greens. Okra pods can even be eaten raw.

Is okra a fruit or veggie?

This velvety green fruit which is again mistaken to be a vegetable is a fruit. Okra also known as the lady's finger is a flowering plant with edible seed pods. Okra is primarily used as a vegetable.

What did slaves drink?

in which slaves obtained alcohol outside of the special occasions on which their masters allowed them to drink it. Some female house slaves were assigned to brew cider, beer, and/or brandy on their plantations.

Did tomatoes originate in Africa?

The tomato is the edible berry of the plant Solanum lycopersicum, commonly known as the tomato plant. The species originated in western South America, Mexico, and Central America.

What races make up African American?

On average, African Americans are of West/Central African with some European descent; some also have Native American and other ancestry. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, African immigrants generally do not self-identify as African American.

Why did slaves eat collard greens?

During the antebellum period enslaved Africans only had time to make sides dishes such as collard greens on Sundays. Masters gave their slaves off on Sundays and on few holidays and religious days. Collards are a fibrous greens which required extensive cooking to make them tender and easy to digest.

What did Caribbean slaves eat?

The slaves' diet consisted of a mix of traditional African foods brought over to the Caribbean (including okra, blackeyed peas, saltfish, ackee, mangos, kidney beans and rice), vegetables and fruits native to the Caribbean (such as papaya, yams, guavas and cassava).

What did American slaves eat?

Weekly food rations -- usually corn meal, lard, some meat, molasses, peas, greens, and flour -- were distributed every Saturday. Vegetable patches or gardens, if permitted by the owner, supplied fresh produce to add to the rations. Morning meals were prepared and consumed at daybreak in the slaves' cabins.

Does okra make a woman wet?

It is a known fact that women who take okra water every morning experience some form of lubrication and increased wetness…. okra water actually helps to naturally increase the water and juices in the female body and this makes “megbesuegbe” enjoyable and thrilling.

Can okra reduce belly fat?

Several okra compounds may promote weight loss. In a study in mice fed a high fat diet, carbs extracted from okra decreased body weight, blood sugar levels, and total cholesterol ( 7 ). In another study, mice with diabetes given okra extract experienced significant reductions in body weight after 8 weeks ( 8 ).

What does okra do in a man's body?

Okra is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants that help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Okra is also a good source of: Magnesium. Folate.