Exotic Fruits Native to Kenya – Taste the Rich Flavors of the Wild!
BeyondForest- Dec 3, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 29
Image of a Baobab (Mabuyu Tree Fruit)
In this section we will look at
1.)About Indigenous Fruits In Kenya
2.)List of Indigenous Fruit in Kenya
3.)Indigenous fruits in Kenya and their names
Image of Marula Fruit by Cliff the Reporter on X
Kenya is home to a rich variety of indigenous fruits that play a vital role in local diets, cultures, and ecosystems. These fruits are adapted to the country’s diverse climatic regions and offer significant nutritional, medicinal, and economic benefits. Indigenous fruits contribute to food security, biodiversity conservation, and income generation for rural communities. They are vital in combating malnutrition and supporting sustainable livelihoods.
List of Indigenous Fruit in Kenya
While the Marula Fruit Tree is native to Kenya the tree is underutilized , and its full commercial potential (like in Namibia or South Africa) remains untapped.
Image of Amarula beverage made from the Marula Fruit which is native to Kenya
Adansonia digitata (Baobab) |
Tamarindus Indica |
Parinari curatellifolia (Mobola Plum) |
Rubus pinnatus (Wild Raspberry) |
Rhus glaucescens |
Ficus thoningii (Wild Fig) |
Afrocanthium keniense |
Ziziphus mauritiana (Indian Jujube) |
Ximenia americana (Sour Plum) |
Vitex doniana (Black Plum) |
Vangueria madagascariensis/V. infausta |
Syzygium guineense (Waterberry) |
Strychnos spinosa (Monkey Orange) |
Annona senegalensis (Wild Custard Apple) |
Balanites aegyptiaca (Desert Date) |
Diospyros mespiliformis (Jackal Berry) |
Dialium orientale (Velvet Tamarind) |
Cordia sinensis/C. monoica (Sebesten Plum) |
Carissa spinarum/C. edulis (Natal Plum) |
Canthium glaucum |
Borassus aethiopum (African Fan Palm) |
Myrianthus holstii |
Manilkara sansibarensis |
Hyphaene compressa (Doum Palm) |
Grewia villosa/G. similis |
Sorindeia madagascariensis |
Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra (Marula) |
Phoenix reclinata (Wild Date Palm) |
Pappea capensis (Jacket Plum) |
Garcinia livingstonei (African Mangosteen) |
Flacourtia indica (Governor’s Plum) |
Marula Fruit |
Image of Tamarind also known as Mkwaju
Tamarindus indica, commonly known as tamarind, is a leguminous tree native to tropical Africa and widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Known for its distinctive pod-like fruit, tamarind is highly valued for its culinary, medicinal, and industrial uses.
Tamarind tree is a slow-growing, long-lived tree that can thrive in various climates, making it an integral part of traditional agriculture and cultural practices. Tamarind trees are medium to large, reaching heights of 12–18 meters (39–59 feet) with a dense, spreading crown.
The tree’s thick, rough bark provides a protective layer, and its deeply furrowed texture is characteristic. The tamarind fruit is a pod, typically 12–15 cm (4.7–5.9 inches) long. The pods have a hard, brown shell enclosing the sticky, edible pulp and hard seeds. The pulp is tangy and sweet, with a distinct flavor profile.
Marula Fruit
The marula fruit scientifically known as Sclerocarya birrea is native to parts of Kenya, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.The marula tree is indigenous to large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, including southern Kenya, particularly in dryland areas like Kajiado, Kitui, and parts of the Rift Valley.Marula fruit is juicy, sweet-sour, and high in vitamin C it can be eaten raw or made into juice, beer, and jam.
Amarula fruit has 4X more Vitamin C than an orange
Image of an Elephant eating Marula Fruits
What is missing from this is that elephants have been known to get drunk on marula as when they are fully rip they are used by the locals to make marula wine and beer, as the fruit ferments.If you go into a shop that sells alcohol you may find Marula cream for sale it's very nice. I have personally seen elephants that have trouble walking straight when I lived in the Northern area of South Africa and other animals like baboons also drunk on fermented marula.
Adansonia digitata (Baobab)
Image of a massive Baobab Tree
Adansonia digitata, commonly known as the baobab tree, is a remarkable species native to Africa's savannahs. Known as the "Tree of Life," it thrives in arid climates and can live for thousands of years. Its massive trunk stores water, aiding survival during droughts.
The tree produces nutrient-rich fruit, often called "superfruit," packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber. Baobab leaves and seeds are also used in traditional medicine and cooking.
Parinari curatellifolia (Mobola Plum)
Parinari curatellifolia commonly known as the Mobola plum or the Hissing Tree is a medium-sized, evergreen tree native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa.
Image of the Mobola Plum by The Indigenous Trees Initiative @mitimasango on X
The Parinari Curatellifolia is Kenya’s Forgotten Superfruit
Mobola Plum thrives in woodlands and savannahs, adapting well to poor, sandy soils and semi-arid climates. The tree typically grows 8–20 meters tall, with a rounded crown and rough, corky bark. Its glossy green leaves have a silvery underside, and it produces small, fragrant, yellowish flowers that attract bees and other pollinators.
Image of Mobola Plum by Malume on X
The Mobola plum is highly valued for its sweet, edible fruit, which ripens during the dry season. The plum-like fruit is rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, serving as a vital food source for local communities and wildlife. The seeds, though hard to extract, yield an oil used in cooking, cosmetics, and traditional medicine.
Image of a Mobola Plum Tree by Kate Chambers on X
This tree has significant ecological and economic importance. Its dense wood is used for construction, fuel, and crafting tools, while the leaves and bark have medicinal uses, including treating wounds and gastrointestinal ailments. The Mobola plum also provides shade and prevents soil erosion, contributing to environmental stability.
The Azanza garckeana, commonly known as tree hibiscus or Goron Tula or the Snot Apple, African chewing gum, or by local names such as "Tugutu", "Makomako", or "Fufu", is a wild fruit tree native to sub-Saharan Africa, including parts of Kenya especially in dryland and semi-arid areas such as parts of Eastern and Rift Valley regions. It is found in eastern, central, and southern Africa
Image of a Snot Apple Fruit by Captain Green KE
Snot Apples are small, round to oval fruit, about the size of a plum the fruit turns Yellow-green when ripe .The pulp is sticky, sweet-sour, and often chewed like gum, hence the name "African chewing gum" In swahili it is known as mtobo . They belong to the family Malvaceae same as hibiscus and baobab.
Image of a Post on Facebook on snot apples
Goron tula is used to increase the libido as consumption of the fruit helps in developing strong desires for sexual intercourse and also serves as an aphrodisiac several rounds of having sex with your partner.
Snot Apple fruit boosts fertility gets rid of vaginal odor and is good for vaginal lubrication.
Image of an African chewing gum Treeby Captain Green KE
Rubus pinnatus (Wild Raspberry)
Rubus pinnatus, commonly known as wild raspberry, is a perennial shrub native to southern and eastern Africa, thriving in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and along stream banks. This robust plant is characterized by its thorny stems, compound leaves with serrated edges, and bright red to orange edible fruits. Its flowers, small and white, attract pollinators such as bees, playing an essential role in local ecosystems.
The fruit of Rubus pinnatus is highly nutritious, rich in vitamins C and K, fiber, and antioxidants. It is consumed fresh, used in jams and desserts, or fermented into beverages. The plant is also valued for its medicinal properties; its leaves, roots, and fruits are used in traditional medicine to treat ailments such as colds, diarrhea, and inflammation.
Ecologically, wild raspberry is vital for wildlife, providing food for birds, small mammals, and insects. It can grow rapidly and helps stabilize soil, making it useful in erosion control and reforestation efforts.
Rhus glaucescens
Rhus glaucescens, a member of the Anacardiaceae family, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to parts of Africa, including the savannahs and rocky hillsides of southern and eastern regions. This hardy plant is well-adapted to semi-arid climates and poor, well-drained soils. It typically grows 2–6 meters tall and is characterized by its smooth, grayish bark and pinnate leaves, which have a bluish-green, waxy appearance. During the flowering season, it produces small, yellowish-green flowers in dense clusters, followed by small, reddish-brown drupes.
Rhus glaucescens is ecologically significant, providing habitat and food for various bird and insect species. The fruits are a valuable food source for wildlife, particularly birds, while its flowers attract pollinators such as bees. The plant also contributes to soil stabilization and erosion control, particularly on slopes and degraded lands.
Ficus thoningii (Wild Fig)
Ficus thonningii, commonly known as the Wild Fig, Strangler Fig, or in Kenya as "Mugumo" (in Kikuyu), is a native tree species of sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya. It holds immense ecological, cultural, and spiritual significance, especially among several Kenyan communities.
Image of Ficus Thonnigi also known as Mugumo Tree
Mugumo tree is believed to be the dwelling place of Ngai (God) in Kikuyu spirituality
The Mugumo tree is characterized by its broad crown, smooth grayish bark, and large, glossy, green leaves. Its unique growth habit allows it to begin as an epiphyte, growing on other trees before developing into a standalone tree by enveloping its host.
Image of Ficus Thonningii also known as Mugumo Tree
The tree produces small, edible figs that are green when unripe and turn yellow or red when mature. These fruits are a vital food source for wildlife, including birds, monkeys, and insects, and are also consumed by humans, often dried, cooked, or fermented. Ficus thonningii plays a crucial ecological role, supporting pollinators like fig wasps and aiding in seed dispersal for various species.
Sycamore fig tree
Image of Sycamore Fig Tree also known as Mkuyu Tree
The Mkuyu tree, scientifically known as Ficus sycomorus (Sycamore fig), is a large, fast-growing fig tree native to sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya. It thrives along riverbanks, wetlands, and savannah regions, where its wide canopy provides vital shade and shelter for humans, livestock, and wildlife.
Image of a Mkuyu Fruit also known as Ficus Sycammore
In Swahili-speaking regions, the Mkuyu is well known for its edible figs, which turn yellowish-red when ripe. Though less sweet than commercial figs, the fruit is consumed raw, used in traditional brews, and fed to livestock. The tree also attracts birds, monkeys, bees, and other pollinators, making it a vital species for biodiversity. Culturally, the Mkuyu tree holds spiritual importance. In many African and Middle Eastern traditions, it is considered sacred—mentioned even in ancient Egyptian records and religious texts like the Bible and Qur’an. Its bark, leaves, and latex are used in traditional medicine to treat wounds, stomach issues, and respiratory conditions.
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