Varieties Of Fruits In Nigeria (4 of 13)

Walnut
The walnut is one of very few fruits that cannot be consumed raw. The plant is a creeping one with short green leaves. The fruit grows in pods and mainly in the southern part of the country. Each pod can house a out six nuts that are separated by fleshy membrane.

It is known as ‘asala’ in the west and ‘ukpa’ and ‘ekporo’ in the east. A walnut is made up of a shell and mesocarp that has a thin membrane when split into two. It has a delicious taste that becomes bitter if you drink water shortly after consumption.

It is a seasonal fruit and mostly found during the rainy season. It can be preserved by drying and it is believed to have some medicinal properties as well as being rich in minerals.