Atama leaves – how to identify? (2024)

FAQs

Which leaf is Atama leaf? ›

Locals call it 'bush apples', the botanical name of Atama leaves is 'heinsia crinita. ' Atama leaves has not only a distinct flavor but also a distinct aroma that gives your soup great taste, the leaves are used to make Abak Atama(Atama Soup) or as a condiment to Banga Soup.

Atama leaves are rich in vitamins A, C, and E, which are important for maintaining healthy skin, supporting immune function, and protecting against oxidative stress. They are also a good source of calcium and iron, which are important for maintaining strong bones and preventing anemia.

There are different varieties of Atama. Some are very aromatic and slightly bitter whilst others are less aromatic. It is advisable to add Atama to the palm fruit sauce before it starts boiling, to prevent it from being bitter.

Cut the Atama leaves into very fine pieces. Pound them for about 10 minutes till the leaves are finely pounded. Then place the oily extract on the burner and allow to boil for about 5 minutes to remove all moisture. Add cooked meat and washed smoked fish, meat stock, periwinkle, crayfish, pepper and Knorr and Uyayak.

Atama leaves is the vegetable used in making Abak Atama, a soup commonly eaten by the Efik and Ibibio tribes in the Akwa Ibom and Cross river states of Southern Nigeria. Atama leaves are usually shredded very thinly just like Afang or Ukazi/ Okazi leaves.

Heinsia crinita belongs to the family of “Rubiaceae” which is locally known as “Atama” leave [8]. It is a shrub with woody stem and branches; it is indigenous to West Africa, especially the southern part of Nigeria. The leave extract is used in the treatment of skin rashes and the leaves for unbilical hernia.

Oha leaf is a nutritious, leafy-green vegetable use to cook oha soup with many health benefits. This vegetable has been known to help in the treatment of ailments such as diabetes, some forms of cancer, health disease, anemia, and bone disease. It is highly versatile and easy to add to your diet.

In many scientific studies and trails, waterleaf showed that it can inhibit proliferation of cancerous cells and shrink tumours. Other studies have been focused on its cerebral-protective potential and it indicates that consumption of waterleaf enhances brain activities and protects brain tissues.

A heady mix of vitamins, minerals, protein, antioxidants and other nutrients, leafy greens contain all this and more. If you need any more convincing, they are good for your heart, blood sugar, immune system and cell repair.

Vernonia amygdalina, commonly known as bitter leaf, is a shrub that grows up to 3 meters high in the African tropics and other parts of Africa, particularly, Nigeria, Cameroon and Zimbabawe.

Which state is Atama soup from? ›

State in Nigeria. It can be enjoyed with any swallow of. your choice.

Bitter leaf also helps to cleanse such vital organs of the body like the liver and the kidney. Bitter leaf is also used in the treatment of skin infections such as ringworm, rashes and eczema.

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Lasianthera africana, P. Beauv (icacinaceae) (Figure 1) is an edible and medicinal plant, locally known as "Editan" in Ibibio and Annang tribes of Southern Nigeria, and is traditionally used for the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, stomach troubles, parasitic infections, ulcers and diabetes (Andy et al., 2008).

Add the washed meat and your stock fish to the pot of soup and leave it for some time to boil. Add crayfish to the soup. Add water leaf to the soup and stir it. Add a little bit of melon to the soup and let it boil.

🍃Oha leaf is a popular vegetable native to the Igbos in Nigeria. “Oha” or “Ora” is the Igbo name while the English name is the African Rosewood plant.

Efo Shoko (sometimes called Lagos Spinach or Nigerian Spinach) is a type of Celosia eaten in soups, stews, and side dishes in parts of Nigeria, Benin, Congo, and Cameroon, as well as in Indonesia and India.

Afang leaf (Gnetum africanum), is natively found throughout tropical Africa. Known in Cameroon as Eru, okok, in Democratic Republic of Congo as m'fumbua, or fumbua, Angola, Congo and Gabon as KoKo, Nigeria as ukase or afang.

“Editan” leafy vegetable scientifically known as Lasianthera africana is commonly used in soups preparation and in folklore for the management of some human ailments. Editan leaf is a rich source of alkaloid and phenolic compounds, which could be used to treat and or manage neurological diseases.