African butter pear scientifically known as Dacryodes edulis measures about 4-5 cm in diameter. The fruit consists of a thin skin,creamy flesh and seeds.the skin is dark blue to violet and is an ellipsoidal drupe, while the flesh is pale to light green. When ripe, the fruit changes color from pink to bluish-black. The fruits are boiled or roasted and most times eaten with corn and sometimes coconut. When boiled or steeped in hot water, its skin color changes to a creamy off white. There are majorly two types, the clingstone and the freestone. The clingstone is usually thin and uniform in size of about 4cm and its flesh splits from the seed when cooked. while the freestone measures from 5cm upwards and its flesh doesn’t split when cooked.In cameroon the fruit is known as safou, atanga in Gabon and ube in Nigeria.
Another way that pears are eaten as a snack is by boiling it with a little bit of salt and palm oil.
It is rich in antioxidant properties. It helps prevent sickle cell diseases, boosts the immune system due to the presence of vitamin C, helps in protein synthesis,promotes skin health, reduces constipation, promotes healthy bones and teeth and also lowers blood pressure.
