Another overlooked species in the solanaceae family 
**hashtag#Africaneggplant**
A native African vegetable widely known in swahili as hashtag#nyanyachungu hashtag#ntongo hashtag#ngogwe translating to “bitter tomato”
They are of different species growing as bushy annuals or perennials, with varieties ranging from from tiny pea-sized fruits to large ones, from hairy to smooth leaves, and from edible to very bitter species. Nutritionally they have a good source of Vitamin A, (B2)/Riboflavin, Vitamin C, Calcium and Iron.
At hashtag#ECHOeastafrica seedbank there are 3 key species and each tells a different story.
hashtag#Solanumanguivi: It’s a wild species where all the other african eggplant emerged from. They are small pea-sized, and very bitter. They can be collected from the wild or grown intentionally. Used both as food and medicine. The leaves and fruits are edible. Mostly elder people remember it and ask for seeds once in a while. The seeds were from hashtag#worldvegetablecenter
hashtag#Solanummacrocarpon:This species is prefered for its tasty leaves and used as vegetables in
East,Central and West Africa. They are large,smooth leaves and bigger fruits. The fruits are cooked in meals and other vegetable sauces.
hashtag#Solanumaethiopicum:The most loved species for its edible fruits. The fruits are cooked in sardines, meat and vegetable sauces. Most leaves are not edible. For many years at our seed bank, the seed varieties in this species are the most collected by farmers and gardeners. Varieties like Ngogwe mshumaa (oval shaped, early maturing, pest-resistant,local variety) are prefered by farmers and households in in Northern Tanzania, while Tengeru White ( improved variety) with its stronger bitter taste, is preferred in Southern Highlands regions like Mbeya.
In most places now in Tanzania, the commercialized hashtag#Africaneggplant like DB3 and Tengeru white varieties have gained serious market attention. Making this NUS crop well known and used. Let’s also pay attention to the wild varieties and local variety - ngogwe mshumaa used in household level too.
Which species of hashtag#africaneggplant do you prefer and how do you cook the leaves/ fruits at your place?
hashtag#NUS hashtag#NUCs hashtag#myfoodisafrican hashtag#foodsecurity hashtag#agroecology hashtag#ourseedsourheritage hashtag#indigenousvegetables hashtag#echofightshunger hashtag#agroecology hashtag#sustainablefoodsystems hashtag#zerohunger hashtag#seedsaving
