African breadfruit
Also called UkwaTreculia africana · Moraceae family
Start with the species and edible seed; a different breadfruit or palm is not interchangeable.
Find it near DetroitGet to know it
African breadfruit is a huge forest fruit whose small seeds make a meal. Known as ukwa in Igbo, the seeds are cooked until soft or roasted for a nutty snack. A single rough-skinned fruit can reach 40 cm (16 in) across, packed with seeds buried in spongy pulp.
What it is
The tree's botanical name is Treculia africana. Its round fruit is a cluster formed from many flowers, growing directly on the trunk or main branches. The outside is rough, with pointed bumps.
Inside, orange seeds about 1 cm (0.4 in) in size sit in spongy flesh. For ukwa, the seeds are separated and their outer hulls removed. The remaining pulp goes into animal feed.
Where it comes from
African breadfruit is native to a broad belt of tropical Africa, including Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique. It grows in the humid southeast of Nigeria and the rainforests of southwestern Cameroon.
Ukwa, its Igbo name, is an important food in southern Nigeria. Igbo communities also eat it in North America and Europe.
How it's eaten where it grows
In eastern Nigeria, ukwa can be a plain dish of soft boiled seeds or a meal mixed with corn. Igbo cooks use akanwu, a cooking potash, to help soften the seeds. For mashed ukwa and corn, the cooked seeds and corn are stirred together with pounded pepper and red palm oil.
Roasted ukwa makes a nutty snack. In eastern Nigeria, aki na ukwa pairs it with palm kernels. Coconut is another pairing.
How it's grown
The evergreen tree commonly stands 10–30 m (33–98 ft) tall, with a dense, spreading crown. It grows beside streams and in swampy forest. Trees can begin fruiting after about four years.
Each fruit weighs 8–14 kg (18–31 lb) and hangs from the trunk or main branches. Eventually they fall to the ground, where small animals eat them and help spread the seeds.
When and where you'll find it
In Ghana, ripe fruits usually appear in December and can stay on the tree until July.
Outside Africa, ukwa reaches shoppers as seeds, plain or roasted. OsiAfrik, a family-owned online African grocery serving customers in the US, lists ukwa seeds in 16-ounce (454 g) packs and roasted seeds in 4-ounce (113 g) packs.
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What it tastes like
Dehulled ukwa seeds are served as a main dish or roasted snack.
Choose, eat
1ChooseAsk whether a product is Treculia africana ukwa with dehulled seeds
Ask whether a product is Treculia africana ukwa with dehulled seeds. The name breadfruit alone can lead to Artocarpus breadfruit, a staple fruit from a different genus.
2EatDehulled seeds
Eat
Dehulled seedsThe dehulled seeds are the main dish or roasted snack; the deseeded pulp is used as fodder.
Detroit, Michigan
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Sources
Sources
African breadfruit · Fruitopia · checked Oct 2, 2026