{"id":517,"date":"2024-10-17T03:51:54","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T03:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/grf24\/?p=517"},"modified":"2024-10-17T03:51:54","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T03:51:54","slug":"observing-the-cultural-crop-bitter-tomato-and-its-significance-in-tanzania-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/grf24\/2024\/10\/17\/observing-the-cultural-crop-bitter-tomato-and-its-significance-in-tanzania-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Observing the cultural crop,\u00a0‘Bitter Tomato’, and its significance in Tanzania, Africa."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NATIONAL PARK REGION- SERENGETI<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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East Serengeti.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the Serengeti, I stayed at three different tourist camp locations: East at a private reserve, North near Mara River, and Central Serengeti. The Serengeti National Park exists on stolen land, home to local tribes such as the Maasai. Maasai people have been persistent inhabitants for immemorial existence before the designation of a national park and government control of the land; the Maasai still remain active participants of land stewardship around both the Serengeti and Ngorongoro regions, although, they till face the oppression of ongoing colonialism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CONSERVATION AREA- NGORONGORO CRATER<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I spent time in the surrounding area of Ngorongoro Crater at an agri-tourism site, Gibb\u2019s Farm. Gibb\u2019s farm is a transformed coffee plantation, now a diverse organic farm residing in Karatu, Tanzania. This lands exists with gratitude to surrounding tribes such as the Maasai and Iraqw. Both Maasai and Iraqw are agriculture centric communities. Herds of cattle, sheep, and goats are necessity to Maasai wealth. Iraqw people rely on land for producing a variety of fruits and vegetables along with some cattle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ngorongoro Crater.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Gibb’s Farm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wild Relatives of Eggplant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While on a walk with two people from the local Maasai community, Dickson and William, we came across the bitter fruit, Solanum incanum.<\/em>I was told Maasai slice this fruit and use it for tooth aches, and it has an extremely bitter taste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Solanum incanum<\/em>\u00a0specimen observed in the East Serengeti. I also noticed an abundance of this species throughout the Ngorongoro Crater.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I immediately recognized similar botanical features of Solanum incanum<\/em>to Solanum aethiopicum<\/em>. I observed similar leaf shape, flower, and fruit. Leafs velvety with small hairs, petiolate, pinnately veined with shallow lobed margins and ovate blades. Inflorescences have 5 petaled flowers, with superior reproductive organs: anthers surrounding a center pistil. I noticed the downward petals and a protruding center that appears on many Solanaceous crops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I kept noticing the similarities between the\u00a0Solanum incanum<\/em>\u00a0and Solanum aethiopicum\u00a0<\/em>crops- bitter fruits and botanical anatomy- so, I decided to search the two varieties once I had service. Interestingly,\u00a0Solanum incanum\u00a0<\/em>does appear to be a wild relative to cultivated eggplant(Wikipedia, 2024<\/a>). Apparently, both species even share the same common name \u2018bitter tomato\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image comparison of\u00a0Solanum incanum<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Solanum aethiopicum\u00a0<\/em>from \u00a0Transcriptome analysis and molecular marker discovery in\u00a0Solanum incanum<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0S. aethiopicum<\/em>, two close relatives of the common eggplant (Solanum melongena<\/em>) with interest for breeding<\/a>.

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As I was researching I came across a genetic analysis between\u00a0Solanum aethiopicim<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Solanum incanum<\/em>, suggesting interesting interspecific variation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c. . .the lowest variation was found between\u00a0S. incanum\u00a0and\u00a0S. aethiopicum\u00a0(15,162 SNVs).\u201d<\/em><\/p>Gramazio, et al., 2016<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Culinary and Cultural Use<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Grilled bitter tomato with spiced chickpeas, greens, peanut okra, plantain, spinach saut\u00e9, rice, and flatbread.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Raw fruits of Bitter Tomato.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I first stumbled upon this crop at dinner when I heard we were having \u2018bitter tomato\u2019 with our meal. They were served grilled, whole, with their tops and bottoms sliced off. I asked the camp manager about the bitter tomato naming it an eggplant, he said \u201cno- bitter tomato\u201d. It was clear that \u2018bitter tomato\u2019 is the common translation. Then, I asked our tour guide, Hashim, about bitter tomato relating to eggplant species showing him a photo of the Simeon\u2019s White crop that we are cultivating at Evergreen. He confirmed that it is the same crop translated to bitter tomato or \u2018nyanya chungu\u2019 in Swahili, also called \u2018ngogwe\u2019. He said that the varieties commonly grown appear to be more round rather than oval, and there is likely a variety of modified seeds. Hashim thinks the round fruits are more bitter than ovular fruits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In culinary uses, Hashim said bitter tomato is often used as an enhancement, due to the intense bitterness. It\u2019s cooked into stews along with sliced okra, carrots or coconut. And, eaten raw! Similarly, I spoke with chefs, Rebecca and Mariam, who said they often prepare the bitter tomato grilled with oil, salt and pepper, for a side serving at the camp meals. Chefs also said it is commonly cooked in a stew with fatty meats, tomatoes, coconut milk, okra, and other vegetables on hand. The chefs store fruits at room temperature in crates on wire racks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In transit between locations, I observed white-yellow cream, circular-ovular, bitter tomatoes in a couple roadside produce stands throughout Tanzania and Rwanda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Menu featuring Ngogwe (African Eggplant) at a Gibb\u2019s Farm Dinner.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Oven-roasted Zucchini with Farm Vegetable Stuffing served with Tempura Celery leaves, roasted Butternut Squash, Ngogwe and mild Curry Coconut Sauce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The eggplant was prepared similarly at Gibb\u2019s Farm, called \u2018Ngogwe\u2019 on the menu. Very similar flavor and texture but this time, sliced in half instead of grilled whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Observing Crops at Gibb\u2019s Farm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Bitter tomato planted beside leafy greens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Fruiting bitter tomato plant.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Very ripe bitter tomato fruits.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Solanum aethiopicum<\/em>\u00a0foliage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Bitter tomato below tamarillo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Mature bitter tomato plants.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Bitter tomato crops observed in two different garden plots at Gibb\u2019s farm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Solanum aethiopicum\u00a0<\/em>was planted at Gibb\u2019s Farm in two locations; it was below tall tamarillo plants,\u00a0Solanum betaceum<\/em>; and, near low growing leafy greens (likely mustard greens). I was pleased to see the intercropping techniques, as well as the lengthy branched plants growing without a trellis needed! It\u2019s intriguing that they were still thriving under moderately shady conditions, below another solanaceous crop, tamarillo. Alike elsewhere throughout this trip, these\u00a0Solanum aethiopicum<\/em>\u00a0varieties appeared to be most morphologically similar to the\u00a0Solanum aethiopicum<\/em>var. \u2018Simeon\u2019s white\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trip Conclusions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Overall, I am deeply appreciative to have experienced this crop in abundance within its cultural home. Maasai\u2019s knowledge guided the opportunity to identify and learn about the indigenous medicine of\u00a0Solanum incanum<\/em>, which lead me to research its potential to be a wild crop relative to\u00a0Solanum aethiopicum<\/em>. I saw relationships to its African names such ngogwe, nyanya chungu, and bitter tomato. I observed the cultivation of bitter tomato at an organic farm and passing by local produce stands. I learned from local chefs and eaters about typical culinary uses in the Tanzania region of Africa. While in between travel, I was joyed to engage with this crop through its ancestral history, with the many people who recognize bitter tomato in food, garden, or market routines. This trip leaves me with more questions about the cultivar history and genealogy of this crop, to understand its relation to generations of farmers, wild crop relatives, morphological variation, and bitterness genes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
  1. Gibb\u2019s Farm<\/a><\/li>
  2. Transcriptome analysis and molecular marker discovery in Solanum incanum<\/em> and S. aethiopicum<\/em>, two close relatives of the common eggplant (Solanum melongena<\/em>) with interest for breeding<\/a>.<\/li>
  3. Wikipedia: Ngorongoro Crater Plants<\/a><\/li>
  4. Wikipedia: Solanum incanum<\/em><\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    NATIONAL PARK REGION- SERENGETI Throughout the Serengeti, I stayed at three different tourist camp locations: East at a private reserve, North near Mara River, and Central Serengeti. The Serengeti National Park exists on stolen land, home to local tribes such as the Maasai. Maasai people have been persistent inhabitants for immemorial existence before the designation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9665,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/grf24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/517"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/grf24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/grf24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/grf24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9665"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/grf24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=517"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/grf24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/517\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":539,"href":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/grf24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/517\/revisions\/539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/grf24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/grf24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/grf24\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}