Most of us have no clue what cream of tartar is. We see it in the baking or spice aisle in the grocery store. It’s a mysterious white powder. It’s a handy ingredient to have around if you are a baker. Adding a teaspoon to cookie and cake recipes will make the sweet treat softer and fluffier. However, where we get cream of tartar might surprise you, and the pod is a favorite treat for elephants.
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Mak is an elephant. Ivan Carter is an EarthX TV host. Ivan was overjoyed when he got the opportunity to offer Mak his favorite treat. Cream of tartar pods are baobab tree fruits. They’re about the size of an eggplant but can grow as long as a foot. The fruits are goldish-green and crunch loudly when Mak chomps on them. The crunch is such a satisfying sound.
Baobab trees have many names: monkey bread tree, cream of tartar tree, Ethiopian sour gourd, and upside-down tree. You may not ever recall seeing a baobab tree, but you have. It is a thick-trunked tree that grows well in hot climates. It stores water in its trunk, so drought doesn’t affect it much. The trees will also assist companion plants with moisture and nutrients, creating a little island ecosystem. The baobab trees are very recognizable due to their wide-bodied appearance.
You may never see the fruit in person unless you travel to an area where baobab trees grow. It is available commercially as powder, supplements, and marketed as various food additives. You can research the reported human health benefits of the fruit. For now, we’ll enjoy the satisfying crunch of watching Mak enjoy his favorite snack.
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