DOUM PALM FRUIT / AKAT / GINGERBREAD PALM FRUIT /HYPHAENE THEBAICA

The doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica), also known as the gingerbread palm, is an African tree bearing edible fruits with a taste and texture similar to gingerbread. In Eritrea, the fruit is called Akat or Akaat in the Tigre language, and its dried rind is used to make molasses, cakes, and sweetmeats. The unripe kernels and the shoots of germinated seeds are also eaten as vegetables. Doum palm is valued not only as a food source but also for its rich nutritional and medicinal properties. Studies have shown that doum can help lower blood sugar levels by enhancing insulin secretion and improving glucose metabolism. Additionally, its high fiber content supports blood sugar regulation and contributes to the management of diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular health.