Ivory Coast Raffia Palm (Raphia hookeri)

Family: Arecaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Raphia hookeri or commonly known as Ivory Coast Raffia Palm is a palm species native to Africa that can be about 10m in height. It is characterized by its compound pinnate leaves with each leaf reaching about 12m long, shiny dark green, and feather-like. It is a solitary palm and usually up to 30cm in stem diameter. The flowers and the top-shaped fruits are brown in color.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Shoots, Flowers, Sap/Syrup

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

tastes like ginger beer. — The sap from the trunk is fermented to make palm wine, which is a very popular drink in west Africa.; When fresh, the sap tastes like ginger beer.; The alcohol content of the sap increases from less than 2% to about 5% during the first 8 days of tapping, remaining constant thereafter.; It is obtained from the inflorescence.

Habitat & North American Range

Lowland coastal freshwater swamps, where it can grow in water up to 1 metre deep, and river banks. The soils of Nigerian freshwater swamps are light textured and generally acidic. (Zone 10)