Africa is one of the most versatile continents when it comes to food options, the continent and its people are highly creative when it comes to food and food items. Among more then 54 nations of the continent Cowpeas, is one of the most popular food items. All the continents of Africa produce and consume beans or black eyed peas/beans.
Top 10 largest producers of Cowpeas (beans or black eyed peas/beans) in the world and their global ranking 2022. in Tonnes.
1) Nigeria – 3.6 million 🇳🇬 ranks first in terms of global production
2) Niger – 2.6 million 🇳🇪 ranks second in terms of production
3) Burkina Faso – 666,026 🇧🇫 ranks third in terms of production
4) Ethiopia – 350,000 🇪🇹 ranks fourth in terms of production
5) Kenya – 264,160 🇰🇪 ranks fifth in terms of production
6) Senegal – 253,897 🇸🇳 ranks sixth in terms of production
7) Mali – 199,123 🇲🇱 ranks seventh in terms of production
8) Cameroon – 177,710 🇨🇲 ranks eigth in terms of production
9) Ghana – 175,060 🇬🇭 ranks ninth in the world in terms of production
10) Sudan – 104,687 🇸🇩 ranks tenth
It is important to note that Nigeria 🇳🇬 and Niger 🇳🇪 account for almost 70% of the total world production. Cowpeas also known as beans originated in West Africa. Beans are used in making bean pudding also known as moi moi which is blended beans and steams.
Beans is also used in making bean cake also known as Akara which is blended beans and then fried.
Àkàrà is a Yoruba word for the beans. Hausas call it Kosai. In Brazil, particularly in the state of Bahia, it is a delicacy, the descendants of Yorubas in Brazil who are predominantly in Bahia State, kept the tradition of Akara making, they call it Acarajé in Brazilian Portuguese.
Different tribes in Nigeria fry it in different ways. The Edos/Binis in Benin make theirs very crunchy on the outside, Igbos make theirs spongy, the most common form is the spongy texture.
