Harvesting Baobab, the Tree of Life
Introducing Kaibae, Luc and Barbara Maes' New Fruit Powder Company; Plus More Treats
Baobab fruit is the next super-food to be excited about, and Luc and Barbara Maes are the charming husband-and-wife duo behind Kaibae, the ecologically conscious, community-driven business that’s bringing the baobab fruit to Santa Barbara. “They call it the Tree of Life,” said Luc about the baobab’s legendary status in Africa. “It is the center of the community, a source for food and tools, and it’s a place of protection.”
It was a trip to Ghana that first planted the baobab seed for Luc, a naturopathic physician and chiropractor. He wanted to harness the fruit’s powers for American consumers but also founded Kaibae as a One Percent for the Planet company in order to support the people of Ghana, as well. Today, Kaibae works with four separate communities to sustainably harvest the fruit, which isn’t an easy task. While the trees are respected, ancient, and abundant, the fruit is considered a “lost crop” since its benefits are neglected or underused, so the trees tend to be remotely located deep in the African savannah rather than easily accessible on farms or orchards.
Among other baobab benefits, Kaibae’s packaging lists high amounts of fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, thiamine, and vitamin B6. It’s also a natural energizer, said the Maeses, and it enhances the growth of probiotic bacteria in the immune system. In fact, baobab’s benefits are so well known in African communities that it is often blended as a formula that substitutes for breast milk.
