An ethno-nutritional study on spices used in traditional foods of the Western Regions of Cameroon: The case of nah poh

Abstract

The consumption rate of traditional foods is gradually being reduced with time due to the globalization of the food systems and non-availability of modernized ready-to-use traditional food products. In order to contribute to the sustainability and to promote the consumption of nah poh, the present study was undertaken to gather traditional culinary knowledge related to the consumption of some local spices in nah poh, as to contribute to the development of a ready-to-use spice formulation. It consisted in carrying out a qualitative and quantitative survey. The study revealed that there is a great variability with respect to the different Divisions of the Western Regions of Cameroon, regarding the spice composition of nah poh. All the local spices used for this study are utilized for the preparation of nah poh. Seven spices were found to be essential in most Divisions. Scorodophloeus zenkeri fruits and Xylopia africana were shown to be essential spices for consumers in Mezam Division. The quantities of essential spices for one litre of nah poh varied between 0.61 ± 0.24 g and 4.59 ± 2.06 g.