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Origin of \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0<\/h2>\n
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\u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0, a cherished Yoruba delicacy, has delighted people for ages. It holds immense popularity in Nigeria, serving as a staple main course. This blog post delves into \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0’s origins, health advantages, and its significant role in Yoruba culture.<\/p>\n

What is \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0?<\/h2>\n
\u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 is a staple food in Nigeria, particularly in the southwestern region of the country. It is a Nigerian dish made from yam, cassava or plantain flour.<\/p>\n
It is often served at social events and celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, and other important occasions.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 is eaten with a variety of soups or stews such as ew\u00e9d\u00fa and gb\u1eb9\u0300g\u00ecr\u00ec (black-eyed beans soup), okra soup, ogbono or vegetable soup.<\/p>\n
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Origin of \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0<\/h2>\n
\u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 was first prepared by Aduke Agbedegbeyo Omo Onile ire, Opomoja Ilekan Omo Yakooyo, Omo Alokolaro of Abule Onipaki in Atakumosa local government in Osun state in 1052 in the days when Sango was the Alaafin of Oyo and Oya was his wife.<\/p>\n
However, it is believed that \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 may have been developed as a way to preserve yam or cassava during times of scarcity. The preparation of amala involves a lengthy process of peeling, slicing, and grinding yam or cassava, which could help to extend its shelf life.<\/p>\n
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Types of \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0<\/h2>\n
There exist three distinct variations of \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0. The type obtained from yam is referred to as \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 isu. \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0’s derived from cassava is known as \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 l\u00e1f\u00fan. The final variant is obtained from unripe plantain and goes by the name of \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 \u00f2g\u00e8d\u00e8.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 isu and \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 \u00f2g\u00e8d\u00e8<\/span> are both popular types of \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 flour, as they have a milder taste than \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 l\u00e1f\u00fan.<\/p>\n
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Yam flour (\u00e0m\u00e0l\u00e0 isu): \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 isu, the most common type of \u00e0m\u00e0l\u00e0, is yam-based. Tubers of yams are peeled, sliced, cleaned, dried and then ground into flour. It is also called \u00e8l\u00f9b\u1ecd\u0301. Yams are white in colour but turn brown when dried which gives \u00e0m\u00e0l\u00e0 its colour.<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Cassava flour (\u00e0m\u00e0l\u00e0 l\u00e1f\u00fan): \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 l\u00e1f\u00fan is made from cassava flour. The root is peeled and washed, and dried. The dried cassava root is then ground into a fine flour.<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Plantain flour (\u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 ogede): Another type of \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 is elubo ogede, which is usually lighter in color. The low carbohydrate level in plantain flour makes it suitable for diabetics. \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 Lafun is a rare type of \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 flour, as it is more flavorful and has a stronger taste than the other \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 flours.<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Health Benefits of \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0<\/h2>\n
The medicinal attribute of the food is attested to by a famous Yoruba saying: \u201cIyan ni onje, oka ni oogun, ki enu ma sile ni ti guguru\u2019.\u201d Translated to mean pounded yam is food, \u201cAmala\u201d is a medicine, popcorn is an appetiser).<\/p>\n
The health benefits of \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 include;<\/strong><\/p>\n
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\u00a0Promotes healthy skin:<\/strong> \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 is rich in antioxidants, which can help to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. Consuming \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 regularly can help to promote healthy skin and prevent premature aging.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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\u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 is one of the good sources of minerals such as copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Rich in carbohydrates:<\/strong> \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 is a good source of carbohydrates, which are the body’s primary source of energy. Consuming \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 can provide the energy needed to perform physical activities and maintain an active lifestyle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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High in fiber:<\/strong> \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 is high in dietary fiber, which can help to regulate bowel movements, improve digestion, and reduce the risk of colon cancer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Aids weight loss;<\/strong> Yam Flour is an effective weight loss aid. It has a high fiber content that helps to flush out waste from the body.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Helps to manage Diabetes:<\/strong> Yam flour is a good meal for diabetic patients due to its low glycemic index, thus won\u2019t cause a rapid rise in blood glucose levels of diabetes patients. This is so due to its ability to digest and absorb the carbohydrates in the yam flour slowly which helps to doesn’t cause a spike in the blood sugar\/insulin levels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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\u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 & Yoruba Culture<\/h2>\n
In the Yoruba land, \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 has strong cultural significance. \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 is often served at special events and celebrations, as it is believed to bring good luck and prosperity.<\/p>\n
\u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 serves as a profound connection bridging the Yoruba community with their abundant heritage. It transcends being a mere culinary delight; instead, it holds immense significance within Yoruba culture and customs. \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 symbolizes the continuum of their history, present realities, and future aspirations, forging a sense of unity, affection, and resilience among the people. Through the tradition of cooking and eating \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0, the Yoruba people honor their rich cultural heritage and express their pride in their identity.<\/p>\n
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ORISUN 2023!<\/h2>\n
$\"\"$ <\/p>\n
Would you like to explore Nigeria’s culture, food, and social life in a safe and curated trip?<\/p>\n
Last year we had our first Orisun trip to Lagos, Nigeria and this year we will be holding another trip.<\/p>\n
Click here for more info!<\/a><\/h3>\n
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Origin of \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0 \u00c0m\u00e0l\u00e0, a cherished Yoruba delicacy, has delighted people for ages. It holds immense popularity in Nigeria, serving as a staple main course. This blog post…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oct_exclude_from_cache":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,192],"tags":[377,378,376,197,375,379,380],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yorubalessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4363"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yorubalessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yorubalessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yorubalessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yorubalessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4363"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/yorubalessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4452,"href":"https:\/\/yorubalessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4363\/revisions\/4452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yorubalessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yorubalessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yorubalessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

ORISUN 2023!<\/h2>\n<\/p>\nWould you like to explore Nigeria’s culture, food, and social life in a safe and curated trip?<\/p>\nLast year we had our first Orisun trip to Lagos, Nigeria and this year we will be holding another trip.<\/p>\n

ORISUN 2023!<\/h2>\n
$\"\"$ <\/p>\n
Would you like to explore Nigeria’s culture, food, and social life in a safe and curated trip?<\/p>\n
Last year we had our first Orisun trip to Lagos, Nigeria and this year we will be holding another trip.<\/p>\n