The first thing that hits you is the smell. The pea-sized néré pods from the néré tree or African Locust Bean as it’s known in English, may be small but they pack a powerful punch. 

And once transformed into mouth watering soumbala, they’re a crucial addition to a host of traditional meals eaten all across West Africa.

We’ll be hearing all about soumbala and more in this episode of the Star Ingredient, where we’re travelling to Burkina Faso to meet a devoted champion of Burkinabé traditional cuisine, Franceline Tranagda. 

Hosted by Tokunbo Salako. 

Written and produced by Marta Rodríguez Martínez, Naira Davlashyan and Aisling Ní Chúláin. 

With original reporting by Sasha Gankin and Aisling Ní Chúláin.

The theme music is by Andy Robini. 

Consultant editor: Catalina May. 

Solutions journalism consultant: Michèle Foin. 

Production coordinator: Louise Lehec. Editor-in-chief: Patrick Heery. 

For more information on The Star Ingredient, go to our website.

Are you a French speaker? You can find a version of this podcast in French with the name La Surprise du Chef.

The podcast, The Star Ingredient, was funded by the European Journalism Centre, through the Solutions Journalism Accelerator. This fund is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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