Niger ( Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) seed oil plays an important role in human nutrition and health because of its fatty acid composition and its high levels of fat-soluble bioactive components. The oil has an attractive pale yellow color and a nutty taste. With high levels of linoleic acid, it is very similar to sunflower and safflower oils.
Is niger seed oil edible?
Niger ( Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass.) seed is a major source of edible oil in some countries. Niger seed yields about 30%–35% of its weight in oil, which is clear, slow-drying, and edible. Niger seed oil is a polyunsaturated semidrying oil. It has a pale yellow or orange color with a nutty taste and sweet odor.
Where is Niger oil grown?
Niger is an oilseed that humans have cultivated for approximately 5,000 years. Guizotia abyssinica is widely grown in South India and Ethiopia, which are the two main producing countries.
Where does niger seed come from?
Niger seed ( Guizotia abyssinica) belongs to the same botanical family as sunflower. It stems from the Abyssinian highland. Since the 1940s, it has been grown in Germany, France and Switzerland. Today, the harvested amount is 400,000 tons per year. The plant can grow to 1.50 m in height, but usually remains <1 m.