First Sighting: Agbalumo, In Season

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Agbalumo is back my friends. Just this morning, my son woke up and declared it foggy on the horizon and true to his word with ashy ankles, harmattan is here. The day stayed grey, chiffon veils in the distance, clouding ever so delicately my view. Except when I came across the Agbalumo, it wasn’t far in the distance but on the ground, in a basket at my feet.

Let me be the first to welcome you to Agbalumo. Udara. Cherry season...on the same day we welcome the foggy skies of Nigeria's harmattan. You know how excited I am, don't you? It means I can continue with where I left off experimenting a few months ago.

It was on the roadside where I’d gone in search of Tangelos, worried at how scarce they’re becoming. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I wasn’t expecting them for a few more weeks, closer to the middle of the month. They were really tiny and I wondered if they would be sweet. The ladyseller assured me that though ‘O kere’ (small), O dun (they are very sweet).

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So I bought a taster set of 6, took back to my office, had them devoured in shock…’is it the season?’, ‘I thought the sweet ones came after the first rains?’ and then I sent for more. They were gorgeous. Even the green-ringed ones.

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When you tore them open, redfleshed they were and soft,sweet. Not the sweetness you would expect of fruits just in season but…

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So, yes, along with grey skies, we humbly welcome you to this Harmattan 2015/16 season.

Peace & Love.

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