Ndole Bitter Vernonia Leaves – 200g

Ndole Bitter Vernonia Leaves – 200g | Dried Vernonia amygdalina | For Ndolé, Ofe Onugbu & Bitter Leaf Soup | Cameroon & Nigeria

The leaf at the heart of Cameroon’s national dish — dried, ready to prepare, and delivered to your UK door 🇬🇧

Ndolé is not just Cameroon’s unofficial national dish — it is also the name of the central ingredient, the bitter leaves at the centrepiece of this curious and flavourful dish from the country’s Littoral plain and the Douala ethnic group. And for the Igbo community of Nigeria, Ofe Onugbu — Bitter Leaf Soup — is one of the most treasured soups in all of Nigerian cuisine. Drugs.com

One leaf. Two national dishes. Countless diaspora families in the UK who have been searching for it.

Duaba Afro Foods brings you 200g of dried Vernonia amygdalina — the authentic, irreplaceable bitter leaf that makes genuine Ndolé and Ofe Onugbu possible, wherever you are in the UK.

The Leaf

🌿 Dried Bitter Leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) — a green leafy vegetable native to tropical Africa — one of the most widely consumed vegetables in many African countries. The characteristic bitterness comes from natural compounds including Saponins, Tannins, Alkaloids, and Flavonoids found in the plant. This bitterness is not a flaw — it is the defining feature of the leaf. After the traditional washing and preparation process, it transforms into a complex, deeply satisfying flavour that makes Ndolé and Bitter Leaf Soup so extraordinary and irreplaceable. Drugs.com

Known Across Africa By Many Names

• 🇨🇲 Ndolé / Ying — Cameroon
• 🇳🇬 Onugbu — Nigeria (Igbo)
• 🇳🇬 Ewuro — Nigeria (Yoruba)
• 🇳🇬 Etidot — Nigeria (Ibibio/Efik)
• 🇳🇬 Chusar-Doki — Nigeria (Hausa)
• 🇬🇭 Awonyono / Onyono — Ghana
• 🇨🇩 Kongo Bololo — DRC Congo
• 🌍 African Bitter Leaf — English

Nutritional Highlights

✅ Naturally rich in Vitamins A, C and E — powerful antioxidants ✅ Good source of Iron and Calcium — supporting healthy blood and bones ✅ Rich in plant protein — a nutritious cooking green ✅ High in dietary fibre — supporting healthy digestion ✅ Contains natural flavonoids and polyphenols — plant antioxidant compounds ✅ Naturally vegan — 100% plant-based ✅ Naturally gluten-free ✅ No artificial additives, no preservatives

How to Prepare the Bitter Leaves

⚠️ Essential first step — always wash thoroughly before cooking:

1. Rehydrate dried bitter leaves in warm water for 30–45 minutes until softened
2. Drain thoroughly and rinse
3. Wash the bitter leaf in several changes of water to remove the bitterness. Rub between your palms — this produces a greenish foam which you rinse off. Repeat until the leaves are significantly less bitter DailyMed
4. Blanch in boiling water for 5 minutes — drain and rinse once more
5. The leaves are now ready to cook — much reduced in bitterness, deep green, and aromatic

Tip: The more washing cycles, the milder the bitterness. Adjust to your personal preference — some diaspora cooks prefer to retain more bitterness for authenticity.

How to Make Classic Ndolé

🥘 Traditional Cameroonian Ndolé: Blanch the prepared ndolé leaves for 5 minutes in boiling water. Fry sliced onion and garlic in palm oil, then add meat and dried shrimp. Incorporate the ndolé leaves and peanut paste diluted in reserved beef broth. Simmer on low heat for 30–40 minutes, stirring regularly. Season with Maggi, salt, and pepper. Serve hot with rice, boiled plantains, or Miondo (Bobolo). DailyMed

Also Used For:

🇳🇬 Ofe Onugbu (Igbo Bitter Leaf Soup) — cooked with assorted meats, stockfish, crayfish, and cocoyam thickener in a rich palm oil base. The quintessential Anambra and Enugu State soup

🇳🇬 Yoruba Ewuro Stew — bitter leaf cooked in a palm oil-based tomato stew

🌍 General West & Central African bitter leaf dishes — wherever authentic Vernonia amygdalina is needed

Serve With

Miondo | Bobolo | Fufu | Eba/Garri | Pounded Yam | Rice | Boiled Plantain | Yam

Net Weight: 200g Ingredient: Dried Bitter Leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) Also known as: Ndolé | Onugbu | Ewuro | Etidot | Kongo Bololo Vegan | Gluten-free | No additives | No preservatives Shipping: Delivered across the UK 🇬🇧 by Duaba Afro Foods

ℹ️ Allergen Information: Contains dried Vernonia amygdalina leaves only. Naturally free from gluten, nuts, soya, and dairy. May contain traces of other allergens during processing — always check the product label before consuming. Preparation note: Always wash and soak thoroughly before cooking — this removes much of the natural bitterness and makes the leaves palatable. Never cook unwashed bitter leaves — the raw bitterness will overpower the dish. Store in a cool, dry place away from moisture and direct sunlight. Once opened, seal tightly and use within the recommended period.