Ramtil oil facts for kids
Ramtil oil, also known as Niger seed oil, is a special kind of oil used for many things, mainly in cooking. It can also be used for lighting lamps! This oil comes from the seeds of a plant called Guizotia oleifera in India, and a very similar plant called G. abyssinica in Africa. These plants are part of the Asteraceae family, which also includes sunflowers and daisies.
Ramtil oil looks and feels a lot like sesame oil. Because of this, it's sometimes mixed with sesame oil to make it go further. Besides cooking, people also use Ramtil oil to make soap and, as mentioned, to light up their homes.
Where Does Ramtil Oil Come From?
The plant that gives us Ramtil oil first grew in the high lands of Ethiopia. But over time, people started growing it in many other countries too!
Even in the United States, the seeds are sold and grown by some farmers as a special, smaller crop.
What's Inside Ramtil Oil?
Ramtil oil is full of good things for you! It has a lot of a special kind of fat called linoleic acid, which makes up about 75-80% of the oil. This is an essential nutrient, meaning your body needs it but can't make it on its own.
The types of fats in Ramtil oil are quite similar to those found in safflower oil and sunflower oil. It also contains smaller amounts of other fats like palmitic and stearic acids (about 7-8%) and oleic acid (about 5-8%). Interestingly, Ramtil oil from India sometimes has more oleic acid (around 25%) and a bit less linoleic acid (around 55%).
Ramtil Oil's Comeback in Ethiopia
For a while, not as much Ramtil oil was being made because cheaper oils, like palm oil, were being brought into the country. However, people started wanting these cheaper oils less and less. Also, the government in Ethiopia decided to stop importing oils from other countries.
Because of these changes, Ramtil oil has made a big comeback! Many companies are now making and selling Ramtil oil again in different sizes, like one, two, three, and five-liter bottles.
