Yeheb Nut

yeheb nut (also yeeb, ye-eb, ye’eb), the seed of Cordeauxia edulis, a small leguminous bush of hot and dry regions, notably Somalia. The National Academy of Sciences (1979), noting that this is now regarded as an endangered species, explains its usefulness:

The ye-eb is such a hardy shrub that during drought it is sometimes the only food left for nomads. Its food value has at times enabled destitute Somalis to rely on it alone for subsistence …

The seeds alone make an unusually nourishing and balanced diet. Although their protein and carbohydrate contents are less than those of most other pulses, the seeds contain both fat and sugar.