If it’s one thing our indigenous counterparts can teach us, it’s how to survive without modern conveniences. They have mastered the art of preservation and creating food products with long shelf life. Farine is one such food.
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Pancakes – Locally Called Dosay or Chota in Guyana, South America
In Guyana, pancakes are locally referred to as “dosay” or “chota.” The origin of pancakes to Guyana is not clear at this time. Based on the local names, it may have been imported from East Indian tradition. If you have any information on which ethnic group first introduced pancakes to Guyana’s rich cuisine mix, please tell us in the comments.
The Labor Intensive Task of Roasting and Shelling Cashew Nuts
The cashew nut is a high protein delicacy, but preparing it for consumption is no easy task. Through a labor-intensive process, the nut is detached from the cashew fruit which comes from the cashew tree. Cashew trees grow abundantly in the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana, and also in similar environments in neighboring Brazil.
Acai Berry, a Renowned Superfood, Goes to Waste in Guyana
We are living in a era of increased natural resource discovery in Guyana…from oil and gas to gold…we hope these resources will create a brighter future for ALL Guyanese, but there is another great natural resource which we would like to tell you about that is yet to be discovered and exploited in Guyana – the Acai Berry.
Viral Video of “Roti Making Machine” Drives Guyanese Crazy
A video demonstrating how a “Roti Making Machine” simplifies the task of making roti has gone viral on Facebook. Everyone is asking, “where can I get one?”
Pepperpot – A Guyanese Delicacy
Pepperpot has graced the tables and satisfied the stomachs of all races and classes of Guyanese on a wide variety of occasions – from Christmas season to the everyday grind. During the Christmas season, it is often served with cassava bread and complimented with ginger beer. Although it is not clear at this time which ethnic group introduced pepperpot to Guyana, it might be a blend of two cultures – a tradition adapted by the Africans using casareep – an indigenous creation. It was then adopted and modified by all other ethnic groups in Guyana making it a truly Guyanese flavor.
Guyanese Herbalist Tells of the Health Benefits of the Moringa Seed
In an interview with this publication, Guyanese herbalist, Nicholas Foo, shares his knowledge of the seed borne by the moringa tree – a tropical plant most prolific throughout India but which also grows in Africa, South America, and other parts of the world.
“Saijan” is Actually the World Renowned Superfood, Moringa
“Saijan bhajee” as it is commonly called by the locals in Guyana, is in fact the world renowne superfood, moringa leaves. Moringa, the subject of a US scientific study around the year 2010, has been classified as a superfood and is used to fight malnutrition as well as for its medicinal value in various parts of the world. The recently developed moringa industry – which sells moringa based products, is a billion dollar industry.
Badam Latch – a Super Tasty Guyanese Snack
Badam Latch, also variably called “badam latcta,” “balam latcha,” etc, is a super tasty snack made, sold, and consumed in Guyana since pre-independence times. It might have been introduced to Guyana by the East Indians and probably has its roots in India.
Indigenous Style Pepperpot made with Fish, also called Tuma Pot
While people in the capital city (Georgetown, Guyana) and along the coasts refer to pepperpot as meat cooked in casareep, the indigenous in Guyana’s hinterland refer to another dish made with fish as pepperpot. For this reason, disambiguation is needed, so, to avoid confusion, I’ll refer to the pepperpot made with fish (the subject of this article) as tuma pot.