According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, European explorers found the indigenous people of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest making farine out of bitter, poisonous cassava by first extracting the poison from the cassava. The Europeans’ survival in South America was heavily dependent on food products and other forms of assistance from the indigenous peoples they encountered in the newly discovered continent.
In December, 2022, a group of Guyana’s indigenous population of the Rupununi took cassava farine to a new level by launching Guyana’s first ever farine bakery. This is truly a landmark achievement and an evolutionary process. This publication contacted the bakery for more details on their operations. The following write-up was furnished by the management of the North Rupununi Farine Bakery in Masara Village – the first ever such in the country of Guyana.
Guyana’s First Farine Bakery
Tucked away in the quiet but scenic Massara Village in North Rupununi is Guyana’s first farine-only products bakery. Climb Guyana Farine Bakery and Cafe serves an amazing selection of freshly made farine products, from bread loaves and rolls to cakes, pastries, and pizzas.
The community-project is a partnership between Climb Guyana and the Massara Women’s Group. The peaceful village of Massara is located in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of Guyana. It can be found approximately 460 kilometers from the capital city Georgetown.
Climb Guyana is an adventure sports tourism company founded by documentarian, producer, and adventurer Amanda Wilson-Falloon. We wanted to show that farine, the main staple in the Rupununi, can be used in so many different ways.
The Climb Guyana Farine Bakery and Cafe officially opened on December 27th, 2022 by Massara Toshao Lenny Moses.
Staff
Bonita Moses (Manager)
Peggy Sue Sandwell
Nedia Gregory
Linda Bartholomew
Rena Glasgow
Rachel Moses
During the 2019/2021 lockdown, the Massara Women’s Group spent months perfecting their farine recipes and sharing yummy samples with the village and visitors. They have also attended workshops hosted by the Carnegie School of Home Economics.
Cafe
The cafe is a charming spot for family and friends to enjoy delicious freshly baked farine treats. Customers usually pair their purchases with a glass of cool refreshing fruit juice, sensational hot chocolates, or coffee.
The furniture is made from old mango tree trunks by local builders from Massara Village. The staff are hospitable and the villagers very welcoming. Massara Village is now the number one hotspot for appetizing farine goodies. Our doors are opened from 7 am – 10 pm Mondays – Saturdays & 9am – 4pm on Sundays.
The establishment also hosts fun bingo nights monthly. Lots of visitors sampled some of our farine products for the first time at the first Climb Guyana Rupununi Farine Festival and Bakeoff in September for Heritage Month. They were pleasantly surprised.
Goodies
All products are made with the best farine sourced from Massara Village and other communities in North Rupununi. The farine is delivered in large bags, weighed, and apportioned for each recipe. The goodies are then baked in a brick oven with a chimney constructed with local bricks. Fresh fruit is made with fruits from Massara Village, including mangoes, oranges, limes, and ite.
One of our most popular treats is the farine cupcake. Baked daily, they are yummy and delicious and the sponge is delicate and light. What surprises everyone is our farine pizzas. We have some of the best pizzas in the Rupununi, from Beef Overload and Chicken Heaven to Calabresa Mania and The Toshoa. They all have the perfect ratio of dough to crunchiness to sweet to spicy. Our products are made with the best ingredients, amazing recipes, and our coal-fired brick oven method that make all of our products so yummy.
You Can Get in Touch with Climb Guyana Farine Bakery in the Following Ways:
