Shindwa

Editors note: There have been no blogs recently since I was in the bush for two weeks.
    Authors note: there is no editor.

Just what is a Shindwa you ask? Well, it may be me misspelling a Lunda word...that is always a possibility. If I am in fact spelling it correctly then it is the fruit of what some might call wild ginger. At Sakeji, Shindwas were one of the wild fruit we ate and, as wild fruit go, have a high ratio of edible food to fruit. Most bush fruit is skin and seeds. This post is as much about me reminiscing as providing any sort of relevance to you, the gentle reader.

Shindwa grow part way out of the ground and are bright red, they really stand out when walking through the bush. The tough outer hull is not eaten, inside is a white pulpy/fibrous fruit with the consistency of maybe a not very juicy orange. A peach is more fleshy and a mango more stringy. The white part is fairly tart although not as tart as a "sour head" candy. It has it's own flavor which I won't try to compare to anything because it is it's own. Dad never liked them because he felt like they tasted like a scoury calf which I always felt was an unfair comparison. Throughout the pulp are dark seeds which I believe are known as Grains of Paradise. The seeds are indeed fairly peppery and are mostly swallowed whole. I first saw reference to Grains of Paradise on the TV show Good Eats. The internet has may recipes for GOP but none for the fruit themselves. I suppose that is because the seeds can be dried and transported easily and that no doubt some in West Africa eat the fruit. If they don't then they are missing the best part. From time to time Mrs. Bru. made Shindwa ice cream and I made the ones you see in the bowl above into not very good jam.















Final note: Today, September 20th is election day in Zambia. Please pray for peace. With 10 people running for president some will vote for someone who doesn't get the job.