The African Gourmet

Spring in South Africa

In South Africa, spring is incredibly colourful and vibrant because the flowers which grow country-wide bloom in a variety of striking colours. Spring Day is celebrated annually on the 1st of September in South Africa as this is when the spring season begins in the Southern Hemisphere.

This season is anticipated and welcomed because it is the start of the pleasant, warm weather for which South Africa is so well known. The end of winter and beginning of spring has always been associated with rebirth, hope and love and is the time when plants regenerate, animals birth and the world awakens from the chilly winter season.

The colours best associated with spring season are pale blue, yellow and white, as well as other soft pastel colours. These hues can be seen in typical spring flowers such as daffodils, hyacinths and tulips which are recognised as the international flowers of spring.

In South Africa, there are a multitude of flowers which are connected with spring time and grow during this season. The Agapanthus, Amaryllis, Anemone, Bird of Paradise, Calla Lily, Cosmose, Dahlia, Delphinium, Freesia, Heather, Helleborus, Hyacinth, Larkspur, Casa Blanca Lily, Gloriosa Lily, Liatrus, Lisianthus, Narcissus, Orchid, Peach Blossom, Phlox, Poppy, Protea, Tortured Willow, Ranunculus, Rose, Seeded Eucalyptus, Solidago, Stargazer, Statice, Stock, Strelitzia, Sweet Pea, Tulip, Viburnum and Wax Flower are some of the flowers which are commonly available in the spring time.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1005539_47.html Author: AlterSage

Cameroon Boyo Coffee: The Taste of West Africa

From the western highlands of Cameroon, West African farmers have organized themselves to organically produce a fine Arabica coffee named after their region — Boyo. The pleasing aroma, mellow flavor and rich full body distinguish this fine coffee, which arises from extensive quality control as well as the region’s nutrient rich volcanic soil and plentiful sunshine.

The Republic of Cameroon is an African nation well known for both its geographic and ethnic diversity. Lying in the Northwest province of Cameroon, there is a mountainous region known as Boyo that is seeking to improve the standard of living for its many farmers. In the late 1990’s a farmers’ cooperative initiative was started with the goal of delivering back to the farmers a fair price for their coffee. The means to do so has been through the standardization of the cultivation and processing steps to produce a consistently high quality Arabica coffee. They market their coffee under the name – Boyo – of their region.

The farmers appear to be on the right track, producing a high quality, robust coffee. The flavorful characteristics of Boyo coffee are purported to result from the nutrient rich, dark volcanic soil in climatic conditions ideal for coffee growing. The onset of the first rains coincides with the blossoming of the coffee plants. And then just as the coffee berries begin to ripen, the dry season begins. The abundant sunshine stimulates the coffee berries to quickly attain their optimal sugar content. That is the secret to Boyo’s distinctive flavor.

Boyo coffee undergoes thorough and all natural processing – from cultivation to harvesting to selection. The Boyo coffees of Cameroon are grown alongside other crops to spread out the individual trees, thereby minimizing the risk of infection among the coffees trees and avoiding the need for herbicides and pesticides. To supplement the soil, farmers mix the coffee berry pulp with the soil around each tree after the de-pulping process. The farmers and their families facilitate the hulling, polishing and grading of their coffee beans and then hand-pick the very best of their crop to bear the Boyo coffee label. Select beans of Cameroon Boyo are also selected, graded and marketed as a Cameroon Peaberry coffee. Cameron Boyo coffee is classified as organic.

The next time you are looking for an African coffee, I suggest you stray from the African standards – Kenyan AA, Tanzanian Peaberry, and Ethiopian – to try Cameroon Boyo coffee. Beyond enjoying a fine cup of coffee, you may just be helping out some very hard-working and intrepid farmers in Cameroon.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1122136_26.html Author: Joe Jefferson

Ewe Proverb

Akpa le tome gake menya tsi fe vevie nyenyeo. (Ewe)

A fish is in water but does not know the importance of water. (English translation)

What does it mean?

The meaning of this proverb is that a fish is always in the water, but until it comes out of the water it doesn’t even recognize that the water exists.  This proverb is about “taking things for granted” and similar to the saying that familiarity brings discontent.

NOTE: This proverb is No. 25 in a forthcoming booklet Collection of 100 Ewe Proverbs from the website www.afriproverb.org