Gastronomic Haiti

mud biscuit production in Cité Soleil - an acquired taste?

Always keen to experiment and explore new tastes, during my time in Haiti i have been checking out a few bits and pieces.

I confess the staple diet of short grain sticky rice and beans doesn´t do a lot for me. The Mud Biscuits in Cité Soleil were definitely a first and a last for me too. It can be good however, the feast for Jean-Luc´s birthday party was awesome!

I have had greater successes on the drinks front however. Ragaman is a strong high energy drink not dissimilar and much more refreshing than Red Bull and has been a godsend as i have weaved around on the excessively cramped and noisy Tap-Taps that journey around Port au Prince. Best drunk ice-cold. Another classic is Couronne – a cross between the Scottish classic Irn Bru and cream soda. Desperately sweet, but really hits the spot. It self-defines as fruit champagne.

Even on the drinks front, it hasn´t always been successful however.

Those lucky souls that have travelled extensively in Tibet, or indeed areas of Ladakh will be well acquainted with butter tea. Whilst i might not dispute its medicinal properties, well suited to basic high altitude living, this hellish concoction has haunted me on my many various trips in these regions. Even the lingering odour is quite enough to turn my stomach.

Interestingly, Haiti has its very own version. This however is a golden colour and rather than added milk and butter, they add salt to the tea. It is pretty much a part breakfast here at the orphanage. No doubt playing its part in rehydration, it´s nonetheless a drink which i will never miss.