Cassava Tour in Atlantida

Cassava or casabe is one of the most popular local foods in Atlantida. Made from the root of the cassava plant, a root vegetable that is a relative to potatoes, cassava is part of the daily staple of the Garifuna people, and it has become very popular throughout the destination.

Cassava or casabe is one of the most popular local foods in Atlantida. Made from the root of the cassava plant, a root vegetable that is a relative to potatoes, cassava is part of the daily staple of the Garifuna people, and it has become very popular throughout the destination.

It is a thin, cracker like bread, which can have a flavor added to it, such as garlic. It is eaten together with ceviche and salads or alone as a snack… there are literally thousands of combinations you can come up with. The purpose of this cassava tour in Atlantida is to introduce the visitor to this unique food, and show them how it is prepared. To do so, you will visit a small cassava factory located in the community of La Union, about 25 minutes west of La Ceiba, or roughly 45 minutes east of Tela. The factory is a community owned facility called Aprocasabe, which stands for association of cassava producers.

If you are visiting the Cuero y Salado wildlife refuge, you can ask that the cassava tour be included in your tour, as the installations are located right next to the railroad track that leads from La Union into the reserve.

Process of Baking
The process of baking cassava begins with the harvesting of the root of the cassava plant, which is the main ingredient for this unique bread. The root is cooked and then grated with a special board with stones in it. It the old days, it was then stuffed into a unique funnel made of natural fibers thatched into a mat, and filtered to produce a paste like substance that when dried is actually a cassava flour. After putting through a sieve, it is ready to be used. The next step is to have a hot griddle ready, so that you can now spread the flour on a griddle, forming what looks like a big, oversized tortilla or a pizza crust. Incredibly, this cassava flour bonds to create a thin crackerlike tortilla that is flipped once cooked on one side and then ready to be eaten. The Cassava or Casabe is now ready to have some flavor added to it. I must state that I enjoy it with its natural flavor, but it is usually flavored with butter and garlic. Other options, include chocolate, strawberry, and really, anything you might want to add to it. It combines well with just about anything!

The cassava tour in Atlantida will allow you to get a glimpse at the elaboration process of one of the most traditional of Garifuna foods. It will also open a window to life in a rural community in Honduras, and if you are up to, you can cook your own cassava! You can book your cassava tour through Reservaciones La Ceiba. Make sure you bring your camera to take pictures. It will be a great fun experience you will want to document!

Yucca for Casabe
Preparing Casabe
Sieving Casabe
Casabe Production Process
Packaged Casabe Finished Product

 

 

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