Posts

Showing posts from June, 2010
Photo of Ivy, author of The African Gourmet

About the Author

Ivy is the researcher and writer behind The African Gourmet, blending African food, history, and cultural storytelling. Her work is cited by universities, Wikipedia, major news outlets, and global food writers.

View citations →

Start Your African Journey

From political insights through food to traditional wisdom and modern solutions - explore Africa's depth.

How To Make Ethiopian Coffee At Home

Image
Ethiopian Buna Coffee Ceremony. I  The process of preparing Ethiopian Buna Coffee Ceremony is long, this is why coffee is enjoyed in a group settings.  Gathering for Ethiopian Coffee is a time of socialization, a time to be together and to talk for women. How To Make Ethiopian Coffee At Home The Ethiopian Coffee may be prepared three times in one day for various reasons including a meal. There is a time to share Buna with family, a time to drink Buna with other women and for breakfast or dinner and may include immediate family, including male members. Coffee in Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia, is Buna. Buna is also the name of the coffee ceremony conducted by Ethiopian women.  The host clothing should be a traditional Ethiopian dresses when preparing the ceremony.  When a man prepares Buna he is questioned regarding his masculinity however there are a few exceptions to this rule.  The Ethiopian coffee ceremony is a ritual that the women ...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

How to Make Shito Ghanaian Hot Pepper Sauce

Image
Shito Ghanaian pepper sauce and hot sauce is a favorite condiment to serve with any number of American and African dishes. Shito Ghanaian pepper sauce and hot sauce is enjoyed with vegetables, fish, meat or poultry, it is also ideal with yams recipes, green plantains, and potatoes. In other words, Shito Ghanaian pepper sauce and hot sauce is perfect for just about any food dish. Shito is the best artisan small-batch hot pepper sauce you will ever make. How to Make Shito Ghanaian Pepper Sauce African recipes by African Gourmet Shito Ghanaian pepper sauce is made with hot peppers, shrimp, fish, tomato paste and seasonings to create Ghana’s most beloved hot sauce. Prep time: 10 min Cook time: 15 min Total time: 25 min Ingredients: 2 cups tomato puree 10 dried hot chilies 1 tablespoon shrimp paste 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 tablespoon onion powder 1 teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon cumin 1/4 cup olive oil Directions: Add all ingredients into a food pro...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Madagascar Unique Forests are in Danger

Image
Madagascar plant life is rich, Madagascar's forests are home to unique plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. However, 3 acres of Madagascar 's forests are lost on Africa’s largest island a year. Madagascar Unique Forests are in Danger In Africa Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture Madagascar is important to the environment of the world. Isolated for 60 million years, Madagascar’s ecosystem is a treasure trove of unique and often unusual animals and plants.   More than 80 percent of Madagascar Island’s amazing vegetation and wildlife appear nowhere else in the world.   Losing around 3 acres of forest in Madagascar has a greater impact on global biodiversity than losing 3 acres of forest anywhere else on Earth. Madagascar is important to the environment of the world. Because of 80 percent of the Malagasy population depends on making their living through subsistence agriculture , Madagascar’s forests are in danger. Using sl...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Salted Boiled Plantains

Image
Plantains are a major food staple in many regions of Africa. Plantains are typically eaten cooked and boiled plantains are easy to prepare.  Salted Boiled Plantains. Many plantain recipes call for frying, but this method increases the calorie content. Salted Boiled Plantains. Ingredients 2 green large plantains Water for boiling Spices of your choice Directions In a large pot of salted boiling water or vegetable broth carefully drop washed stemmed unpeeled plantains in boiling water. Cook for 15- 20 minutes until tender. Peel before serving and sprinkle with salt, pepper, cumin, red pepper or any spice of your choice.  About plantains. Plantains look like a larger version of a banana but have thicker peels and starchier fruit. Plantains are often used in African cooking and are a major food staple in many regions of Africa. More economical easy lunch and dinner recipes to make right now so you never have to eat or prepare a boring meal again. Currie...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Gold Mining the Devils Office South Africa

Image
The South African Gold Belt and the Devils Office 1881. Gold mining in 1881 in the gold mines of Kaapsehoop South Africa involved panning, sluicing, dredging, hard rock mining, and working in the devils office. Kaapsehoop Gold Mining the Devils Office South Africa Kaapsehoop, the devils office, overlooks the De Kaap Valley also known as the valley of death because many gold miners died from malaria. Kaapsehoop is a town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. Kaapsehoop owes its existence to the discovery of gold in the hills around the present-day town in 1881. A rush of miners and fortune-hunters ensued. The name Kaapschehoop is also spelled Kaapsche Hoop. In 1882 Bernard Chomse claimed to have found gold in the bed of a stream in Kaapsehoop and a gold rush took place. Its existence was short-lived, however, as most of the broker's left Barberton following the discovery of the rich goldfields of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Witwatersrand mine is so rich it ...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Recipes Explain Politics

🍚

🍚 When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations. The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe."

🍲 The Deeper Recipe:

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

Africa Worldwide: Top Reads

Africa × World: Editor's Picks

Cross-continental food, science, history, and cultural exchanges.

African Gourmet FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why "The African Gourmet" if you cover more than just food?

Great question! While many associate "gourmet" exclusively with cuisine, its true meaning is "a connoisseur" – someone with refined taste and deep expertise. For over 18 years, I've served as a gourmet of African culture at large, savoring and presenting the continent's rich history, vibrant traditions, timeless wisdom, and contemporary stories with the same discerning palate one would apply to fine food. The name reflects my commitment to curating Africa's cultural wealth with authority and passion.

What makes The African Gourmet different from other culture sites?

With 18 years of consistent publishing, I offer depth and continuity that's rare online. I don't just report on African culture – I contextualize it, connecting traditional wisdom with modern realities, and food with folklore, politics, and daily life. It's a holistic view of Africa's past, present, and future, all through the lens of a seasoned cultural storyteller.

How do you choose what to write about?

My content selection is driven by a desire to showcase Africa's incredible diversity and challenge stereotypes. I balance covering foundational cultural elements (like proverbs and recipes) with timely analysis of current events (like the AGOA trade agreement). The goal is always to educate and illuminate the complex, dynamic realities of the African continent.

Do you focus on specific regions of Africa?

My coverage spans the entire continent – from North to South, East to West. While certain stories may focus on specific countries or regions, my mission is to represent the breathtaking diversity of 54 countries and thousands of cultures. I make a conscious effort to include both well-known and underrepresented cultures in my work.

Can I request a topic or contribute to the site?

I welcome thoughtful topic suggestions from engaged readers! While I maintain editorial control to ensure quality and consistency, I'm always interested in hearing what aspects of African culture you're curious about. Feel free to reach out through my contact page with your ideas.

How can I support The African Gourmet's work?

The greatest support is engaged readership – sharing articles you find valuable, participating in discussions, and helping spread cultural understanding. Following the blog and sharing it with others who would appreciate this unique perspective on Africa helps this 18-year labor of love continue to grow and reach new audiences.