Chic African Culture Blog

Did you know?

1. No African country names begin with the letters F, H, I, J, O, P, Q, V, W, X, or Y.

2. Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent.

3. African tech startups raise billions of dollars annually, seven African start-ups were included in the World Economic Forum 2021 cohort of 100 Technology Pioneers.

Simple Sweet Tamarind Sauce Recipe

Simple sweet tamarind sauce recipe, tamarind is an important ingredient in African chutneys, curries and sauces.


Tamarindus indica or the tamarind tree is native to tropical Africa; the tree grows wild throughout Sudan, and South Sudan, Madagascar and most of tropical Africa. 

 The tamarind tree has so many uses that it is celebrated throughout the world. The tamarind tree has a variety of uses as food, oil, varnish, dye, timber, glue, medicine, fuel, and a thickener in some explosives. 

 The tamarind tree lives up to an age of 50-60 years or sometimes up to 150 years. A mature tamarind tree may annually produce 330 to 500 pounds of seeds. The tamarind tree seeds are an important ingredient in chutneys, curries, and sauces.

Simple Sweet Tamarind Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

Yields about 1-pint jar

3 heaping tablespoons tamarind paste
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups water

Directions

Sterilize jar according to the manufacturer’s instructions. In a medium size saucepan, add all ingredients. Simmer 5 minutes on medium-high heat being careful not to burn. Do not over boil the mixture or you will make candy. Pour into prepared mason jar. Use on fish, shrimp and grilled chicken.
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Africa is surrounded by water but is not an island, here are a few African Island facts.

Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biology, about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

Composed of 155 islands, Seychelles is Africa's smallest country. By far the largest island is Mahe, home to about 90% of the population and the site of its capital city of Victoria.

Cabo Verde has a strategic location 310 miles or 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site.

Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent. Continents can not be considered islands because of their size and also by historic definition since many people who study geography define islands and continents as two different things.

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Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

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