Exploring the world: Food #6: Eating Local

Most of my diet in Rwanda consists of local foods made fromscratch. Market occurs every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning and it is literally a farmer’s market. It is the main source of food in Nyamata and here subsistence farmers sell their leftover produce that their family doesn’t eat.

Rwandan garlic

The only produce oddball I’ve noticed is garlic because there is the option of buying Chinese garlic in a pack of three, just like you may see in your local Kroger. It is really strange. But there is also Rwandan garlic which is really fresh and strong. If I would otherwise put three cloves in a recipe, here I might only use two. At the market you can also buy toiletries, fabrics and second hand clothes.

A lot of households and institutions such as schools or convents also have their own food sources. In addition to a few animals, they also have a pretty solid garden. When we want dodo, eggplant or some fruits, we just go outside and pick some, depending on the season. Here are some pictures of all the food you can get in Rwanda. It is interesting to note the number of micro-climates here from the many hills.

For example, in Nyamata, where I live, it is very difficult to find avocados right now. But in Save, the Benebikira headquarters, they are everywhere!