Wow!! Ve u had Garri today? 😋❤️❤️
Garri to any Nigerian student, is a Savior 🤭😆
What could this be??
Garri is one of the cheapest staple food consumed across West Africa; it is popular in Nigeria, Ghana, the Republic of Benin and Togo. It is also known as “gari” and is one of the most accessible foods to the masses in these regions.
Garri to the average Nigerian student is a saviour. It is a well-known food made from cassava tubers it is peculiar to the west Africans and is made from cassava following a quite tedious process.
The soil is tilled and the cassava is planted using suckers. It is harvested in ten to twelve months or even twenty-four months depending on the farmer.
The harvested cassava is peeled, washed and grinded it is bagged and subjected to fermentation and drying. The fermentation and drying process may take three days to be completed then the Garri is now dry. It is sieved and then roasted.
Garri is now ready.
It could be soaked with water, sugar, milk and groundnut or it is used for eba using hot water and taken with soup soaking garri is usually more convenient for students. It could be prepared at any time and it's really cheap. Garri comes in yellow and white colours the white colour is recommendable but the yellow is said to be preferred by students due to its vitamin A content which is essential for vision enhancement. Garri has been a Savior for the average Nigerian student and will save its integrity due to the following:
Affordability: It is relatively cheap and affordable making it an ideal food choice for the students who are on a tight budget. students would usually go for anything cheaper Garri has always saved the situation of hunger especially when there is no cash inflow because it is very affordable. student may buy Garri in bulk, sometimes a huge bag of Gary would go a long way.
**Energy **: Garri is a carbohydrate food it therefore has the ability to provide the body with energy needed to carry out daily activities.
Easy to prepare: Garri is easy to prepare. Soaking it entails adding water into a desired quantity of garri poured into a container, sieving it (pouring out part of the water to remove some floating dirt), adding sugar, milk and groundnut to desired taste. It could also be taken without adding so much but at least there's usually sugar to enhance it's taste.
Nutritional content: Garri is also a good source of some essential nutrients like dietary fibre, vitamin C and potassium which are important for good health.
Long shelf-life: Garri has a very long shelf life and does not require refrigeration this makes it a good option for students who may not have access to refrigeration facilities for this reason, Garri is bought in bulk and kept to save the issue of hunger among Nigerian students.
HOW IS GARRI CONSUMED?
Soaked garri is a very quick, easily accessible and cheap food. Garri is starchy and when it is soaked in cold water, it absorbs water and can swell up to three times its volume which makes it more belle filling. Soaked garri can be eaten with sugar, groundnut, milk, kuli kuli, fried fish. Coconut, etc. Soaking garri (or “drinking garri” as we say in Nigeria) is popular with students at all levels and very busy people as they can make a snack or meal without any effort.
HOW IS GARRI A SAVIOUR?
Garri can be considered a "saviour" for several reasons:
Food Security: Garri is an important food crop in many West African countries and provides food security for thousands and millions of people. Its ability to grow in a wide range of soil types and climatic conditions makes it a valuable crop that can be cultivated even in areas where other crops may fail. It is therefore available in all seasons of the year.
Drought Tolerance: Cassava, the crop from which garri is made, is a drought-tolerant crop. This means that it can survive in regions with low rainfall and still provide food for people in those areas.
**Versatility: **Garri can be eaten in a variety of ways. It can be eaten as a snack or as a main meal, and it can be prepared in different ways, such as soaking it in water or frying it. This versatility makes it a valuable food that can be adapted to different cultural and culinary preferences.
Nutritional Value: Garri is a good source of some essential nutrients like dietary fiber, vitamin C, and potassium, which are important for good health.
Economic Importance: Garri production provides employment opportunities for many people in West Africa, particularly for women who are involved in the processing of the crop.
Overall, garri is a "saviour" in the sense that it provides food security, is drought-tolerant, versatile, has some nutritional value, and is economically important for many people in West Africa.
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