Pandanus paste facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Edongo, Jããnkun, Mokwan, Sehnikun in kipar, Te tuae |
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| Type | Fruit preserve |
| Place of origin | Micronesia |
| Region or state | Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru |
| Main ingredients | Pandanus fruit |
Pandanus paste is a special kind of dried fruit snack. It's made from the fruit of the Pandanus tectorius tree. This paste is very common in the low-lying islands of Micronesia.
Life on these atoll islands can be tough because of the climate. So, the pandanus fruit is a super important food source. People found many ways to save and store it for a long time. This dried paste has different names depending on where you are. It's called edongo in Nauru, jããnkun or mokwan in the Marshall Islands, sehnikun in kipar in the Federated States of Micronesia, and te tuae in Kiribati.
Contents
How Pandanus Paste is Made
Making pandanus paste is a careful process. It helps to keep the fruit good for a long time.
Harvesting and Cooking
First, people pick the ripe pandanus fruits. Then, they cook the fruit for a long time. This cooking usually happens in an earth oven. An earth oven is a pit dug in the ground that uses hot rocks to cook food.
Pulp Extraction and Drying
After cooking, the fruit is crushed. Workers then scrape out the soft pulp. This pulp is spread out in thin layers on leaves. It dries in the sun for several days. People turn it over sometimes to make sure it dries evenly.
Storing the Paste
Once the paste is dry, it's cut into pieces. These pieces are then rolled up tightly. They are wrapped in pandanus leaves and tied securely. This way, the paste can be stored and eaten later.
Taste and Nutrition
Pandanus paste tastes a bit like dried dates or figs. People often mix it with coconut cream. This makes many different tasty foods.
This dried paste is also very healthy! It has a lot of Vitamin A. In fact, it contains more beta-carotene than fresh or cooked pandanus fruits. Beta-carotene is what your body turns into Vitamin A.
Pandanus Flour
Pandanus paste can be dried even more. This is done in an earth oven. Then, it's pounded into a fine powder, like flour. This flour can be mixed with water to make a drink.
This special flour also has different names. It's called ekareba in Nauru. In Kiribati, it's known as te kabubu.
