Backpacking from Accra to Cape Coast: Savouring the street food

The street food looked incredibly appetising but my instincts kept me largely away from them. My constitution had not been built up enough to go all reckless in Cape Coast. My eyes did pretty much all the savouring.

Grilled guinea fowl and chinchinga

Grilled pork

We did, however, buy a handful of Tiger Nuts. I had had tiger nuts numerous times in my childhood but for Matt and James, this was a first.

Tiger nuts i’m told “have been an important foodstuff since ancient times, and can be found in countries like Egypt, Ghana, Northern Nigeria, Togo, China among others. It is worthy of note that tiger nut is a tuber and not a nut as the name may imply. It is a healthy snack that most people enjoy in various forms as Dried, milk, flavorings for ice creams flour and oil. In countries like Ghana, Togo, Senegal and Niger it is used uncooked as a side dish while it is used as a milk-like beverage in Spain called horchata de chufa and Egyptians roast and use it as sweet meat. t has a high fiber content, Vitamin E, proteins, carbohydrates, minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus. The tiger nut milk contains higher magnesium, iron, and carbohydrates than cow milk. It has no lactose hence good for individuals who are lactose intolerant”

In Ghana the Tiger nut has a reputation for increasing vitality in men. Scientifically unproven but Ghana swears by it anyway. All that street food got us heading straight to the Castle restaurant for a much needed and deserved lunch.