Maji ya ukwaju na maembe / Tamarind and Mango Juice
Maji ya ukwaju yananikumbusha maisha yangu nilipokuwa mtoto Dar es salaam. Kuna ukwaju mwingi sana Tanzania, lakini nilisikitika nilipotembelea Nyumbani December 2005, Niliona ukwaju mwingi karibu unaharibika katika soko letu kuu la Kariakoo Dar es salaam. Nilikuwa na hamu ya kuubeba ukwaju wote nije nao Umarekani.
Maji ya ukwaju, si sawa na maji ya matunda ya aina nyingine, kwa sababu ukionja kidoko, utapata hamu ya kumaliza jagi lote. Hiyo huwa inanitokea sana. Mbinu ninayotumia ni kuweka barafu nyingi! Tafathali usinunue maji ya ukwaju yaliyotengenezwa kuwandani, hayana utamu kama yaku tengeneza nyumbani.
Kama hujui kutengeneza maji ya ukwaju usiwe na wasiwasi. Ni rahisi. Kwa wale wanaokaa nchi za nje: Nunua ukwaju uliopondwa kwenye maduka ya Kithai, Afrika au ya kihindi. Hakikisha kwenye chupa wameandika natural au haina chumvi. Bonyeza hapa kupata viungo.
Mawazo kutoka kwa Maitha wa blogu ya Mawazo na Mawaitha
Alivyonitumia mapishi yake ya chatne ya ukwaju, Maitha alinieleza kuwa anapenda kuchanganya maji ya maembe na maji ya ukwaju.Nikajaribu na nikaipenda sana. Alisema anapenda kuchanganya kwa sababu wakati mwingine maji ya maembe yanakuwa matamu sana, anaona utamu unakamilika akiongeza kidogo maji ya ukwaju. Usisahau kujaribu hii, ni tamu sana. Asante sana kaka Maitha kwa maelezo haya, Nampa heshima kaka yeyote wa Kiafirika ambae haogopi kuonyesha kama anaweza kuchanganya vitu mwenyewe jikoni kwake. Sifa nyingi kwako, nategemea wengine watafuata.
ENGLISH
Tamarind Juice reminds me of my childhood in Dar Es Salaam. There is a lot of tamarind in Tanzania, but I felt sad when I visited Dar Es Salaam December 2005, I saw a lot of tamarind at our famous and historic market Kariakoo, Dar Es Salaam. I wished I could carry all those sacks with me to America.
Tamarind juice is one of those drinks that when you take one sip, you can not stop until the whole jug is finished. That always happens to me. The trick I use is to put lots of ice! Please do not buy bottled tamarind juice; it does not taste the same.
If you do not know how to make Tamarind juices, do not worry, it is easy. For those who live in Western countries: Buy natural tamarind paste from international store. I am sure you will get the paste from any African, Thai or Indian grocery store. Make sure it says on the label “natural” or no salt added. Click here for the ingredients.
Tip from Maitha of Mawazo na mawaitha blog.
When Maitha sent me the recipe of tamarind chutney, he also gave me a tip on how he mixes mango juice and tamarind juice. I tried and I loved it. He likes to do that because sometimes mango juice can be very sweet, and tamarind helps to balance the taste. Do not forget to try this, it taste very good. Thank you again Maitha for your input, I do respect any African man who is not shy to show that he can manage on his own, in his kitchen! Power to you and I hope others will follow.
4 comments November 12th, 2006
