The last cups are poured slowly, sipped with dreamy eyes. Eyes glazed with memories of mornings and glasses of juice – mostly orange, memories of heat at noon and refreshing drinks, full of muddled mint and ice. Holidays for me are mostly about the unhurried cups of tea at dawn, the fresh juices I down...
For when you can’t eat. Two pains I cannot fathom or explain – heartbreak and toothache. Are they really necessary for life, growth, healing? I wonder. I had an impacted wisdom tooth extracted last Monday. It’s not something I’d like to repeat. Or wish on my worst enemy. Now I understand what my friend Joy...
Embrace the ittars, the exotic scents of the Levant In tendrils of steam from the hammams of Turkey Rosewater. Orange Blossom. Jasmine Fragrances captured and essences preserved by ancient methods that go back to the Renaissance Experience the abundance of fragrances Get carried away with the heady notes and exotic dances of the Levant Captured...
This post is as much about showing off my bargain ‘Eva Solo’ Danish Design tumblers…. ….as it is about exploring new flavours with sugar cane juice.
We feasted and we drank plenty. My back ached but I was thankful in spite of it.
Romance – budding or not A glass of crushed ice (must be beaten. To ‘crushes’ with a rolling pin) Must Fragrant lime cheeks, off the slant. Squeezed for juice (Held and inhaled. Transported to green hill far, far, away. Romance again) Yellow ginger. Fresh. Peeled with a spoon then sliced thin. Juiced too. The heat...
Our ‘dining room voyages’ begin with mint tea – thanks to Morocco and its famous tea culture. We drink our Nigerian version, out of a rather English teapot from Turkish tulip glasses – evidence of our global identity. We love it. Mint is somewhat vital to our family’s happiness. For months, our garden blooms with...
Northerners in Nigeria are famous for many things, culinary-wise: they are tray-bearers of dates, kolanuts and alligator pepper; suya merchants of everything from meat kebabs to jerky-style beef kilishi and pounded, shredded Dambu Nama as well as wonderful drink makers. Sometimes I wonder what the repertoire of Nigerian drinks would be like without our North....