8 Beloved Local Snacks

8 Beloved Local Snacks In village market areas and trading centers vendors prepare and sale local treats. These are consumed in many places throughout the entire country. Everyone enjoys these foodstuffs whether they are locals or not. Personally I was not much of a snack person in the states. If I did partake in any it would have been products like cookies, candy and chips (which are also available in village shops). I do eat local snacks more often now. They taste good, gives more help to the local economy and are healthy substitutes to what I used to eat as snacks. These are ‘8 Beloved Local Snacks’ that my community and myself enjoy munching on. 1. Chips Also known as ‘Chippies’ are as close to fries as one can get here. They are thin skinned and not breaded potato wedges fried in cooking oil. They are found at stands were they are cooked over brick stoves with a metal plate over it. They are sometimes served with cabbage and tomatoes but I prefer mine just with salt. 2. Gasuva A tuber that grows in the Northern region of the country is also prepared the same way as chips It can also be eaten raw as a whole. 3. Grounds nuts Peanuts are grown in the country. They are knownas “groundnuts”. Sold shelled in bags were vegetable stands are. Most people enjoy them cooked. 4. Mandasi This is a fried bread. Women usually sale them in plastic buckets next to each other typically near the entrance of the market. They come in different styles and some might be softer or harder than others. They go great with milk or tea. 5. Susa Young men usually walk around yelling “Susa!, Susa!”. These are small pieces of beef served on a metal screwier. It is like a meat only shish kebab. The meat is kept warm and portable via a small grill with coal inside of it. After eating or taking the meat off of the screwier it is returned to the vendor. 6. Corn Known as maize in Malawi this is the main source of the country’s national food, ‘Sima’. So many people rely and grow corn. Most crops in the country are dedicated to growing corn. People grill it and sale it in markets. People also roast it on fires at their homes. 7. Freezies These are made from fruit and water. It is juice that is put into to tube shaped bags and put into a fridge until frozen. They are usually a treat that is enjoyed by children. The only place that I am able to find these in my village is at one of the teacher’s houses. Him and his wife sale them during breaks at school to the children, after church services and at soccer games. 8. Nature’s Candy There are many fruits that grow in different seasons in Malawi. These include bananas, mangos, oranges and guavas. A lot of these fruits have flavors that I have never experienced. Ones that are the sweetest things I’ve ever tasted. Some that were so sour, that made my mouth pucker the hardest it ever had. Even flavors that I couldn’t possibly begin to describe. Some people farm fruits, some pick them from their own trees and gardens and sale them at market places and on the side of the road. A lot of times fruit can just be found growing freely. Now if you have an extreme sweet tooth, that can be pleased as well. Sugar cane is also grown throughout the country as well. These delights have some similarities to what I have eaten before. At the same time, they have their own unique signature taste and styles that can only be understood first hand. The people of Malawi use their resources, hard work and skills to create delicious businesses. I am happy just not to be able to see this but to be able to indulge in it as well.