Some years back, something took to the East. During my stay, i interacted with the locals, had a good relationship with my neighbors including my landlady who happens to be a farmer (Well, most were).

While I was there, I noticed something strange. When processing cassava, the locals dispose all starch extract, a strange experience for a local man who hails from BenDel.

One certain day, I approached my landlady to know exactly why she is disposing all starch extract from her recently processed Cassava.

Me: Mama, why you they trowway this white thing, na correct starch be this, of you cook am en, use am knack banger, you go reach heaven

Mama: (in Shock) una they eat this thing? Na poison ohhhh (In thick Igbo accent)

Me: Ahhhh, mama we they cook am, use am step down ohwo and banger soup.

Mama: This white thing so (starch), if you person eat am, e go die o, even when fowl eat am for ground, them they die instantly


I persuaded her, convinced her that I needed the starch from henceforth (local man don see free ojo free), she reluctantly agreed.

I went for my normal activities for the day and when I returned, I noticed she disposed everything. I then approached her.

Me: Mama, belike you throwaway the starch with the way the ground they white one kind so

Mama: (Called me by my name) no be my house you go take faint or eat poison. Lol

For ur life

Travelled to my base the next month and when I returned, I brought starch and showed her a sample, also showed her my local spicies (Otieko, obelete) because I was preparing to make banger soup.

I showed her the end product, while explaining to her how starch is cooked to give it that yellow appealing look.

When she noticed I ate that meal that day, she was worried, she came knocking the next morning.

Mama: (murmuring in Igbo) kpor kpor, You don wake ?

Me: Yes mama, I they gidigban

Even after she confirmed that cooked starch was part of my local delicacies, she never gave me, till I left, she continued disposing.

Well, what can a local man do?

It's true that some cassava species contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can result in fatal cyanide poisoning if not properly detoxified by soaking, drying, and scraping before being consumed.
She thought it's the starch that's poisonous.

She didn't need any education to understand cyanide poisoning.

jazon:
It's true that some cassava species contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can result in fatal cyanide poisoning if not properly detoxified by soaking, drying, and scraping before being consumed.
She thought it's the starch that's poisonous.

You are correct, it never crossed her mind that people eat it when it's been cooked.

I also noticed the garri there has less concentration of starch compared to ones we eat in Edo/Delta/Bayelsa.

EmptyGarden:
She didn't need any education to understand cyanide poisoning.

When cooked, it is no longer poisonous. It is a delicacy found in Delta, Bayelsa and Edo.

This was what I was trying to explain to her.

Efewestern:


When cooked, it is no longer poisonous. It is a delicacy found in Delta, Bayelsa and Edo.

This was what I was trying to explain to her.

Of course I know what starch is, but that's alien to her culture.

EmptyGarden:

Of course I know what starch is, but that's alien to her culture.

Yes very alien. Probably the first time she is hearing starch can be cooked and consumed.

I've learnt something this year. Op abeg show me pic of the food you prepared with the starch make I change focus asap

Funny. Old habits die hard.