sakau

Sakau is a drink that traditionally was only made for special ceremonies or feasts and drank by men who had high titles. Nowadays, you can find sakau being made all over the island for anyone to drink. I have posted a link to the wikipedia page about how it is prepared but I will also do my best to explain it.


First, men take the roots of the sakau plant and clean the mud off of them. The roots are pounded on a slab with another rock. Next, water is mixed in. The mushy roots are then squeezed through... this part is hard to explain... other roots? You can see in the pictures. The result is a rather thick, muddy drink. Some people add more water and sell 40 oz. bottles for $4 a piece. My host family usually just pounds their own sakau and we drink at home.

After drinking a few coconut shells of sakau you feel very mellow. And if you drink enough without standing up, a little dizzy. I enjoy it a lot. Especially now that it is Christmas time, I will be drinking a lot of sakau. And attending a lot of feasts with interesting food. I will save details about that for another post...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakau

it's december?

I can't believe that I have been gone for 3 months and that it is almost Christmas! My host family put up some Christmas lights yesterday and I was shocked. Partly because I did not know that Christmas lights were used here but also because it does not feel like Christmas season at all! It is weird to hear Christmas music playing--most with an island beat worked in-- while wearing skirts and t-shirts. Hope you are enjoying the beginning of the Christmas season where ever you are!