Oh Poi
~Blog Post #3~
April 20, 2015
By: Mary Vanco
Poi is a traditional staple in Hawaiian cuisine. It is made by mashing taro plants in a dish until highly viscous. Then water is added to the
poi to get the consistency you want. It is pasty and pale purple in color. It could be either very liquidy or dough like. Sometimes it is left to sit around and ferment depending on personal preference. When poi is eaten fresh it will taste sweet, after 2-3 days of fermenting it becomes more sour. Hawaiians may eat poi with fork, but they often eat it with two fingers. Poi accompanies many of Hawaiian dishes, and some Hawaiians may even eat about a pound daily.
poi to get the consistency you want. It is pasty and pale purple in color. It could be either very liquidy or dough like. Sometimes it is left to sit around and ferment depending on personal preference. When poi is eaten fresh it will taste sweet, after 2-3 days of fermenting it becomes more sour. Hawaiians may eat poi with fork, but they often eat it with two fingers. Poi accompanies many of Hawaiian dishes, and some Hawaiians may even eat about a pound daily.
Historically:
The traditional name given to poi was Kalo. Poi was thought to be the spirit of Hāloa, the legendary ancestor of the Hawaiian people. Poi is sacred and important to them; all conflict between family members was required to stop when it was brought to the dinner table.
Other uses for poi:
Poi can be used as an ingredient when cooking. For example, poi ice cream, poi bagels, poi cookies, and poi cheesecake. Sometimes poi works as a milk substitute. Poi is very healthy, natural, and contains potassium, iron, and vitamins.
More Recently:
There have been taro production shortages from pests and the price of poi has gone up. However, poi remains a common dish.
Watch this video and check out how ooey gooey poi is when they make it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LuIYcBFHM8
Works cited:
"Traditional Hawaiian Food: Eat These 7 Massively Tasty Dishes."Migrationology Food Travel Blog. N.p., 24 Apr. 2012. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://migrationology.com/2012/04/traditional-hawaiian-food-dishes/>."Did You Know That Poi Was so Good for You?From Keiki to Kupuna Poi Has Health Benefits for Everyone! Here Are 8 Impoitant Facts about the Positive Effects of Eating Poi." 8 Facts About The Health Benefits of Poi. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.tarobrand.com/poi/>.
N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poico.com%2Fartman%2Fpublish%2Farticle_4.php>.
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