Every culture has their own unusual ‘delicacies’ and Belizeans are no exception. Maybe due to the mix of cultures that settled here; the escaped Africans slaves as well as the German Mennonites, Maya (and more) over the years who brought their own customs and traditions. Mash that into one melting pot and you have a plethora of bizarre!
1. Meet the Gibnut or Paca, also affectionately known as the Royal Rat (since served to Queen Elizabeth II on her Belize visit some years ago). Many Belizeans will tell you its a must-try delicacy. Check out Travel Channel’s Andrew Zimmern gibnut feast here.
2. Split pea soup with Pig tails or Pig Snouts – served with handmade flour dumplings over white rice, this Belizean comfort food is dear to our hearts.
3. It’s no secret that Belizeans love game meat and the Peccary is no exception. Stewed, roasted, smoked or any other variation – it’s an exotic dish that begs to be tried.
4. Armadillo – also known to the Maya as “Wech” is often roasted and served in tacos (with a twist of lime, yum!), as sal-picon (a roasted meat ceviche) and a variety of other ways .
5. Cow-foot or Cow-tongue soup – a famous Belizean response to a hangover is exactly what it says it is.
6. Hickatee or River Turtle is prized meat – already an endangered specie and with a limited hunting season in Belize, consider yourself lucky if you get to try it.
7. Bamboo Chicken or Iguanas – Definitely an acquired taste and mostly consumed in rural areas, but if your taste buds crave the rare and exotic – this is a must try! (Don’t worry, our resident iguanas are perfectly safe from our kitchen!)
8. Bukut or Stinking-Toe (Cassia Grandis) – Not all the bizarre food in Belize are animals; this lovely tree that showers Ka’ana’s guests with its tender pink petals as they’re shown to their rooms, produces pods with sticky, jam-like sections surrounding the seeds. The odor leaves much to be desired (hence its Belizean name) but it’s well known for its medicinal and nutritional values.
Want to impress your sweetie this Valentine? Or maybe just impress your sweet tooth? Here’s something a little different from your ordinary box of chocolate.
1. Milk Fudge – This candy is a Belizean favorite made from boiled sweetened condensed milk, sugar and spices. Peanuts, cashews, coconut flakes or raisins are sometimes added.
2. Tablata – Another Belizean favourite, this candy is made from the grated young coconut meat mixed with thin ginger slices and sugar.
3. “Wangla” or “Jojoli” – This exotic tasting confection is made from toasted sesame seeds and sugar and pressed into a crunchy bar.
4.Cotobrute – Here’s another version of coconut sweets – this one is made of chunks of coconut and melted sugar.
5. “Tambran” – This is Tamarind mixed up with sugar and rolled into bite-size balls. Its sweet and tangy taste will make your mouth smile!
6. Coconut Tarts – Yeah, we never run out of goodies to make from coconut… A sweet coconut concoction is cooked with milk, sugar and spices and baked into this little beloved pastry.
8. Sweet Potato “Pone” – Some say “Pone”, others say “Pound” – whatever you want to call it, you’ve not tasted a true Belizean dessert if you have not tried it.
9. “Stretch-mi-guts” – Belizean coconut pull candy - not quite so common in Belize anymore so consider yourself lucky if you get to try it.
10. “Supa” or “Cocoyol” – This sweet stewed candy can make for a special treat as it is one of Belize’s traditional sweets derived from the Mestizos. This treat may is sticky, gooey but plenty delicious.
Muddle cucumber in Vodka, strain then muddle again with mint.
Add flor de Jamaica (Hibiscus juice) and ice.
Top with pineapple juice.
Garnish with mint and cucumber.
“Friends and family stayed here for my mother’s birthday. The place was simply THE best. The staff was amazing. Above and beyond anything we could have imagined. They created a special dinner for our group for her birthday evening (without us asking) and I do mean created. They made dishes they had never made before for us and it was outstanding. Not only that but we asked them if they could make her a birthday dessert, she is not a cake fan so I left it up to them, telling them only that she didn’t like cake but loved fruit. They made the most wonderful fruit tart, it was really a work of art. We almost hated to eat it…almost.
They do have spa, but we didn’t have time to make use of it but given everything else, I’m sure its awesome. The grounds are lovely and serene. The pool is nestled in the middle of the property surrounded by flora and fauna… Okay, I wanna go back…”
October 16, 2012 Review by Beth B. from Huntington Woods, Michigan.
Sweeten up your weekend with our Banana-Hazel Martini!
Banana-Hazel Martini: Banana, Frangelico Liqueur and Vodka served Martini style.
Ingredients
1 Oz. Frangelico Liqueur
½ Banana (Ripened)
2 Oz. Vodka
3 Cubes Ice
Preparation
Add ¼ Banana into mixer and liquify. Add 1 Oz. Banana, Frangelico Liqueur, Ice and Vodka into shaker; shake thoroughly – and pour into Martini glass. Garnish with Banana slices or Cherry, Enjoy!
Here at Ka’ana, we grow all kinds of fruits and vegetables including broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce, arugula, bell peppers, tomatoes and potatoes, as well as hot chiles and spicy herbs. Our fruits are of the tropical variety including bananas, papayas, watermelon, pineapple and local exotic fruits such as mammy apples and dragon fruit.
Most of our fruits and vegetables grow all year round. Carrots grow between August and January while broccoli and cauliflower grow between May and August.
We create our own jams and infusions using the fruits and also pickle the vegetables in-house. Produce from our organic garden is incorporated in all of our recipes at La Ceiba to ensure that our guests are always eating healthily and organically.
We are all a bit of cocktail nerds here at Ka’ana and even love to infuse our own alcohol (you saw our post about what we like to make in house here http://tinyurl.com/99lk2q2)
You can take a cocktail class with one of our master mixologist, learn about local alcohols or how to improve your own cocktail repertoire. Or hang in our newly renovated Freize lounge and try our variety of bespoke Belize inspired cocktails.
Here at Ka’ana, we love to promote an eco-conscious lifestyle and we encourage you to get inspired to follow suite. Learn about the 8 wonderful products we create in-house using our organic garden and other locally sourced vendors to encourage sustainable living!
1. Interiors, decor and frames
(Examples: our aged metal villa doors, dual mahogany loungers)
