Everyone has that one meal that writes itself on their heart before they even understand “favorite food”. For some, it could be rice yam, potato, porridge. For some, it could be biryani, pasta, pastries, name it.
Me? Mine will make you pause, and then ask; "what the heck did I just hear?"
And tada! It's none other than Akamu. 😍
Yeah, pap, ogi. The one we drink/eat… I'm not sure which verb is correct. Lol.
I love akamu so much it’s embarrassing. I can never grow old or out of love with drinking it - 24/7, Breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight cravings... it can never disappoint.
And you know what? I can pair it up with just any other food.
Akamu with biscuit, cookies, cake? If you know, you know.
Akamu with bread? Good combo, but on hold for now.
Akamu with avocado? Perfect.
Akamu with porridge beans, ukwa (bread fruit)? Oh la la!
Akamu with jellof rice? Huh? Don't make that face, just try it. Lol.
Akamu with akara, fried potato, plantain, yam, egg? We move.
For me, akamu is the most versatile food. It doesn’t discriminate. Just bring anything, akamu will adjust.
The thing is, my love for akamu goes deeper than taste. It’s childhood medicine. Growing up, whenever I fell sick and afraid to take my drugs, I'll drink akamu. Even when food lost flavor, akamu still found its way down my stomach. Next thing is sleep and by the time I wake up, I'm feeling better.
Now as an adult, nothing has changed. Akamu is still that trusted companion in these moments. That I'm having loss of appetite or mood swings isn't when akamu is involved. It's fulfilling and calming.
And I drink it either plain, by just adding a pinch of salt or with sweetener and milk. Sometimes, to give it that protein vibe, I'll add fried groundnut. Yeah, you heard right.
Take this from me: Akamu isn't just food, it's a medicine on its own. No wonder, it's highly recommended for sick people, pro-surgery and the aged.
As someone who's sensitive to cold, akamu comes to the rescue. Keeps my stomach and body warm.
It's easy on the stomach. Akamu is soft, warm, no chewing, no heavy digestion. It slides down and gives energy without stressing your gut.
Also, it's quick energy plus carbs. Akamu is made from fermented corn/sorghum/millet. These are simple carbs that break down fast, thereby supplying the much needed glucose to the body.
It helps keep the body hydrated. Akamu is basically liquid food. You’re getting water, calories, nutrients all at once.
Now you see why I'm sold on akamu.
I understand that some people might have seen "shege" (had it tough) while preparing akamu. But trust me on this: it's super fast and easy to prepare. I can teach you for a fee. Lol.
This post is written for the Indian United Contest. Want to participate? Read the post for guidelines.
@indiaunited/indiaunited-new-contest-and-last-8582db3c9cd5c
Author's Photos
