WHY ARE PEOPLE always looking down on Barbadians? Some of our CARICOM neighbours seem to believe that Barbadians are clueless when speaking about silent doctors.
Last week I had to brass up a woman who was shocked that I or any other Barbadian knew anything about callaloo. She said to me after reading last week’s article titled Superfood Callaloo: “Eh! Eh! I thought only the other Caribbean people, especially the Guyanese, Trinidadians and Jamaicans, knew about callaloo.”
She went on to ask: “How Bajans get into this callaloo business now?”
I shook my head and held my peace. She had me real puzzled. I then explained to her that my mother had frozen callaloo bush in her refrigerator, many of my friends and I consume it, scores of Barbadian Rastafarians and indigenous herbalists grow it and it grows all over Barbados. Some people seem to believe that Barbadians are only cou cou experts.
However, I maintained my professional status as an herbal educator and we had an educational discussion about callaloo.
Callaloo is also known as silent doctor Bhaji/Amaranth in Barbados. When I was a little girl my father owned most of the albums by The Merrymen, including Sing And Swing With The Merrymen, and he often played Callaloo Versus Cou Cou. So the word callaloo is etched into my psyche.
It is a popular dish in many Caribbean countries and I am sure callaloo soup and bread are served in many homes in Barbados.
It contains the following nutrients: vitamin A, B1, thiamin, vitamin B2, riboflavin, vitamin B3, niacin, vitamin B6, pyridoxine, vitamin B9, folate, folic acid, vitamin C (good amount), vitamin K (extreme amount), protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, natural fats and Omega 3 fatty acids.
In The Philippines, callaloo is used to treat diabetes, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, acne, stomach problems and inflammation. It can also reduce the risk of joint inflammation, improve concentration, reduce fatigue, lower the risk of cancer, build bones and support healthy reproduction. It lowers the chance of infection and depression. Callaloo can treat or heal over 50 health challenges.
I wish that more restaurants would serve callaloo soup. Callaloo soup is very tasty and it is a very healthy dish. It often contains callaloo, okra, scotch bonnet peppers, thyme, coconut milk, onions and vegetable stock.
Finally, it will be bacchanal time in Barbados soon because when I go on summer vacation, I will be heading to two summer camps to have a callaloo versus cou cou cook-off.
Annette Maynard-Watson,a teacher and herbal educator, may be contacted via silentdoctors@gmail.com or by telephone 250-6450.
DISCLAIMER: It is not our intention to prescribe or make specific claims for any products. Any attempts to diagnose or treat real illness should come under the direction of your health care provider.
