A Bag of Bajan Bush

-
One of the highlights of living on an island for me is the fact that vegetation is always abundant. So abundant in fact that persons are always willing to share excess or sell at ridiculous prices just to be rid of produce. Such has been the case this week (and it's only Tuesday!).
I received a call from my sister Evelyn this weekend  and I kid you not these were her words," Merlene has a bag of bush for you, someone gave them to her and she figures you will appreciate it." Why thank you very much cousin Merlene, I surely do. And so this morning, my sister brought over this bag of Bajan bush packed with a lovely variety of cooking and medicinal herbs.





I wish you could smell my hands and kitchen right now....heavenly!

Wormwood ..so very green and such a intoxicating aroma

Mexican tarragon, not a favorite of mine due to its heavy licorice odour so some lucky person will receive this as a gift (maybe Ken)
Who does not love bayleaf? A Caribbean staple, this herb is delightful any which way although my preferred use is blended with lemongrass as a tea....yummm!







Yeah lemongrass too!





And big ole bunches of cinnamon basil...love!

Fennel

Rosemary...see those thick stems, that means I can easily replant for another plant of my own.

The "shake" ....bits of margoram, parsley, mint, chives and sage

No sooner had I sorted my  herbs,than I heard the usual cry of the fruit man, so out I ran to the verandah to inspect his bag of mangoes. Two minutes later look what's sitting on my counter....


Wanna guess how much I paid for this bowl of sweetness?
A ridiculous $5.00!

Don't we just love island life? Yes we do!
Until next time, eat well, live fully and laugh just because you can.





Comments

  1. UnknownJune 11, 2014 at 4:44 AM

    I just love your blog gurl! Thanks fir keeping me rooted to my birthplace. Love you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderworld BushJune 14, 2014 at 12:24 PM

    you are so very welcome, glad to feed your cultural memories...love you too..

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Looking for bush

-
Image
What is it with this woman and bush, you may be wondering, but I love me some greenery! I love bush tea, I could eat bush rice everyday (seriously, I could), I study bush (herbology), I plant bush, I bathe with bush sometimes, a brother calls me Bushwoman as if it were my real name and I even call myself Wonderworld Bush for goodness sake! I am known to carry a camera and a plastic bag with me everywhere just in case the opportunity presents itself to take cuttings or at the very least to capture a pic of new plants for later research. My "condition" is so well known, that last summer I was asked by the Nuwaubian members of my community to accompany them on a walk to identify wild plants in our area. We walked for a good hour or so and it was quite amazing to note the many things I myself discovered for the first time. In fact I was so impressed that I wanted to see what I would unearth a little closer to home. I literally went on a ten minute walk around my house and wow
Read more

Bush Tea

-
Image
All week I have found myself gathering herbs for bush tea. I grew up on bush teas! I don't know about you but growing up I hardly ever visited a doctor outside of vaccine schedules. Bush teas were our cleansers, healers, tonics, nourishment and much more. They were also a part of our culture. When we had colds we were instructed to pick cerasee, mosquito bush, soursop and pear (avocado) leafs. For stomach aches, we had ginger, bayleaf, aloes or sweet basil. Heads were wrapped in oil leafs (castor oil plant) for headaches or rubbed with coconut oil for head colds. We drank fitweed, flower fence, lemongrass and a host of other "cooling teas". With development, a lot of our local bushes are all but gone and very hard to find, so when I come across an old familiar bush I make a point of bringing cuttings or saplings home to transplant. Today I am so happy to have a few essential Bajan bushes in my yard.     Cerasee is definitely a must have bush despite its
Read more

Breadfruit ...... So Many Ways

-
Image
I have a confession to make. In 2005 when I returned to Barbados, I ate breadfruit every week! Well, to be perfectly honest I ate breadfruit multiple times a week. Yes, I was overdosing on breadfruit. Reason being it was so hard to get the real fresh deal in NYC. Breadfruits do not travel well! Eight years later, we still love breadfruit. Much to my delight they are easy to come by all year round and are absolutely free . EVERYBODY knows somebody who has a breadfruit tree. Breadfruit is so very versatile and easy to cook. SO, today I bring you all things breadfruit.
Read more