Exploring Culture Through Food

Food is a universal language. It doesn’t matter where you are from, you have to eat. You can learn a lot about a particular culture by exploring their food. The food we eat is intricately intertwined with our culture. In fact, it may be difficult to fully understand a culture without understanding their food. In Ghana, some of the most common foods include corn, yams, millett, plantains, and cassava – mostly carbohydrates. In Britain the traditional food includes full breakfast, fish and chips, the Sunday roast, steak & kidney pie, Shepherd’s pie, bangers & mash and the likes.
When you travel, one of the first things you do is try the local cuisine. When you ask about any cuisine you’re curious about, the locals are always very happy to tell you about the history behind the food and when it is eaten food is always often connected to important stories in history for this culture.

I absolutely love a bit of adventure and will try anything once. I have a strong passion for the local food and drink, whatever or wherever it may be. I’m here to inspire you all to travel to places a little out of your comfort zone, or at least explore the usual destinations in a different way. Sign up for a food tour, ask your hotel concierge, do your research before you go (don’t trust all the online reviews though. You may have a totally different experience), eat some HOT street food, and don’t forget your Pepti-calm/Pepto-Bismol, you may need it if your tummy is not tough lol. If you cannot literally be there, try the different foods by making it yourself and learn about the different cultures by learning about their food and what it means.

To the people of Ghana, my people, our traditions of our ancestors, and our culture are still an important part of daily life. Customary leaders have authority over tribal and family matters, and customary lands are an important heritage. Important events in life are marked by special rites and rituals – child naming ceremonies, puberty initiations, marriage and death are all marked by big family ceremonies, while seasonal festivals bring people or clan together in spectacular fashion with of course, FOOD, lots of food and drink. We have many regions with different cultures – Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Western, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta Regions. Every one of these 10 regions have their official food.

I love to travel; I love to eat and so I personally let my belly do the learning of the different cultures. What local foods have you tried when you travel? I would love to cook it and try it, so please share below.