Fruits of Guyana 2: Sumatoo

The small delicious fruit grown locally especially in Region 3. It is grown on vines and is green when it is not ready to pick. When it is ripe, it is usually has shades from a light yellow to a deep orange.

The seeds are consumed from this fruit.

Fruits of Guyana 1: Gunip

This flavorful fruit is grown by the hundreds and thousands on trees throughout Guyana. The skill is picking a really ripe Gunip and you can tell that it is ripe because one you pop it in your mouth, it will melt.

For those of you who have never had one of these, you split this green fruit and discard the outer green skin. Once you suck on the fruit and all of the bright orange flesh is gone, you discard the seed. Sometimes you will get one that is huge and has two seeds, it is often called a "twin".

Pear = Avocado: Pear, Pear Everywhere

I am sitting here on warm and decadent Sunday morning trying to decide what to make for breakfast. I take a look at my refrigerator, eggs, turkey bacon, bread, cheese, onion, scallions, pepper, pancake mix, flour and cereal. I feel like having something different, something simple but good. I take a look around there is an pear on the table maybe I can make a choka and some roti. I grew up in Guyana in the 1980's and 1990's but some of the names that we call food, has still remained in my personal vocabulary all these years. We call pear in Guyana is most famously referred to as Avocado throughout the world. Growing up we had several varieties of pear(avocado) to choose from and they consisted of some that literally tasted like butter and some larger varieties that were not that great to mash but were delicious on its own.

Pear Choka (Similar to Guacamole)

2 small or 1 large Pear(Avocado)
1 small onion (finely chopped)
1 scallion (finely or coarsely chopped)
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon hot pepper or fresh pepper (finely chopped) (optional)

1. Cut pear in half and remove and discard pit
2. Scoop the flesh and put into a large mixing bowl
3. Add onion and scallion and mix them together
4. Add salt and pepper according to your taste

Prep. Time: Appr. 10 minutes
Cook Time: None
Servings: 2-4 people