Igitoki (Plantain)

It occurred to me that I should dedicate a post to this mysterious entity, cousin to the banana, substitute for the potato. Igitoki grow on trees just like bananas, and to the amateur banana spotter, they look the same. Some certain igitoki can be sliced and fried to make a delicious sweet treat (think banana), but the usual, everyday igitoki are boiled, just like a potato would be. If you were to look at it - innocently - for the first time, you might ask why is there a peeled banana on my dinner plate. And if you were to close your eyes and put it in your mouth, you might ask why is this potato so long. Boiled plantains are very similar in texture and in taste to boiled potatoes. This might disappoint or relieve you, depending on what you were expecting. In Rwanda they are grown as a staple - a vital, versatile, carby food - along with, 'Irish potatoes' (to distinguish from sweet potatoes), Cassava (for sombe) and rice (umuceri). Oh and igitoki is said as it's spelt. i-gi-to-ki or i-gi-to-chi depending on your accent.

This is a huge clump of igitoki that had just been delivered outside somebody's house. They are cut down when green; I don't think they ever turn yellow. Now, plantains are bigger and beefier than bananas so you can see that there is a lot of food on this clump. I was told that this would easily feed a family for a few weeks. The price: 1000frw (about £1).

Here they are, just hanging about. What's that purple dangler at the bottom? No idea