When there is a lot to eat, there is usually waste. But when prices are high or stocks are low, some housewives learn to be resourceful. In Guyana, many women do not even shed the potato skin. They use potato skins, pineapples, bananas and other items to make drinks. Delicious drinks are also made with fruit seeds such as papaya.
These drinks are very easy to prepare and do not have alcohol. Its widespread use in Guyana is due to the fact that an almost infinite variety can be produced. They are used to quench thirst and coolness, especially in hot climates. Their tastes are very different and each has its own characteristics.
Are flavors used? Yes, cinnamon and cloves can be added, among other things, to improve the taste. Experience shows that only small amounts of these aromas are needed.
The development of the art of making these drinks was largely a matter of trial and error. For example? 'Or what? The housewife simply puts skis or shells in the water and adds sugar after a few days. When it tastes good, try more.
When a housewife in Guyana finds amazing recipes based on taste, color and preparation time, she can share the information with others. Repeated experiments with different fruits result in a long list of homemade drinks with different blends, colors and flavors. For example, fruit previously harvested is processed only for consumption into beverages.
The ingredients in the potato drink are the skin or peel of 4-6 potatoes, 1/2 liter of water, cloves and sugar. These are mixed and left for three days before being sifted.
A particularly delicious drink is made from pineapple peel. It is easy to prepare. Ingredients: (1) peel a pineapple; (2) 4 glasses of boiling water; (3) sugar to taste and two cloves; (4) a piece of dried orange peel, if desired. Procedure: Put the peels, cloves and orange peel in a jar and add boiling water. Cover and let stand for 24 hours, after which it is filtered and softened. It should be used once or in a bottle and stored for a day or two. When pineapple is plentiful, part of the mass can be chopped and used with the peel.
A similar method can be used with pea skis and guava and banana peels or skis. The pea drink contains the following ingredients: (1) 4 handfuls of pea pod; (2) 4 liters of water; (3) sugar to taste and some cloves; (4) 1 teaspoon cinnamon; (5) 1 piece of dried orange peel; (6) a few drops of almond or pineapple essence. Preparation: Wash the pea pods, put in a glass and add water, sugar, spices and cloves in addition to the dried orange peel. Leave for three days. Filter and add the essence and ice cream and serve.
A delicious papaya drink is made with the following ingredients: (1) yellow papaya seeds; (2) 3 liters of water or more; (3) sugar to taste and a little clove. Preparation: put the ingredients in a covered jar and let it rest for three days. Filter and serve with ice. Use a similar method for the mango drink.
There are clear benefits to turning this obvious waste into useful active beverage ingredients. On the one hand, waste is saved and therefore money is saved. Production is cheap and almost unemployed. It is the extra satisfaction that the hard-working housewife enjoys in developing her skills. A slight deviation in the processing can result in a mixture of different flavors and colors. Skis and seeds may seem like unlikely ingredients, but they can make delicious drinks
