Processing Raw Cassava To Garri

There is a blessing that can only be given by God and one of such is the blessing of cassava. I don't know how it is done but I don't think there is anything about a cassava that's a waste, not at all. Today, I want to show you step by step on the processing of cassava into garri.

The first step is to go to the cassava farm and harvest them. I went to the farm today with my mother to harvest cassava and here is what a cassava plantation looks like. We plant basically for family use and not for commercial purpose.

^{Cassava farm}

When you are done harvesting it, come back home and peel it (sorry, I was sent to an errand while the peeling process was done, so I couldn't take a picture of when the cassava was being peeled). Peel the cassava and expose the whitish part and then wash them thoroughly.

Wash it with clean water and do not add detergent or whatsoever to it, just keep it simple and wash it very clean with clean water. After that, dry them out for the water to drain before taking it to the mill.

I took the cassava to the mill and then it was being grinded. See the grinding process here. You pick each cassava and put it in a grinder and allow grind it. It will turn a semi solid kind of thing and then do this till all the cassava has been grinded.

^{Grinding the cassava}

Just a tip in, if you want to know how the machine that powers the grinder looks like, here it is. It's not that big, at least for the one that is not done in mega way. It's run by a petrol engine. The big drum you are seeing there is the coolant, it keeps the engine cool because of the hard task it's undergoing.

^{The machine powering the cassava grinder}

When that is done, put not too much amount of the grinded cassava into bags depending on how much they are and then take it to the dryer. What we have here in the mill is a manual dryer, it had to be turned and then the jack pressed the cassava then the water in there comes out. This makes the cassava dry enough so it doesn't get stiffen while trying to fry it.

^{Drying the grinded cassava}

After the drying process, allow the water to drain out on it own then take it out of the dryer. By this time your Siever must be ready because you would need to sieve out the chaff. This process makes it easy for you to fry a very smooth garri.

After that, take the chaff and give it to your goat, pig or any livestock you wish to, you won't be needing it again. When you are done with it, take it to the fryer. Set up the fire and allow the fryer to be hot.

When the fryer is dry, go in with the sieved cassava and then turn it bit by bit so that it won't get burnt. Do this for 20 minutes and then take your garri out. This particular garri is so delicious, even if you want to sip it.

^{Frying the garri}

That was just a breakdown on how garri is being made. Thank you for your time my friends and do have a lovely day. Byeee.

^Tabitha