The evenings are cooler in Senegal. After dinner a group of men head to the front side of John Huffman School for tea. Many of you guys think tea is for girls (no offense to the British). This tea has been known to keep grown men awake for 36 hours. After I drink, I can't blink for two hours.
Tonight's drinkers, left to right, Tim (Storyteller),
Dimba (School security), Jean Baptiste (
Antagonist), Craig (Professor of
Wolof),
Ailou (
Barista)
The tea is boiled in a small teapot over charcoal. The process takes about 20-30 minutes from start to finish. The charcoal is lit with grass from the field. A good wind helps. Course cut tea is added to boiling water. Not just a little tea. The pot is filled to the top with tea, then boiled for at least 10 minutes.
Sugar is added to the boiling tea. Not just a pinch. Enough to make some men ADHD positive.
Cuppa Joe's has fancy foam makers. Aliou does it the old fashioned way. He is known throughout Senegal for the quality of his foam. We are honored to have him as our personal barista. Go ahead all you fake barista's, try it. The foaming goes on for several minutes. Intermittently, the tea is poured back into the pot until the barista says "yes"!
One nice thing about Senegalese tea drinking. The clean-up is easy. The glasses that make the foam, are the drinking glasses. What does it taste like? Very strong sweet tea. If you are offered tea, it is an insult to refuse. Two hints for future Senegalese tea drinkers. Take the first pull. In other words, if you want to sleep anytime during the next 12 hours be first. Once you drink, the cup is refilled from the pot and passed on to another drinker. If you get the 3rd or fourth pull from the pot, it's all over. You are wired. Secondly, know when and how to say "no". If you take your first serving and do not correctly pronounce "that's all for me" in Wolof, you will be automatically served another cup (which cannot be refused).
Look at the foam on that tea.
Tim, get a new hat!
The best part of Senegalese tea drinking is hanging with the guys, telling stories of the day, laughing, and just doing
nothing. There is a saying in Senegal. "Toubobs have watches, Africans have time". I will miss this time very much, when I leave my friends in Senegal, just a few days from now.
2 comments:
Thanks for all the pictures Craig! They really add a lot to the stories. Although I would really like to see the shot of you riding the bull out of town! Thank you for taking the time to share these adventures, I really look forward to reading them each day. Love, Nancy
I agree Nancy, the pictures are great. My brother keeps talking about riding that bull and I know his camera can take REALLY FAST sequential shots, so I am surprised we don't have a picture of the daredevil in action.
Aunt Rosie- what are your thoughts?
I really enjoyed the photos and stories of Tabaski. What a great experience for you all
Dee Ann
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