Afrika Recipes

S for Seychelles (Coco-Jam)

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Coco-Jam is particularly widespread in South-East Asia. However, it can also be found in the Seychelles.

I found the best Coco-Jam by hazard. During a heavy rainshower I took refuge in a small coconut oil factory at Grand Anse in Praslin. The extremely lovable owner explained many interesting facts about the production of coconut oil. He didn't not only made oil from the fresh coconuts, which are plentiful in the Seychelles, but also an extremely delicious jam. Thus, the jam I bought and brought home didn't get old. Therefore, I decided to make the jam by myself. That's not difficult at all. But before I let you know the recipe, I tell you a bit more about the Seychelles and the food-culture. I am pretty sure that you will be keen on travelling to the Seychelles by yourself afterwards. It is worth it! Not just because of the good Coco-Jam!!!

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The Seychelles

My first long-distance trip after Corona brought me to the Seychelles. In November 2022 I visited three islands: Praslin, La Digue and Mahé.

The Seychelles are a paradise par excellence. I've seen many beautiful beaches in my life, but never ever beaches as dreamy as here. Every beach has its own character. Some are perfect for snorkeling, others for swimming. At some beaches the breakers are so strong that swimming is too dangerous. It's more save to walk along the beach with your legs into the water not deeper than up to your knees. What all beaches have in common is the incredibly white and fine sand - almost like powder sugar.

  • f.l.t.r:
  • 1st Row: Anse Lazio, Praslin; Anse Patates, La Digue; Anse Sévère, La Digue
  • 2nd Row: Grand Anse, Praslin

But the islands in the Indian Ocean offer much more than "just" dream beaches. Do you know the famous Coco de Mer (sea coconut)? This unusual palm tree only grows in the Seychelles and is a protected species. There are female and male palms. The female palm produces the largest seed of any plant on the planet. It weighs up to 27 kilograms and is characterized by its special shape, which is looks like a woman's well-formed backside:

Coco de Mer, Fond Ferdinand, Praslin, Seychellen
Coco de Mer, Fond Ferdinand, Praslin, Seychellen

And this is the male counterpart:

Coco de Mer, Männliche Frucht, Fond Ferdinand, Praslin, Sechellen
Coco de Mer, Male Fruit, Fond Ferdinand, Praslin, Seychellen

It takes 25 years for the tree to bear a fruit for the first time! A palm usually produces only one fruit per year. The fruit takes up to seven years to ripen!

Of course, the Seychelles are also home to many animals as e.g. Flying foxes:

geckos:

Gecko

Of course there are also giant tortoises. They particularly like to be fondled under the neck:

The cuisine of the Seychelles

The cuisine of the Seychelles has Indian, Chinese and French influences.

Fish

Fish is a part of almost every meal. You won't find fish as fresh as here in other countries. You can eat fish in countless variations (cooked, grilled, fried). Fish dishes are so diverse and delicious in the Seychelles that I ate fish twice a day during my trip.

Fischmarkt, Victoria, Mahé, Seychellen
Fish Market, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles

Rice and Curry

If you don't like fish, you only have two options. Either you become a fish lover or you stuff yourself with the delicious curries made of meat (e.g. chicken, beef and pork) and vegetables (especially pumpkin, brofruit, potatoes). In doubt, a pizza can also help. Indeed, pizza is often on the menu in the Seychelles. However - to be honest - the pizza here doesn't taste very well. But no wonder, you are in the Seychelles and not in Italy!

There is always plenty of rice and fresh salad as an accompaniment to vegetables, fish and meat.

Due to the generous use of spices, such as vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise, cloves, pepper, coriander and chili, you will always get new explosions of taste.

Vanille im L'union Estate, La Digue, Seychellen
Vanilla at L'union Estate, La Digue, Seychelles

You will get the best food from the relatively inexpensive "take-aways". You can compose your individual plate or lunch box from various dishes as from lunchtime onwards:

Tropical fruits

Tropical fruits such as bananas, mangoes, papaya and pineapple grow rampant in the Seychelles. And the fruits taste much more better than at home! However, in the Seychelles fruits can be bought in the supermarket only in limited quantities. Furthermore, buying fruits in the Seychelles in the supermarket is quite expensive. This is because the locals grow their own fruit in the garden. Thus, you have your on fruits in the garden or exchange them with your neighbors, you don't buy fresh fruits!

Rote Ananas, Le Jardin du Roi, Mahé, Seychellen
Red pineapple, Le Jardin du Roi, Mahé, Seychelles

Beer

The local "Seybrew" beer is definitely worth mentioning. Although, I usually don't like beer very much, I enjoyed my well-chilled Seybrew each sunset.

Rum

This is an insider tip for all rum lovers (including me). You must try the very good local Takamaka rum. It is available light or dark, pure or with aroma. My two favorites were the coconut flavored and the dark one with tropical spices.

Takamaka Rum, Seychellen
Takamaka rum, Seychelles

Breakfast in the Seychelles

The breakfast in the Seychelles is rather poor. As far as I know, many locals go straight to work without any breakfast.

For tourists, the hotels and guesthouses naturally offer breakfast with more or less choice. The breakfast in the enchanting Hotel Patatran Beach in Source d'Argent, La Digue was particularly lovingly arranged. The selection was small but fine. Every day the staff served a different island-typical specialty, e.g. the seed from inside the coconut, typical pastries or snacks (e.g. samoussa, these are small dumplings filled with vegetables or fish and then fried ). In our hotel in Praslin, the Berjaya Resort I remember the delicious freshly baked waffles. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask for the recipe. These waffles would certainly have tasted even better with the homemade Coco-Jam.

Which brings us finally to the topic of Coco-Jam.

Coco-Jam

As mentioned at the beginning, I know Coco-Jam from other Asian countries, such as the Philippines or Singapore. In Singapore, coconut jam is called "Kaya". Kaya is very popular with toast for breakfast. However, like curd, Kaya is made with eggs. The Coco-Jam in the Seychelles only consists of three ingredients: coconut milk, sugar and a little salt. It is important that you use a type of sugar that does not have a strong taste of its own. At first I used cane sugar. It completely covered the taste of the coconut milk. Finally, I used regular white table sugar. Now, the jam was really good!

It is important that the Coco-milk is boiled while stirring constantly. Otherwise the mass might stick to the bottom of the pot or, in the worst case, burn. The jam is ready when it starts to thicken. Then you take it off the stove and let it cool down for a while (stir from time to time). The consistency will become a bit firmer and creamier while cooling down.

Afterwards you fill the Coco-Jam in a sterilised jar and close it well.

I put the Coco-Jam in the fridge after having opened the jar. The jam will become hard, but that doesn't affect the taste.

The Coco-Jam tastes so good that I could eat it pure from a spoon... But for a slim waist, it is probably better, to use the Coco-Jam as spread. You might also like to try it with my recipes for Coconut Bread from Barbados or Brioche col Tuppo from Italy.

Now let's go, have fun cooking jam and bon appétit!

Coco-Jam

Course Spread, breakfast, jam
Cuisine Africa, Seychelles
Servings 1 Glass

Ingredients
  

  • 400 ml coconut milk
  • 140 g sugar
  • 1/4 tsp. salt

Instructions
 

  • Mix coconut milk, sugar and salt and boil it in a saucepan, stirring constantly.
  • Reduce the heat and continue to simmer until the mixture thickens. Stir constantly! This process will approximately take 20 minutes.
  • Let it cool down.
  • Put the jam into a clean jar and seal it tightly.
Keyword Breakfast, Breakfast World, Breakfastworld, Brotaufstrich, Coco, Coconut, Coconut Milk, Frühstück, Jam, Kokos, Kokos-Marmelade, Kokosmilch, Kokosnuss, Marmelade, Seychellen

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