Variety of Garri

Garri is made from processed cassava tuber, produced in powder form with fine granules, which doesn’t qualify as grain. Even though it feels like grain when you touch it, it is grain-free. You can either soak it like regular cereal and paired with groundnut (peanuts), cashew nuts, fried fish, coconut, etc. It can also be taken as a ”swallow food” with different soups when stirred with hot water.

Garri is one of the staple foods in Nigeria that cuts across all tribes. It is popularly known as eba.

Processing of garri follows a sequence that starts from harvesting the cassava to peeling, washing, grating, fermenting, pressing, sifting, and then, frying.

It is important to note the following point when storing garri:

1.  A well-processed garri can last up to six months or beyond.

2.  Ensure that storage is in a good dry place.

Health Benefits Of Garri

1. It’s good for weight loss: Garri is very starchy, low in calories and had a high fibre content. It helps you stay full for a longer period and prevents binge eating.

2. It’s great for digestive system: Garri contains fibres that are not soluble in water. It helps in the absorption of toxins that enter intestines. Hereby improving digestive health.

3. It prevents cancer: Garri also helps in preventing life-threatening diseases such as cancer. The B17 content in cassava leaves helps in stimulating the content of red blood cells, the loss of which often leads to cancer.

4. Perfect for diarrhoea: Ever heard about the healing power of garri? Just a munch on it or drinking with water twice a day address conditions such as diarrhoea.

5. Good for eyesight: Garri is rich in Vitamin A and bakarotennya that improves eye health, preventing future blindness or poor eyesight.

6. Improves Immune System: Garri is also a good source for other minerals such as copper and magnesium which help in keeping the immune system healthy. These minerals contribute to the maintenance of healthy bones, nerves and the immune systems. Consuming food with good amount of copper is good in maintaining healthy and functioning nervous system, while lowering the risk of getting osteoporosis.

7. Energizes & Cools The Body: Soaked garri known as “garium sulphate” in English provides a certain amount of energy as mentioned above which the human body needs to maintain daily health and life. It also provides a good cooling effect on the body in hot weather when soaked in cold water with milk.

8. Reduce Age-Related Illness: Studies have shown that one cup of garri contains up to 15% of folate that the body requires in a day as well as 47% of the body’s calcium requirement. Folate helps in fetal development, it reduces the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

9. It’s Gluten-Free: Garri is a gluten-free food. It does not contain the combination of proteins found in wheat and other grains. Therefore, garri can be eaten by people with celiac disease (affects the intestine) or those who are sensitive to gluten. Foods that contain gluten irritate their guts and in most cases damage their small intestine.

To ensure safe consumption of garri, it is essential to adhere to proper processing methods, such as thorough peeling, soaking, fermentation, and adequate drying, as well as proper storage practices.

Varieties of Garri

Ijebu Garri: This is produced mainly by the Yoruba people of Ijebu Origin in Nigeria. It has a pleasantly sour taste that is great for soaking (when you add cold water, room temperature water or milk and eat with a spoon like eating cereal).

Yellow Garri: The yellow garri is made simply by adding a few drops of palm-oil to the cassava flour during the frying / drying stage.