#KnowYourCosafaCupCountries: The Seychelles
The Seychelles are an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, north east of Madagascar.
POLOKWANE – The residents’ official languages are French, English and Seselwa.
The Seycehellois cuisine is influenced by French, English, Indian and Chinese cuisines with spices such as ginger, lemongrass, coriander and tamarind often used in dishes.
Dishes comprise of fish, shellfish or curried dishes with rice and curried bats or fruit bats are considered a delicacy on the islands.
Ladob is a dish eaten in the Seychelles which is eaten either as a savory dish or as a dessert. It was originally a dish eaten in large amounts by the early arrivals to the island due to the ingredients being in plentiful supply. It is now a staple part of the diet, many eating the dish several times a week.
The dessert version usually consists of ripe plantain and sweet potatoes (but may also include cassava, breadfruit or even corossol) boiled with coconut milk, sugar, nutmeg and vanilla in the form of a pod until the fruit is soft and the sauce is creamy.
The savory version usually includes salted fish, cooked in a similar fashion to the dessert version, with plantain, cassava and breadfruit, but with salt used in place of sugar (and omitting vanilla). Ladob can be served hot or cold.
Facts about the Seychelles:
• South Africa tried to take over the Seychelles in a failed coup d’etat in 1981.
• The Seychelles got its independence from Brittain on 29 June 1976. The capital city, Victoria is situated on the island of Mahé.
• The population is 94 677.
• The population comprises of 93.2% Creoles, 3% British, 1,8% French, 0,4% Chinese, 0,4% Indian and 1,2% others.
• The Seychelles is home to numerous beaches, coral reefs, nature reserves and rare animals such as the giant Aldabra tortoises and some of the world’s largest fruit bats with wingspans of a metre wide and a body like a small dog’s.
