Don't eat raw Cassava ever

A few months ago, one of my neighbors brought home some cassava that looked like a pile of dirt, she told me about what happens when you eat it raw because I was curious and wanted to find out,. I have never really tried that before.

She offered me a piece to try but I could smell the dirt and the bitter taste. The temptation to eat a piece of raw cassava was there, all out of curiosity. It was so tempting that I had already chewed on a piece and tasted the grainy starchy texture of the root before my neighbor laughed because I spit it out immediately, it was so bitter and she told me that it's actually poisonous if you take it raw.

One of the reasons raw cassava can hurt you is due to a compound called cyanide, which can be released when you chew or digest the cassava. Cooking the cassava will reduce your risk of poisoning, but the method of preparing the cassava is extremely important. There are many old methods used in my homeland that have been around for hundreds of years that make detoxifying and cooking cassava easy, like boiling it, soaking, fermentation and drying.

Watching rice steam reminds me of how patiently we have learned how to get rid of poisonous plants for thousands of years.

My goal is not to scare you out of trying new things, I want you to be aware of the different textures and aromas present in everything you eat, because not everything edible should be eaten. When you eat a food that you are not familiar with, take a moment to notice how it smells, taste it and pay attention to anyone who can tell you about the safe preparation of that food.

If you need to prepare a poisonous type of food of any sort, take your time and prepare it with respect to its toxicity or knowledge of how to do it professionally so you don't cause harm to yourself. I feel very fortunate to have learned those little rules from the kitchens and markets. It's good to always learn these things, it'll reduce your risk of getting sick. Ignorance can kill so practical knowledge rather than panic, should be what guides us. Enjoy being curious but be careful when handling any type of food that appears suspicious.