Sweet T&T

Trinidad and Tobago have a fantastic array of local sweets and these are for sale everywhere, from the airport as you land to the gorgeous beaches. They are all homemade with recipes passed down from generation to generation. But, let’s focus on Tobago for the moment.

Tobago has been fought over by numerous nations since it was first sighted by Columbus in 1498. You can read more about the island’s history here:
http://www.mytobago.info/history.php

Despite its tumultuous history of repeated invasion and conquest by competing European powers, Tobago is an island paradise and is associated with many sweet treats. One of which is the bene ball.

Bene balls, squares and sticks on the beach in Tobago

Bene or Benne is an African word for Sesame seed. Thus, the sweet is made out of sesame seeds rolled in simple syrup into a ball shape. The dried product is delicious and typically very, ahem, crunchy - to say the least. I would suggest nibbling your way through these nuggets rather than attempting to bite down. Jaw misalignment, and broken teeth are a real possibility. The nouveau shapes like the flat squares and the bene sticks are easier to bite.

I caution you to divulge any intention to visit Tobago because family and friends will pester you to bring back Bene Balls for them. But that’s ok, you can blackmail them later.

Tambran balls

It was believed that India, the Far East or Africa may be the center of origin of the tamarind (Tamarindus indica), but the consensus is that it is Africa. So how did it find its way here in Trinidad and Tobago? Think about it.

The Tamarind tree

Tamarind balls (aka tambran balls in the Caribbean) was the stuff of dreams during recess and lunchtime at primary school. You race to “Miss lady” under the step to buy the 25cent treat which was sweet, salty, tart and peppery all at the same time. So, you bite into it cautiously again and again, savouring the flavours, until you come upon a seed. The seeds were used to make bean bags – the local toy not the chair. I used to scour the school yard picking up all the seeds I could find to make these bags – good for playing catch, sky, scootch, doing tricks like the footballers do. Couldn’t afford a fancy ball in those days!

Tamarind ball to the left; shelled tamarind in the center; tamarind fruit still in the pod to the right

Oh toolum. I know, I know what it looks like and it truly is an acquired taste. Molasses and coconut gives it a chewy or sticky texture and the orange peel and ginger adds more flavour to an otherwise odd taste. Seriously, but look at that sunset!

Toolum

Pawpaw balls were also an acquired taste. Made out of shredded green papaya fruit, the dried shreds were cooked in a simple syrup and lime solution, then cooled and rolled into a ball shape and allowed to set. The ball is then rolled in granulated sugar to finish. The bright green color was due to food coloring and not the green pawpaw.

Pawpaw balls

Coconut Chip Chip is a sweet and delicious candy for all coconut lovers. Chips of coconut are combined in a simple syrup base and allowed to harden into small nuggets.

Coconut chip chip

Jub Jub is a gelatine-based sugar coated candy that comes in a variety of colors thanks to food coloring and flavours thanks to extracts. It is literally just gelatine and sugar. There’s grape, orange, lime, pineapple, cherry flavours to name a few.

Jub Jub

Sugar cake (in pink) is a shredded coconut tossed in a sugar mixture and moulded and cut into squares. Fudge now comes in a variety of flavours ranging from soursop to pistachio to plain milk fudge.

Sugar cake and fudge -milk and chocolate

Now, Ms. Sylvia Hunt is the reason why I know all of these sweets are a part of Trinidad and Tobago culture. My mother got her book decades ago as it was in limited print. It was a coveted treasure. I also faithfully looked at her cooking show on channel TTT when I was a child and sat mesmerized at how easy she prepared her dishes and how patient she seemed. Ms. Hunt is a big part of Trini cuisine.