Safu

Safu is a common food here in Sao Tome. It grows on trees and is sold in the market or by women in the street. Safu is purple on the outside and green on the inside, with a dark brown pit in the center. They are oblong and about an inch to an inch and a half long. To cook safu, you first need to scrape off some of the outer purple skin so that there are stripes on the outside. Then, you put the safu into boiling water, turn off the heat, and let them sit for about 3-5 minutes. They get fat from the water and the green flesh turns mushy. Then, you bite/suck off everything until just the pit is left. The consistency of prepared safu is much like an avocado and it is greasy like one too. People who have their gull-blatter out can only handle a few safu at a time because of this. The taste is hard to describe, but they are a bit bitter and the taste is located on the sides of your tongue. Pictures of safu are at the end of this photo album.