MAUI- Poi Our Starch

To the left is a bowl of poi, it comes from the taro plant that is native to the islands. You'll find poi on the line at Luaus both commercial and at traditional family luaus. The taste is bland, it's like pudding, it sticks to the spoon. Some people will add a teaspoon of sugar to sweeten it, but if you do that in front of a poi aficionado do expect that person to give you hell! But this is our starch most grew up with, it is very healthy, no funky processing is involved, just water and lots of pounding of the taro plant to a pulp, and this is what you get in the picture. Of course you may ask, what goes well with poi? Well, Kalua Pork is an excellent partner with Poi, Lau Lau, Laua Stews, fried local fish like Opelu and Akule, the first is pronounced (Oh peh loo), and the second (Ah koo lay). Mackerels if you will, and usually it is seasoned with Hawaiian sea salt, and soy sauce with maybe vinegar and ginger, or garlic with a minced green onion garnish. You can purchase poi in bags in most local markets 

A traditionalist pounds the taro into sticky poi, this is the way of the old Hawaiians, it is done with respect, blessings of the plant may take place, the natives valued the source of survival, it was done with reverence, the old were respected, the young were taught the importance of survival, the importance of taking care, to not destroy and the taro plant was grown in a very wet environment or lo i. Taro farmers were looked at as wise men, they were the purveyors of food, today there is quite a controversy with patents on the growing of taro, organic or natural farmers are up against major corporations, those big companies that want to use artificial chemicals to enhance the growth of this sacred plant grown only naturally by Hawaiian farmers.

The modern day consumer will buy a bag of poi such as this in the picture, if you decide to purchase poi, ask the clerks if it is fresh, or if that particular day will have fresh poi coming in, old poi will taste rancid, and sour, with a funky film in the bag. The plastic may lend a taste of plastic, so you do not want to purchase old bags of poi. If you are in the want for poi for a party you'll throw, call the companies that manufacture poi and get information on them supplying you with fresh bags of poi. Poi is a part of our culture, we do respect taro the base plant, without this starch we lose part of our culture.