Page 33 - Winter2020
P. 33
On the Prejudice Against
Coconut in the Land of
Ecuadorian Encocados
(Coconut Stews)
By Pilar Egüez Guevara, PhD
n an era of trendy diets and “superfoods” from around
the world, it is hard to believe that those foods could
Ibe inaccessible or even rejected by the people who
live near or who grow them. Here is a summary of the
complex story of why people in the tropical regions of
Ecuador, where coconut is an ancestral food, have a
prejudice against coconut, why they have less access to
it and what you can do to help make a change.
Esmeraldas (literally “emeralds”) is known in the South American
country of Ecuador as the “green province,” alluding to the lush vegeta-
tion of its humid tropical forests. Located on Ecuador’s northern Pacific
Coast and bordering Colombia, Esmeraldas is a region populated mostly
by people of African descent. For working class mestizos (mixed-race
people) from major cities in the highlands, Esmeraldas has always been the
number-one vacation destination. Esmeraldas’ beaches are a mere six- to
seven-hour drive from Quito, the capital city. The coastal area highlights
the regional cuisine of Esmeraldas, particularly seafood, which is also a
major attraction for visiting tourists!
WINTER 2020 Wise Traditions 31