Suriname – SR007A
Composition: Clay
Colour: Red
Shape: Raw
Slightly hard, creamy when bitten off, fine grit, very earthy and slightly sour.
This sample was acquired on a market in Paramaribo, Suriname in 2017. Pemba is a local clay and is commonly sold throughout the country. It can be white, pink or red. Opposite to white pemba, red pemba is rarely eaten, but rather it is used for spiritual practice. However, the seller at the market proposed for us to taste it as well, and tasted it together with us.
Pemba is mixed with water, filtered, then shaped into balls, and sometimes hardened on fire. Pemba is an important part of the Winti spirituality. Winti is the name for both religion and some of the spiritual entities worshipped in that religion. Winti is the belief in the supreme creator — Anana Kedyaman Kedyanpon, and the Winti, a pantheon of lower gods distributed in four categories: Earth, Water, Air, and the Bush. Among the most important Winti are Mama Aisa (the goddess of the Earth), Fodu (also known as Papa Winti), Leba (a cleansing spirit who dwells in particular at traffic intersections), Opete (the chief Winti of the air), and Ingi (an Amerindian spirit). Winti deities are worshipped during Winti Prey, which can be dedicated to individual Winti or to the entire Winti pantheon. Winti Prey is a dance ritual in which Winti can manifest themselves through participants of the ritual.
Sources:
● ‘Eating earth/Aarde eten’, Werkgroep Caraibische letteren (English/Dutch), accessed on 20/06/2022 werkgroepcaraibischeletteren.nl
● ‘The Sacred Arts of the Black Atlantic’, Duke University (English), accessed on 20/06/2022 sacredart.caaar.duke.edu
This one is very velvet-y, it feels like it disappears immediately in the mouth. Really interesting, not necessarily tasteful, but more like it neutralizes the taste.