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Papaya Sweet with Local Cheese
Food Papaya Sweet with Local Cheese

Papaya Sweet with Local Cheese

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About

A traditional dessert made from fresh papayas grown in the valleys of São Lourenço dos Órgãos. Served alongside the region's famous handmade cheese, this pair can be tasted at the local farms on the Map.

Flavors, dishes and restaurants

Cuisine

Obtained by grating green or semi-ripe papayas and slow-cooking them with sugar and cinnamon until a paste-like consistency is reached, this sweet is the most popular dessert in São Lourenço dos Órgãos. The dense, sugary profile of the sweet achieves a perfect balance with the slightly salty and firm local cheese (Queijo de Terra) produced in the area. It is widely served across Cabo Verde as a symbol of hospitality.

Flavored with cloves and cinnamon sticks, this traditional confection can be stored for months in a cool place and is typically enjoyed with a cup of coffee.

Ingredients

  • 1 kg green or semi-ripe papaya (peeled and grated)
  • 750g granulated sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 4-5 whole cloves
  • 1 cup water
  • Local Cape Verdean cheese (Queijo de Terra) for serving

Preparation

  1. Wash the grated papaya in plenty of water to remove any bitterness and drain thoroughly.
  2. In a large pot, combine sugar, water, cinnamon, and cloves, and boil until a light syrup forms.
  3. Add the drained papaya to the pot and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 1 hour until the papaya turns translucent and the mixture forms a thick golden paste.
  4. Let the sweet cool down, transfer to jars, and serve alongside slices of firm local cheese.

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