Poi

Poi is a traditional Hawaiian food, a nutritious, starchy dish made from the taro plant, prepared by smashing the cooked corm (underground plant stem) and adding water to it until it becomes a thick, sticky paste that is purple in color. It stimulates weight loss, lowers cholesterol, is a great source of vitamin B and calcium, and it has low fat and protein content. The taro plant was brought to Hawaii by the Polynesians in the year 450, and it is one of the oldest crops on Hawaii. Since taro is associated with the god Kane, creator of water, sun, and life - poi became a sacred part of Hawaiian life. When poi was served at the table, the consumers were forbidden from arguing, as a symbol of respect to its sacredness. Some like it thinner, some thicker, and it can be eaten immediately, when it is fresh and sweet, or when it has been left to sit a bit longer to ferment and lose some of the sweetness. It may be eaten for breakfast, on bread or buns, but it is traditionally paired with fish.