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In the Purus river communities it is time for the "farinhada". Time to make flour, before the waters cover everything, to fill the pantry with the food the Riverside folk eat mostly, flour.
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Sometimes it happens that the the ‘roça (open brush country) doesn’t furnish good’, as the Riverside folk say. The manioc does not grow much or grows too fine and is not good for making flour for the whole year. However, when the ‘roça (open brush) is good’ there is plenty to make the gum and even tapioca flour. That is what happened at the Sacado Community. The missionaries took part in the process of taking the gum from the manioc in order to draw closer in friendship and trust.
The first step is to go to the ‘roçado’ (cutting), done on the beach, wash the manioc at the river side. Afterwards putting the manioc through a huge sieve and leaving it in a recipient so that, naturally, the powder separates from the water. Next day it is there, the gum at the bottom and the water at the top. Then, changing the water for fresh water and letting it rest again. Next day,the gum is ready for consumption.
Having tapioca gum at home is having breakfast and lunch guaranteed!
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