Wagasi

Not to be confused with Wagashi, the Japanese confectionery.
Waagashi

Waagashi is a type of West African cheese made from cow's milk. It is commonly made by the Fulani people, especially those of Northern Benin.[1] It is sold in abundance in Parakou, a city in Central Benin.[2] It is also found across West African countries, particularly in the Savanna zone on the latitude of Parakou.

It is commonly known as wagasi in the Zarma-Songhai and Dendi languages,[3] amo in the Fon language, wara and warakashi in Nagot and Yoruba language and gasaru in Bariba language. The French also call it fromage.[1] In Ghana it is also widely known as wagashi, which is most likely from the Zarma-Songhai word for it.

It is relatively soft in texture and mild in flavor and is frequently used in cooking. As with many proteins and animal products used in Beninese foods, wagasi tends to be cooked and served in a sauce which is then eaten with a starch, such as pounded yams or pâte, the millet or maize 'porridge' staple of the area (tuwo [Hausa] or t.z. [acronym from Hausa tuwon zafi (hot 'porridge')) in English-speaking areas.

  1. ^ a b Theresa (2010-05-22). "Cutting the cheese in Benin". SubjectVerbObject. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  2. ^ "Parakou". Benintourism.com. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
  3. ^ Kraus, Erika; Reid, Felicie (January 2010). Benin (Discover the Real Benin). Benin: Other Places Publishing. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-9822619-1-0.