How to make Karkady juice

The dry season is in full swing at the moment and temperatures turn around 90° F every day. Although the relative humidity is lower now than during the rainy season-- only about 60%-- you still get quickly exhausted from the heat.

Fortunately, there is an inexpensive and refreshing drink that you can make yourself here in French Guiana. It comes from a small shrub called the Roselle or Red Bissap Koor. This tropical plant is entirely edible and its flowers are an intense ruby red. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Making red Karkady juice (or bissap juice) is not only easy but also very good for your health (full of vitamine C and antioxidants). Place the plucked flowers in a pot.

Then, fill with boiling water, cover, and let it sit overnight to infuse. You can also add mint or cinnamon or vanilla or nutmet or whatever else you've got on hand to increase the taste.

Some people also add sugar, but I don't. I enjoy the tangy flavor just how it is. Just put your infused karkady juice in the refrigerator and serve chilled with ice. I guarantee a refreshing moment!

Popular weekend activity for French Guianese

With a year-long temperature in French Guiana situated between 85-95° F, most people look for a cool place to relax on weekends. What's more, there's little shopping here and just a few cinemas-- so you can't count on strolling around in some air-conditioned mall.

For many people, cooling off means heading for the "creek" in the forest. Strangely, there are very few mosquitos around all the creeks we've been to which makes them all the more popular. A lot of "creeks"  even have a sandy beach-like bank with picnic areas built around them. Everyone in Guiana has their own favorite creek. Here's one in Montsinéry (about 42 kms from Cayenne) that is a big delectation for a lot of people around Cayenne: it's called Crique Coco.

Take a look at the short two-minute video below. In it, you'll hear the French Guianese accent plus a little Creole. A lot of my students at school have the same accent which makes it sometimes difficult for me to understand them.



Fin de vacances à Crique Coco Village à Montsinéry

So, are you ready for a swim?