Trini Snacks

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Trinidad and Tobago
Trini Snacks

In November 2010 I returned to Trinidad for my daughter's graduation. While there we, my mother, son, daughter and I, took a trip to Maracas Bay. Maracas Bay is a must see tourist destination in Trinidad and it is located on the northern part of the island. It took us about forty five minutes to get there from my mother's house which is located in an area called Mt. Hope so we took the route through Santa Cruz to get to Maracas Bay.The drive to Maracas Bay is through the mountains of the northern range.

The road was originally built by U.S. Navy Seabees based out of Chaguramas - at points, they blasted parts of the hill out so that the road could pass. I remember many years ago, on our way home after having a wonderful day at the beach, we would stop at a spot where there is a 'spring'. This 'spring' is fresh water from higher up in the mountains. We would drink the spring water, full our water bottles and even take a mini shower.

That was the first time I have been to Maracas Bay since I migrated to the British Virgin Islands, in 2000! Our first stop was at a spot that is called the Look Out where the view is magnificent. It is a norm for tour guides to stop at this point for the tourist to enjoy the scenery and indulge in some trini snacks. Occasionally there would be live entertainment by a one man band.

There are some food vendors at this location and they sell traditional trini snacks. Well that was a treat for me. There were so many snacks for sale that I have not eaten or seen for many years. There were snacks like fudge, sugar cake, nut cake, tamarind balls, chillibibbi, fried channa aka chick peas, fried nuts, bene balls (a snack made with sesame seeds), and kurma. There were also an abundance of preservatives made with series, mango, golden apples aka pommechythere and plums. There were so many things, that I did not know what to buy, I wanted to buy everything.

Guava Cheese	Paw Paw balls
Nut Cake	Split Channa
Bene Balls	Bene Cake
Chilli Bibbi	Tamarind Balls
Butter Nut	Split Peas
Toolum made with molasses and coconut

After we bought what we wanted, we paused to take some pictures and as I was doing so, I realized that my mother was eating something. It was not hard to guess, she loves another trini snack called Toolum (made with molasses and coconut). She bought some and was totally enjoying her snack!

Preservatives made with Mango, Plums etc	My daughter showing off a bag of Chilli Bibbi
Chows made with Mango, Pineapple & Golden Apple	Homemade Kuchela and Pepper Sauce, you can also see some fudge in the background

Our next stop was at Maracas Bay, where we had the famous bake and shark! The bake and shark were fried on location so everything was fresh and hot. Personally the exciting thing was choosing from the variety of sauces and 'sides' that were available to add to the sandwich. There was cole slaw, cucumbers, tomatoes, tartar sauce, shadow benie sauce (very creative). After we dressed our sandwiches, they were so big (packed of salads and sauces) we were barely able to fit the sandwich in our mouth.

Bake and Shark

My son about to take a bite
in his bake and shark sandwich

While we sat having our sandwiches, the view of the beach was picturesque. The tall coconut trees sitting on the white hot sand, giving shade to beach visitors, the sea blue and clear as the sky, the waves gushing on the shore, and fishing boats on the horizon. Unfortunately we were unable to bathe in the sea, but from past experiences the water is warm and refreshing. Our mini trip to Maracus Bay was relaxing and an enjoyable one. The next time you visit Trinidad, be sure to visit Maracus Bay.