I'm always up for trying new foods. From any tribe, or country, I'm ready to join in and see how it goes. Even if I purge, let me experience it.

This was the same thought I had when I tasted Ukwa. It's a native food in Igbo land, and from what I know, one of the most expensive. Considering its foreign name is Breadfruit porridge, I'm not really surprised.

Anyway, my parents always praised it, so I decided to try it on my next trip to the village. Sadly, that happened soon after my decision because my mom's father died, so everyone had to be present for the celebration of life.

I remember going there with joy and anticipation, because I was going to be seeing my cousins after more than five years, and of course, I would get to eat my tribe's delicacies.

The first people I saw were my younger cousins, who were already bigger than me. Being a girl of average height, I was already resigned to my fate.

Still, as I loved telling my youngest brother, “a plant cannot sprout pass its owner.” There was no ownership, but still..., you get the gist.

Anyway, I stuck close to my mother throughout the first day, eager for a chance to try the infamous food. Finally, she told me we would be eating it for dinner.

See me, readying myself for the feast happening that night. I ate little in the afternoon, so I was the first at the dinner table and when the caterers served the food, I stared at it with bright eagerness.

No one I knew had given a bad review on the food, so of course, I expected it to be delicious. However, it's either my taste buds weren't working or something was wrong with the food because when I took the first spoon, my eyes instantly watered.

It tasted a bit like beans to me, but something was different. I still can't place it, but it felt off and bland to me at that time. I quickly whispered to my mom that something was wrong with the taste, but she denied it and I was left to go through the motions of eating the food. All the while trying not to vomit.

Combine that with the fact that I was extremely hungry, so I didn't really have a choice. However, everyone else cleared their plates and some of my cousins even asked for second servings. As for me, I just washed my plate and went inside to reconsider my beliefs.

I've never eaten it since then, but maybe one day, I'll give it a go again.