A Trip to a Museum: Manioc
Bitter manioc is a plant in the Amazon jungle that many of the tribes depend on for survival. This plant contains a chemical in its leaves, flesh, and skin that turn into cyanide (poison) when digested. The people of the Amazonian tribes have created many tools to make this plant edible. Bitter Manioc Manioc Grinder Manioc Stirrer (left) and Strainer (right) Preparing Manioc 1. The people would take the manioc and skin it. Taking the poison from the skin, but leaving the poison still inside the flesh. 2. They will then use a grinder to turn the manioc flesh into mush. 3. The mush is then put into a manioc strainer to fully remove the liquid that contains the chemical/cyanide. Chinese Finger Trap The manioc strainer is like a Chinese finger trap. It is squeezed together and the manioc mush is added inside. Then it is constantly pulled apart and inward, squeezing the manioc mush repeatedly and taking out the liquid. Manioc...